Mary, the mother of Jesus, is depicted in the gospels as someone of serious spiritual intuition. She's also described by God as "highly favored." But the woman who conceived the Savior was of humble origins, a person of limited education who followed a simple lifestyle. Often promoted as a model of chastity and obedience as well as a figure of authority and respect, Mary's life is documented up to a point in Scripture, but her later years are shrouded in mystery. So, what do we really know about the Blessed Mother?
For answers, click through and revisit the life and times of the Virgin Mary.