The Unrecognizable Netflix Mary

When I was speaking with someone about Mary, the new film on Netflix, they commented to me that it was largely based on the apocryphal second-century text the Protoevangelium of James and the mystical writings of Maria of Agreda and Anne Catherine Emmerich.

I thought the comment was off and incorrect. I’ve personally read all four volumes of The Mystical City of God by Venerable Maria of Agreda as a podcast for TAN Books and now am doing the same for The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelation by Anne Catherine Emmerich. At the time when I spoke with the person, I had only watched twenty minutes of my pre-screener link and not the whole thing in its entirety. When I sat down to watch from beginning to end, I concluded two things: 1) Several depictions do not align with the Protoevangelium 2) The Mary presented in the Netflix film is not the Mary I have studied and written about over the years as a Marian theologian.

The opening seconds of the movie have Mary saying, “If you think you know my story, trust me you don’t.” I’m not sure the screenwriters of Mary knew her story either. Let me point out to you the differences between the movie, the Protoevangelium of James, and the mystical writers. 

Joachim and St. Anne Pray for a Child

Mary movie: The movie portrays Joachim as fasting in the desert and doing penance, while St. Anne is in the home praying for a child. The archangel Gabriel appears to Joachim and tells him that the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled through the child whom they must dedicate to God’s service in the temple. 

Protoevangelium: Joachim goes into the desert for forty days and forty nights. Both Joachim and Anne receive a visit from an angel telling them their bareness is over. 

Maria of Agreda: Joachim and Anne, as a holy and pious couple, continually implore the Lord in prayer for the gift of a child. Joachim is in the temple praying and offering sacrifices for the coming of the Messiah and promises in his prayer to offer a child to God in the temple. As Joachim prays away from the home, Anne receives a visit from the angel promising an answer to their prayer soon. The Archangel Gabriel returns to the family, first appearing to Joachim while he is in prayer (it does not indicate that it was in a desert); the angel announces to him everything he needs to know about their daughter, Mary, and what they are to do by consecrating her in the temple. After appearing to Joachim, Gabriel goes to Anne with a similar message. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: Anne has another child before Mary is born. That child is also named Mary but remains with her grandfather Eliud after birth. Joachim and Anne remain childless after this first birth for over 19 years. Joachim is not favorably received in the village. He goes to Mount Hermon for five months to attend to his flocks, while also praying and weeping. Anne also prays while Joachim is away, and both pray for another child. She receives a visit from an angel who informs her the Lord has heard her prayer. Joachim also receives the angel and is told of God’s favor for him and St. Anne. 

My Conclusion: I find the difference between Emmerich and other accounts interesting. I don’t believe that Joachim and Anne had another child years before. The Netflix film takes the narrative from the Protoevangelium of James, as the mystics do not depict a desert experience. The desert, though, provides a parallel to John the Baptist who is a voice crying out in the desert and to Jesus’ temptation in the desert. 

Mary is Presented in the Temple

Mary movie: The Archangel Gabriel appears to the family and makes it known that the time has come for Mary to be presented in the temple. Mary appears to be 8 or 9. Mary is depicted during her time of service as a faulty girl who is late because of her free-spirit attitude. 

Protoevangelium: Joachim calls for the priests and others during Mary’s infancy to pray over her. At the age of three, she is presented in the temple and remains there until the age of 12. 

Maria of Agreda: Mary is brought to the temple at the age of three and is filled with holy desires. She is obedient to her teachers and follows their promptings. She possesses the fullness of virtue and the perfection of it, marking her different from all the other girls in the temple. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: Mary is three years and three months old when she makes the vow to become a temple virgin. She is tall and appears as a child of five or six, though only three years old. Emmerich also suggests how Mary is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit but, in her humility, was not aware of her special favor before God. Before entering the temple, Mary says her final farewell to Joachim, assuming that she will never see him again in this life. She dedicates herself to frequent prayer, rising often during the night to pray for the coming of the Messiah. 

My Conclusion: The Netflix film shows a more mature Mary entering the temple, though maybe it was as Emmerich suggests—that Mary appeared to be older while being younger. I believe that Mary, in virtue of the Immaculate Conception, was different than the rest of her peers, and it would have been evident. She would have been obedient to the expectations placed upon her and would not have acted as portrayed in the film.  I believe that Mary, in virtue of the Immaculate Conception, was different than the rest of her peers, and it would have been evident.Tweet This

Satan Confronts Mary 

Mary movie: The movie depicts Mary’s encounters with Satan while in the temple. 

Protoevangelium: Nothing is mentioned of a battle between good and evil with Mary and Lucifer. 

Maria of Agreda: It is revealed to Maria of Agreda that the devil knew the mother of the conqueror was on earth, but he was unable to identify who she was—though he wanted to destroy her—until after the Annunciation. Mary proved herself victorious time and again against the devil’s assaults. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: There is no dedicated chapter to this topic. 

My Conclusion: Mary has been shown to be efficacious against the temptations and snares of the evil one. She is the one who crushes the serpent’s head. A battle between good and evil surrounded Mary, and it is within the realm of possibility that Mary was confronted by Satan. The Netflix movie portrays her as timid. I think she would have been strong against him.  

The Betrothal of Mary to Joseph

Mary movie: Joseph sees Mary from across a waterway and immediately falls in love with her, saying there is something so special about her. He seeks out Joachim in Nazareth to ask permission to take Mary’s hand in marriage. When Joseph mentions an angel in blue, Joachim and Anne agree to his request. 

Protoevangelium: Mary, having reached the age of twelve, is to be dismissed from the temple. The priest Zacharias prays and is instructed by an angel to call forward all the widowers and one would be betrothed to Mary. Joseph responds to the call. Zacharias takes each man’s rod, brings them into the temple, prays over them, and distributes them back. When Joseph takes his, it flowers; and it is known that the virgin Mary is to be entrusted to his care.

Maria of Agreda: At the age of 13 and half, the Lord God reveals to Mary that she is to leave the temple and take a husband while remaining the espoused of God. When Mary was 14, several men gathered in the temple, including the 33-year-old Joseph who had vowed his life to chastity at the age of 12. The rod belonging to Joseph blossoms and a dove descends, resting upon Joseph’s head. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: As a young boy and man, Joseph prays frequently for the coming of the Messiah, living a life that is pleasing before God. He did receive an apparition of an angel who imparted a cryptic message about the granary of Redemption to be wedded. He dedicated himself to prayer before being summoned to Jerusalem. Several virgins were being dismissed from the temple. Branches were placed in the temple, and whoever’s branch flowered would become the spouse of Mary. None flowered, and it was discovered that Joseph was missing. When he arrived, a branch was given him, and it blossomed with a lily. 

My Conclusion: There is union between the Protoevangelium and the mystics that a flowering rod signified Joseph’s espousal to Mary. While the Netflix film may have similarities to the Protoevangelium, their narrative here departs from the tradition. 

Annunciation to Mary

Mary movie: The Archangel Gabriel appears to Mary while in prayer in the temple. Once it is known by the temple officials that Mary is with child, she is expelled from the temple and returns home to Nazareth. 

Protoevangelium: Mary goes to her house and needs to fill her water pitcher. As she is going about her business, the archangel Gabriel announces the coming of the Messiah to her through her. 

Maria of Agreda: The archangel Gabriel is sent by God to the town of Nazareth, to Mary’s dwelling, described by her as a humble cottage. She is 14 years, 5 months, and 17 days of age. Mary listens to the angel and proclaims her response of service to the Lord. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: Mary is praying in her home for the coming of the Messiah and redemption. All of a sudden, an angel appears. She receives the message and gives her yes to God. She is 14 years old at the time of the Annunciation. 

My Conclusion: Like the mystics, I readily admit I am fallible. My understanding of the Netflix film is that Mary is still in the temple when this occurs. This would be a direct contradiction of St. Luke’s Gospel that testifies the archangel was sent to Nazareth in Galilee. The scene in the movie has candles all around Mary and makes it feel like the temple. Her subsequent expulsion from the temple and arrival at her family home all point to an error in the Netflix film storyline. 

The Stoning of Mary?

Mary movie: Mary is captured by a crowd of people who want to stone her for her unfaithfulness. Joseph steps in and advocates for Mary, rescuing her and taking her to a place of safety. 

Protoevangelium: The pregnancy of Mary is discovered by the temple priests, who confront Joseph and Mary. The Protoevangelium says that both Mary and Joseph were unhurt and does not make mention of a possible stoning. 

Maria of Agreda: St. Joseph learns of Mary’s pregnancy after her visit to Elizabeth, as Mary concealed it from him before her departure. Once St. Joseph becomes aware, he wishes to divorce her quietly, but the angel comes in a dream to comfort him. He apologizes to Mary and devotes himself to her. No mention is made of a stoning of Mary. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: The fast-paced text of Anne Catherine Emmerich does not address this possibility. In a passing reference, Emmerich makes mention of Joseph becoming aware that Mary was pregnant and that he kept silent. His anxiety grew and he was going to leave when the angel told him to stay. This is all reported in a matter of a few sentences. 

My Conclusion: This is the second time I have seen this in a theatrical production. I recently saw it in The Miracle of Christmas at Sight & Sound in Branson, Missouri, and now in this film. The Gospel of St. Luke tells us that Joseph was going to quietly divorce her. His intention and that of the community could be different, and it is possible that a town could revolt against Mary. In both the Branson show and the Netflix film, Joseph intervenes and protects Mary. The storyline hearkens to the Gospel story of a woman going to be stoned and Jesus preventing it. This could be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ compassion. 

The Murder of Joachim

Mary movie: Joachim is murdered. Anne, Joseph, and Mary bury him. 

Protoevangelium: There is no account of the death of St. Joachim. 

Maria of Agreda: St. Joachim dies while Mary is in the temple, and Anne does too. Mary is transported mystically to be present at their bedsides while remaining in the temple. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: The death of Joachim is not recounted in Emmerich’s writings, but it is alluded to in a few ways. Mary says her goodbye to Joachim before entering the temple. He does not appear again in the accounts. In Emmerich’s writings, St. Anne goes on to remarry and have other children. 

My Conclusion: I do not believe that Joachim would have seen the espousal and pregnancy of Mary. I believe he passed before the events took place. 

The Birth of Jesus

Mary movie: Jesus is born while Mary labors in childbirth. 

Protoevangelium: Describes the infant appearing and taking at the breast of Mary. A midwife named Salome is told of the virgin birth and wishes to witness this herself by an examination of Mary, during which Salome experiences a punishment from God and begs for her hand to be restored to her. 

Maria of Agreda: Jesus miraculously comes forth from the womb and does not impair the virginity of Mary. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: She simply says, “At that moment she gave birth to the Infant Jesus. I saw Him like a tiny, shining Child, lying on the rug at her knees, and brighter far than all the other brilliancy.”

My Conclusion: When it comes to the birth of Jesus in film, this is almost always the point that Catholics dwell on and dismiss a movie over. We hold to the virgin birth affected by the Immaculate Conception. How did the birth take place since Mary was without sin? The perpetual virginity of Mary is likened to the burning bush, an image that both Maria of Agreda and Emmerich employ in their writings about the birth of Jesus. The Fathers have likened the birth of Jesus to that of Jesus passing through locked doors after the Resurrection. Both the Protoevangelium and the mystics assert an appearance of the newborn Christ. 

Holy Innocents

Mary movie: Joseph and Mary are confronted by soldiers who want to kill them and baby Jesus. They barely escape, while Herod is in his palace after dozens of newborn infants were brought to him. 

Protoevangelium: Herod orders the death of all children two and under. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus go with Elizabeth and baby John. Elizabeth prays and finds an opening in a mountain where they hide. 

Maria of Agreda: The events align with the account of the Gospels, and Elizabeth protects John from the slaughter. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: The murder of the Holy Innocents began around when John the Baptist was two years old. 

My Conclusion: By the time Herod decreed the slaughter of the children, I believe that Mary and Joseph would have been in Egypt. The Netflix film places this before the Presentation of Jesus in the temple which took place 40 days after His nativity. It would have been a nice ending to the movie to show the flight into Egypt, as that really closes the Nativity story. The Netflix film’s portrayal does not capture my own prayerful reflection on the Holy Innocents.

Presentation in the Temple

Mary movie: Jesus is presented in the temple; Mary is greeted by the prophetess Anna who had been awaiting her return. Simeon offers his prophecy. 

Protoevangelium: Zacharias is found murdered in the temple. Simeon is selected as his successor and is told by the Holy Spirit that he will not see death until he holds the Promised One. 

Maria of Agreda: Out of obedience to the Law, the one who will cleanse the temple and is the beloved son of God is brought to the temple. 

Anne Catherine Emmerich: Mary is brought into the temple for her purification, and Simeon offers his prophecy. 

My Conclusion: The depiction of the Netflix film is a faithful capturing of the Presentation. There is a beauty in seeing Mary return to the temple that she served in and being greeted again by the Prophetess Anna, who served as a mentor and teacher to Mary. 

Mary is the Immaculate Conception

The screenwriters, producers, and directors of Mary on Netflix miss the essence of Mary. Do they tell something of her story? Yes. Do they capture it in a way that is faithful to the Scriptures, saints, and Tradition? It leaves something to be desired. Several scenes present a Mary that is unrecognizable to me as a Marian theologian. I believe what is missing to this presentation of Mary is an understanding of what the Immaculate Conception is and means for her. With a better grasp of Mary’s sinlessness and the working of God in her life, a different Mary would have been presented. 

Fortunately, for those who wish to understand Mary and love her even more, a new film will be in theaters as a Fathom Event beginning December 12. The docudrama I Am the Immaculate Conception brings interviews from priests of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and helps us appreciate who Mary is in the plan of God.

Even though Netflix’ Mary is a flawed portrayal of who she is as our mother, intercessor, advocate, and mediatrix, I am hopeful that a viewer will still be introduced to Mary’s role in salvation history and that it could lead to further study and exploration in the future if a person would so choose. While I can tell you to boycott it and not watch it, I will still pray that this movie can bear good fruit for the sake of devotion to Our Lady.