Talk:Mary, Did You Know?

"Christmas carol"?
The page describes MDYK as a "modern Christmas carol". Just wondering, what makes it a "carol" instead of a "song"? -- Narsil 21:19, 3 January 2007 (UTC)


 * A reasonable point. The article no longer calls it a carol. —98.113.213.130 (talk) 07:59, 30 December 2018 (UTC)

What do you know about Mary?
This song is beautiful in its most mystical and musical way. It pulls at the heart and sings greatly of the majesty of this Little Boy Jesus. However, the first verse of the song with the lines:


 * Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
 * This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

underestimate the station of The Blessed Virgin Mary. It's a simple oversight, and one that is made by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In the dogma of Mary, Mary was born without Original Sin so that she could be the one chosen to bear Jesus, Son of God. Her parents Simon and Ana were told of this when she was at temple when she was a child. This makes her beyond reproach. Her Son Jesus redeemed the world of sinners for the sins of Adam and Eve. Mary was not among them. She needed not be baptized, nor renewed, as the rest of us are, and was not to be delivered. From this comes he appellation "The Immaculate Conception," the form in which she appeared to Bernadette Subiroux of Lourdes, France as "Our Lady of Lourdes." This mystery of Mary goes along with her bearing a child without knowing man, with her being a virgin, "Blessed Virgin Mary." In the dogma of Mary, she did not die, she was not buried. She was assumed bodily into heaven. The Glorious Decade of the Rosary is entitled "The Assumption of Mary into Heaven." She was not corrupted in any way and required no redemption or salvation.

With all due respect to the song, it misses the mark on Mary Mother of God.--Magi Media (talk) 04:18, 18 December 2009 (UTC)


 * The comment above seriously misstates the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The doctrine was formally proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 in Ineffabilis Deus and states "that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin”. This was explained by the 14th century Franciscan Duns Scotus, who demonstrated that Mary's Immaculate Conception did not remove her from redemption by Christ; rather it was the result of a more perfect redemption granted her because of her special role in salvation history. Mary was indeed redeemed by Jesus, but in a more perfect way. Mannanan51 (talk) 05:53, 18 December 2011 (UTC)
 * No it does not miss the mark. It's right on with scripture and the Immaculate Conception is a lie. Mark Lowry knew what he was writing. 2600:6C58:6600:F868:744C:B153:B7C2:CDF8 (talk) 04:37, 15 December 2023 (UTC)

This discussion makes me wonder what the relevance is (if any) of discussing Catholic dogma. It seems arrogant to criticize a work of art for not fitting into a very narrow set of beliefs that aren't even relevant to many christians, much less those who celebrate Christmas or simply are interested in the song. Especially since this isn't an article about theology or dogma, it seems inappropriate to make statements of creed that aren't preceded by "Catholics believe..." or "According to certain faiths..." To non-Catholics, the above discussion simply illustrates the reductive thinking and dogmatic inflexibility that art and music are supposed to transcend. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 100.8.81.67 (talk) 22:56, 4 December 2020 (UTC)

Comments from 74.139.17.56
This IP made a comment in the article, where it does not fit, but their comments appear to have merit so I am moving them here. Princess Lirin (talk) 05:27, 28 August 2011 (UTC)

(Posted below the "Background" section) Please verify the dates on this. If the music was written 12 years after it was written, that would be 1996. How then could it be released in 1992, and recorded in 1993? I'm guessing the words were written earlier, or less time passed between the words and music. — Preceding text originally posted&#32;on Mary, Did You Know?&#32;([//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary,_Did_You_Know%3F&diff=prev&oldid=447061428 diff])&#32;by 74.139.17.56 (talk&sdot;contribs)&#32;17:31, 27 August 2011 (UTC)


 * The article now includes the specific years for the lyrics (1984) and music (1991), cited from a published interview with the composer. —98.113.213.130 (talk) 07:59, 30 December 2018 (UTC)

What about the SONG?
I think there should be more to the article than just listing the famous people who have recorded it. Just for starters, the way it alternates references Jesus as a simply baby to Jesus as lord of the universe. I'm not intellectually equipped for analyzing songs; could somebody else do that? 2001:558:6011:1:74F2:9421:4EFD:C243 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 02:21, 23 December 2016 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia is not equipped for analyzing songs. That would be original research. We would need a reliable source discussing it. - Sum mer PhD v2.0 05:51, 23 December 2016 (UTC)


 * It would be nice to see some basic analysis, like in What Child Is This?, if anyone is familiar with the sources. – Philosopher Let us reason together. 05:56, 11 March 2017 (UTC)


 * The article now includes a bit more description, with published sources. —98.113.213.130 (talk) 07:59, 30 December 2018 (UTC)

Also recorded by Kathy Mattea in 1993
Before the Kenny Rogers version, this song was recorded by Kathy Mattea in 1993 on her Christmas album Good News, which won a Grammy award.

I don’t have the skills to update this article, I’m hoping that you could do that. All the citing sources are in the article for the album Good News.

This is such a beautiful song, it’s my favorite of the new Christmas classics.

Thanks!!

Michelle MichMKC (talk) 16:16, 2 December 2020 (UTC)