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National Geographic The Story of Mary: From the Biblical World to Today
From the Biblical words to today the story about Mary mother of Jesus.
116 pages, Single Issue Magazine
Published March 30, 2018
9 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
National Geographic Society
4,222 books1,116 followersThe National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 25, 2024
The National Geographic THE STORY OF MARY: From the Biblical World to Today is beautifully illustrated and written in straightforward and easy-to-understand prose. However, there are several glaring issues with the book’s content, which reflects on the entire body of work.
The entire text is dotted with references from the Bible. But on page 59, with no references to scripture, the text reads: “Jesus handed out pieces of bread and told all at the table to eat it since it represents his body.” And later, “… he raised a glass and told them to drink of it, for that represented his blood.” This is contrary to the writings of the New Testament authors, for example. Mark 14: 22-24:
“While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them,
and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to
them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.”
See also: Matthew 26: 26-28, 1Cor.11: 23-29, John 6: 51-56
Most jarring is the Arianism (early Christian heretical sect) statement on page 65 that reads: “Jesus was made by God . . .” This is in direct opposition to the tenets of Christianity.
John 1: 1-5:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him, nothing came
to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1: 14:
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the
glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
The Nicene Creed:
“ . . . I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the
Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.”
To add even more confusion on page 100, the text states: “On one day in 1531, Juan Diego was rushing to Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception near Mexico City.”
The actual day was December 9, 1531, at Tenochtitlan near present-day Mexico City. It also was not the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was formally defined by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, to celebrate the beginning of the Virgin Mary’s life in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.
If you choose to read the National Geographic THE STORY OF MARY, please keep in mind that some of the research is lacking both biblically and historically.
The entire text is dotted with references from the Bible. But on page 59, with no references to scripture, the text reads: “Jesus handed out pieces of bread and told all at the table to eat it since it represents his body.” And later, “… he raised a glass and told them to drink of it, for that represented his blood.” This is contrary to the writings of the New Testament authors, for example. Mark 14: 22-24:
“While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them,
and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to
them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.”
See also: Matthew 26: 26-28, 1Cor.11: 23-29, John 6: 51-56
Most jarring is the Arianism (early Christian heretical sect) statement on page 65 that reads: “Jesus was made by God . . .” This is in direct opposition to the tenets of Christianity.
John 1: 1-5:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him, nothing came
to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1: 14:
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the
glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
The Nicene Creed:
“ . . . I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the
Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.”
To add even more confusion on page 100, the text states: “On one day in 1531, Juan Diego was rushing to Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception near Mexico City.”
The actual day was December 9, 1531, at Tenochtitlan near present-day Mexico City. It also was not the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was formally defined by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, to celebrate the beginning of the Virgin Mary’s life in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne.
If you choose to read the National Geographic THE STORY OF MARY, please keep in mind that some of the research is lacking both biblically and historically.
December 29, 2025
This was a National Geographic magazine I received for Christmas and I was happy to receive it for a few reasons.
This magazine didn't disappoint on the point 1) although the biblical references seemed a bit shaky at times. More on that below.
It was good on point 2) as well, setting out the Catholic doctrines of theotokos (being the Mother of God), the Immaculate Conception and the Eternal Virgin which have no support in the Bible and, in fact, are sometimes directly contradicted by it. Also many of these doctrines arose centuries after the death of Christ seeming to be the pet projects of certain popes or bishops.
On the point 3) it had less that I had hoped, some coverage but not a lot.
In general I found the theology throughout somewhat sloppy. At one point the author says Mary "supposedly" did something. Supposedly? did she do it or not? Elsewhere, when describing her plight, being pregnant but unmarried, it describes her as being "free from original sin". Again that wasn't decided until centuries later and not everybody agrees with it.
The same sloppiness appears when it comes to the illustrations. It gives the names of the artists of some of the painted works but not others. Why? Also randomly scattered throughout are photos of dishes, lamps, hair pins, etc. giving you the impression that they just stuck them in to fill up the space.
All in all I rated it 3 stars. Some strengths but also some weaknesses.
1) I was looking for a summary of the Virgin Mary's life
2) I was looking for a quick outline of the various doctrines and theology that have risen up around her through the centuries
3) I've always been fascinated by the appearance of apparitions of Mary, e.g. Guadalupe, Fatima, etc.and was looking for information about them
This magazine didn't disappoint on the point 1) although the biblical references seemed a bit shaky at times. More on that below.
It was good on point 2) as well, setting out the Catholic doctrines of theotokos (being the Mother of God), the Immaculate Conception and the Eternal Virgin which have no support in the Bible and, in fact, are sometimes directly contradicted by it. Also many of these doctrines arose centuries after the death of Christ seeming to be the pet projects of certain popes or bishops.
On the point 3) it had less that I had hoped, some coverage but not a lot.
In general I found the theology throughout somewhat sloppy. At one point the author says Mary "supposedly" did something. Supposedly? did she do it or not? Elsewhere, when describing her plight, being pregnant but unmarried, it describes her as being "free from original sin". Again that wasn't decided until centuries later and not everybody agrees with it.
The same sloppiness appears when it comes to the illustrations. It gives the names of the artists of some of the painted works but not others. Why? Also randomly scattered throughout are photos of dishes, lamps, hair pins, etc. giving you the impression that they just stuck them in to fill up the space.
All in all I rated it 3 stars. Some strengths but also some weaknesses.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews