Who Is the “Mother of Jesus” at Cana? A Mariological Interpretation of John 2:1-12

Abstract

This essay has three parts. The first part examines successively the mariological claim of the pericope of Cana, the titles it uses, and its assertion that the miracle is a sign. The second part is a short consideration of the origin of the pericope, in order to show its historical and cultural background. The third part tries to describe the figure of the mother of Jesus, interpreting the hints given in the text, considering the background of the fourth Gospel. The conclusion examines the validity of the common claim that the mother of Jesus is the mother of Christians, and that she can be a model for Africans, mostly for African women. The relevant points of the reflection are then brought together.