Why didn’t Virgin Mary visit the tomb after Jesus was buried? What happened on Saturday, the day after Jesus was laid to rest.

The Gospels do not specify if the Virgin Mary went to Jesus’ tomb after his burial. Here is the interesting part, though: the Gospels actually record two separate occasions where Jesus was anointed after his death. If you look in Matthew 27:57-61 or John 19:38-42, it mentions that Joseph of Arimathea wrapped and buried Jesus. He was helped by Nicodemus, who brought the myrrh and aloes. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention that the women who witnessed the Crucifixion (which included at least three Mary’s: the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James) saw the tomb where Jesus was laid. However, it does not mention that they went inside the tomb.

This leads us to Easter morning. The Gospels mention that some of the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. This is actually what leads to them discovering the empty tomb! The Gospels do not say specifically whether or not the Virgin Mary was a part of that group. Perhaps she was–and if so, there is the answer.

Now, if it happened that she didn’t go with the other women, the most logical explanation would be that she was with the Eleven, keeping them company. Remember that in John 19, Jesus also commends Mary to John from the Cross, and “from that hour, the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:27). These words have a deeply spiritual meaning (Jesus declares Mary the Mother of all disciples), but they also have a practical meaning: Jesus entrusted his beloved Mother to John’s care.

I like to imagine that Mary was encouraging the other disciples, mourning with them and consoling them after the death of the Lord. Mary’s faith was unshakeable and her presence probably brought ease to the disciples. Fear would not have held her back from the tomb.

Interestingly, while it is not official teaching, some cultures have a pious tradition that Jesus appeared to his Blessed Mother on Easter morning as well. It’s a beautiful scene to envision–imagine Mary’s joy! The Gospels are silent on the matter, but I see no reason not to believe that Mary witnessed her resurrected Son or saw the empty tomb.