Mary, mother of Jesus, is a central figure in Christianity. According to tradition, she was chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah, conceiving through the Holy Spirit while remaining a virgin. Betrothed to Joseph, she gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. She raised him in Nazareth and accompanied him until his crucifixion. Present at Pentecost, she is venerated as the Mother of the Church. Catholic tradition affirms her Assumption into heaven. Her cult is particularly strong in Lorraine, notably with the sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Sion. She is the patron saint of France and many Christian countries. No precise date is known, but some traditions place the end of her life in Jerusalem or Ephesus, between the years 40 and 50.
