Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/549

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MAR.
527

her maturity by active piety and faithful discipleship; her age by fervent devotion and hallowed communion with the first church. Her birth-place, death, and burial, are not recorded; but the life is highest in honour whose records are of holy acts and heroic fidelity. What she said prophetically of herself has proved true—"All generations shall call me blessed." Can the like be said of any man? See St. Luke, chap. i., and St. John, chap. ii. and xix.

MARY,

The wife of Cleophas, was mother of James, Jude, Joses, Simeon, and Salone. Cleophas and Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, were probably brothers, which made these Marys sisters. Her children are therefore represented as the brothers of our Lord. She early believed in the Saviour, attended to His preaching, and ministered to His support. She witnessed His crucifixion, and prepared spices to embalm His body; and went, with Mary Magdalene and Salome, "early to the sepulchre." It was this Mary who, with Salome, saw the vision of the angel, and heard from him those cheering words, "Be not afraid; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth; he is risen," etc.

MARY,

Mother of Mark, the Evangelist. She had a house in Jerusalem, where it is thought that the apostles retired, after the ascension of our Lord, and where they received the Holy Ghost. After the imprisonment of Peter, the faithful assembled at this house, and were praying there, when Peter, delivered by the angel, knocked at the door.

MARY,

Daughter of Henry the Seventh, and wife of Louis the Twelfth of France. He died soon afterwards, and she married Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, by whom she had a daughter, the mother of Lady Jane Grey. She died in 1534, aged thirty-seven.

MARY.

Daughter of Charles, Duke of Burgundy, married Maximilian, son of Frederick, Emperor of Austria, and thus transferred the dominions of Burgundy to the house of Austria, She died at Bruges, 1482, in consequence of a fall from her horse, while she was hunting.

MARY AND MARTHA

Sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead; lived with their brother at Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. Jesus had a particular affection for this family, and often resorted to their house. One day Martha, preparing an entertainment for him, while Mary sat at his feet, listening to his words, wished her sister's assistance, and said to Jesus, "Do you not see. Lord, that my sister leaves me to minister alone? Bid her come to help me." But Jesus said, that "Mary had chosen the better part, that should not be taken from her."

Six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany, and was at meat in the house of Simon. Martha attended, and Lazarus was one of the guests. Mary took a pound of spikenard, the most precious perfume of the kind, and poured it over the head and feet of Jesus.