If you’re like me, then you love the Christmas time of year for many reasons. I especially love Christmas decorations, meals, and music. It’s marvelous to hear “Joy to the world, the Lord has come… Let earth receive her king!” being announced as a proclamation everywhere, even if most listeners don’t notice the strong Messianic themes of such a song.
However, not all Christmas songs are so glorious. Some are just silly, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman (both of which I like to sing with my youngest son), and yet others are insidious. Now, I don’t mean to be an alarmist, nor do I intend to nit-pick all theologically inaccurate Christmas music, but I want to toss out a friendly reminder that Christians ought to be choosy about what they embrace as Christ-honoring carols.
Listen to whatever music you like, and enjoy the jingling bells of Christmas, but don’t assume that every Christmas song is a tribute to the Christ, who ought to be the central focus of Christmas.
Take ‘Ave Maria,’ for example. I’m not sure how it ever became a Christmas song, since it doesn’t focus on Jesus or His birth (or incarnation). It only mentions “Jesus” as the “fruit” of Mary’s “womb” in passing, which basically amounts to a vague acknowledgement, not a joyful and profound announcement. Nevertheless, it has a beautiful musical arrangement. Who isn’t amazed by the range and pitch of this incredible music? I am especially impressed with Andrea Bocelli’s rendition… What a voice!
But, Christians should be interested in the content (the lyrics and substance) of any song to which they give their ears. Christianity is a religion of content, substance, and truth. Christianity rises or falls on the basis of historical and theological propositions.
Christians believe that Jesus really was born of a virgin named Mary, that this God-man lived to die, and that Jesus conquered death forevermore for all those who would believe and follow Him. Christians believe (as the Scriptures teach) that Jesus is the one and only mediator between God and sinful people, and Christians seek grace from God through Christ alone for forgiveness, life, and salvation.
However, the song Ave Maria speaks of a different mediator and hope-giver in the hour of one’s death. See the lyrics below, the Latin on the left and English on the right.
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Ora pro nobis, Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Ave Maria
Hail, Mary
Full of grace.
Mary full of grace
Mary full of grace
Blessed are you among women
Hail, hail, the Lord
The Lord is with you
And blessed
And blessed is the fruit of your womb
Your womb, Jesus
Hail, Mary
Hail, Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Pray for us, pray, pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of death
And at the hour of death
And at the hour of death
And at the hour of death
Hail, Mary
This song of prayer and admiration for Mary is a mixture of Scriptural truth (blessings upon Mary and her role in giving birth to Jesus) and terrible falsehood (Mary as one’s intercessor and hope in the hour of death).
Mary cannot save or rescue anyone. She can’t even intercede for you. We can know she can’t do these for you because she can’t do them for herself.
Mary, like all other decendants of Adam (our first human parent), is a guilty sinner before God. Apart from the person and work of Christ on her behalf, Mary would be hopeless and helpless.
Don’t sing to Mary. Don’t pray to Mary. And certainly, don’t place your hope for grace in Mary.
If you are a sinner in need of grace (like me), then the Christmas story has much hope to offer you. God has sent Jesus Christ into the world to live and die and conquer death for guilty sinners.
This message of the gospel is what Christmas is all about, and I recommend that you give every moment you are able to the investigation of the singularly spectacular hero of Christmas – Jesus Christ.
Marc Minter is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Diana, TX. He and his wife, Cassie, have two sons, Micah and Malachi.
Connect with Marc on Twitter or Facebook.
Marc Minter 
I respect your post, but I must disagree. I do not think this song is asking Mary to intercede or rescue anyone; it’s simply a plea for her prayer. I might ask you to pray for me too, but that in now way would deify you nor have any expectation of special intercession because the prayer comes from you rather than any other. As such, I feel this is not an inappropriate song to sing to celebrate His birthday! 🙂
Bob, thanks for the reply… and for the respectful disagreement.
I wonder, however, why you’d think it appropriate to “plea” for Mary to “pray” for you. Where would you ever get such an idea from Scripture?
Also, doesn’t the idea that you’d need/want Mary’s prayer at least imply that Mary is a sort of mediator or intermediary between you and Christ?
Furthermore, why in the world would a person pray to Mary for Mary’s prayer in their final moments of life… as they are about to meet their Maker?
Anyway, these are just some of my questions for someone who thinks the song is an appropriate one. Thanks again for the interaction.
So you have trouble with Scripture? The first part of that comes straight from the Gospel of Luke.
Mary is the mother of Jesus and ascended i.to heaven what is so wrong with Ave Maria at Christmas. If you don’ t like the song don” t listen to it.
….. No, just no
Ave Maria is a song that has been played at family funerals. An Italian
Catholic staple. Dr. Google says that Shubert wrote the music. William Scott wrote the poem. Lady by the Lake. Then the Catholic church made a Hymn of it, beautiful it is.
James, if what you’re saying is true… that Ava Maria is a regular funeral song for many… then my criticism of the song is all the more pertinent. I agree with you that the song is beautiful, but the lyrics are tragic. To sing such a song at a funeral is to display an utterly impotent even if heartfelt cry.
Anyone who calls out to Mary for salvation or rescue will be sorely disappointed. Only Jesus, who Himself conquered death, can give sinners like us hope in the face of that universal and impartial enemy.
The fact is, Ave Maria, is a song for many occasions, especially major ones such as Christmas, certain feast days, funeral, etc.
How can the lyric be interpreted as sad when it may lead us to Heaven (for funeral per se)? It’s a prayer to ask for God’s mercy, as an example, and not to mourn the dead person.
Yes, Jesus is the only one to “pray to”. And no one calls Mary (or anyone) for salvation, but for intercession. There are plenty of verses in the Bible that supports praying to others (regardless in Heaven of on earth). One example is: “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects” (James 5:16-17).
Lastly, not considering Ave Maria as a Christmas song is basically acknowledging someone’s birth but totally ignoring the mother’s labour and pregnancy period, pain, etc.
Did you even read the article, Jason? Or only the first few paragraphs?
You’ve not addressed any of the points I raised, nor have you coherently argued any point on your end.
I’ll approve your comment, but I think any further comments from you should stick with the topic at hand.
Thanks for clicking on my article (even if you didn’t apparently read much of it).
So glad I researched this. I was considering playing it on my flute sometime early in the year and wondered if it was only for Christmas. In a way your thoughts are a spoiler for me. Also enlightening. Now that I know the lyrics I see it your way. As a Christian I now hesitate to play it at all. I’ll pull something else out of my repertoire. Thank you and God bless.
Praying for one is different from praying to someone. Only Jesus can save, only God the Father thru the name of Jesus is worthy of prayer as that is the only to get a prayer answered. To pray to someone else is idolatry. We can make an idol out of many things, I for one, don’t want to be guilty of such.
Dear Pastor Minter,
Firstly, I want to thank you for bringing up this topic. It was really very interesting. I enjoyed both your article and the responses.
Secondly, I just love the hymn Ave Maria. It is just indescribably beautiful. Whether or not it is a true “Christmas” song, that certainly is debatable. However…I do think that Mary actually doesn’t get as much credit in Christianity as she actually deserves. And I guess, since there are Catholics, I’m not the only one. LOL
Just think about it…Mary was “chosen” by God to bear his Son. Hand picked out of so many, to birth and raise the Son of God!!?? At 15 years old?!! God picked her! I could barely drive and knew nothing about the world when I was 15 years old. There is absolutely no way I could have done what she did. And she didn’t do it for herself! She did it for others! All of us!
I just don’t understand why singing to Mary, about Mary, praying to her for her graciousness (not substituting her for God or Jesus or asking her for salvation, but more like a Mother, to watch over us, care for us, steer us in the right direction to praise God and Jesus…isn’t a good thing? It takes a village…and I surely hope she is part of mine.
I know you have a wife and children (at least according to your bio on your webpage, you do). Do you not hold a significant amount of honor and respect for your wife, and the fact that she bore your sons? You gave you the most blessed gifts of your life through God. And she didn’t even birth Jesus!
Thirdly…and I do not mean to be disrespectful at all…and also, I just happened to stumble across this webpage today (December 6th 2023), so I know I’m a tad late to the party…but your response to Jason’s post on November 9th, 2021…It just seemed so hurtful, chastising, and frankly…pretty “judgmental”…borderline hostile, really. And I have quoted (cut and pasted) your response to him as:
“Did you even read the article, Jason? Or only the first few paragraphs?
You’ve not addressed any of the points I raised, nor have you coherently argued any point on your end.
I’ll approve your comment, but I think any further comments from you should stick with the topic at hand.
Thanks for clicking on my article (even if you didn’t apparently read much of it).”
Never…ever…(ever!)…in my life has a pastor or priest or rabbi or any supposed “man of God” spoken to me or anyone I know in this manner. It’s just rude and disrespectful. And although, I know all mankind is “human” and we all have our faults, this response just seemed so harsh and unnecessary. I we are the sheep, and He is God, then you are supposed to be our shepherd. I can’t imagine a “flock” following you around to listen to you share the word of God if you speak to all of them this way? I will definitely keep you in my prayers and hope that you can come to terms with the fact that apparently God himself called you to share his word with others, but surely he did not intend for you to be mean or cruel.
Blessings,
Christine
“My soul magnifies the Lord…For behold henceforth all generations will call me blessed for He who is mighty has done great things for me.” Luke:55:47 “ Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed, with a loud cry, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 55:40. God chose her to bring the Savior into the world. If I were Perfect Love and capable of anything would I not cover my mother with great glory? She is also our mother given to us at the foot of the cross. “Woman, behold your son. Then He said to His disciple, ‘Behold your Mother.” John:63:27. Considering how much the Son of God loves His mother, on judgment day I think I would want to err on the side of loving and giving due respect to His mother rather than being critical and trying to put her down for any reason!