9 - Mothers and their sons: Mary and Jesus in Scotland, 1450–1560

Summary

In the past few decades there has been a great deal of interest expressed in the history of the family in medieval Europe, particularly the emotional bonds between parents and children. Analysing royal families is one place to start exploring familial bonds. Lois Huneycutt has begun the process for Scottish history by studying St Margaret of Scotland (ob. 1093) and her children. Investigating the portrayal of the relationship between the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus is another route to understanding affective familial relations. Scots were children of Mary and siblings of Jesus, believing that a fuller understanding of Mary and Jesus's relationship brought them closer to salvation. They were taught that Mary and Jesus shared a close emotional bond forged through a lifetime of interaction. Jesus began life as a nursing infant clinging to His mother's arms, and ended it as a voluntary sacrifice for human sin. His ascension into heaven, and Mary's later assumption, did not break this tie. Mother and son remained close, working to rescue humanity from sin. Lay people were taught about the Trinity, but tended to distinguish between Jesus and God; Mary was believed to have allied herself with the Son rather than the Father. This mother-son alliance gave humanity hope for salvation, for Mary's determination to help people at Judgement was matched by her influence over Jesus. Whether as human son or resurrected king, Jesus appeared willing to forgive sinners at His mother's request.