Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

According to Father Zachary D. Samples, a parochial vicar at St. Peter Catholic Church in Quincy, Illinois, the question of whether Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced pain during childbirth has been a topic of discussion among theologians. In response to a query from Nancy in Springfield, Father Samples explains that while the Catholic Church has never issued an infallible teaching on this matter, there are some indications that Mary did not experience pain during childbirth.

Father Samples begins by highlighting the significance of Mary's role in salvation history. He explains that Mary, known as the Immaculate Conception, was born without original sin and was set apart by God from the moment of her conception. This belief is celebrated on December 8th each year as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To support the idea that Mary did not experience pain during childbirth, Father Samples refers to passages from Sacred Scripture. In Genesis 3:16, God tells Eve that she will experience pain in childbirth as a consequence of her sin. Since Mary was conceived without original sin, it is logical to assume that she would be exempt from this consequence. Additionally, Isaiah 66:6-7 mentions a woman giving birth without experiencing labor pains, which some theologians interpret as a reference to Mary.

While the Church has not definitively answered the question, Father Samples mentions two magisterial assertions that address the topic. The Catechism of the Council of Trent states that Mary, in preserving her virginal integrity, brought forth Jesus without experiencing any sense of pain. Pope Alexander III also wrote that Mary gave birth without pain.

In conclusion, Father Samples acknowledges that the question of whether Mary experienced pain during childbirth remains open, with no dogmatic teaching from the Church. However, he provides insights from Scripture and magisterial assertions that suggest Mary may not have experienced pain during the birth of Jesus.

The full article can be found at Catholic Answers: "Did our Blessed Mother Suffer Labor Pains" (https://www.catholic.com/qa/did-our-blessed-mother-suffer-labor-pains).