PAUL AND MARY

In Kristine McKenna’s article on Robert Rauschenberg (“Extra Sensory Expression,” Nov. 24), she quotes him as saying, “I remembered that when Jesus was on the cross, he told Paul to look after his mother. . . .” I don’t think there is any biblical or other historical evidence that Paul ever met Jesus (Paul was not converted until several years after the death of Jesus). The escorting of Mary to Ephesus is usually attributed to John, but I don’t think this is stated in the Bible.

Rauschenberg also implies that “the book” states that Mary “went to heaven bodily.” This is not stated in the Bible, but rather in the papal bull of 1950. Although some of the guides at Ephesus say that Mary is buried there, their information is probably no more reliable than Rauschenberg’s.

CHARLES JOYCE

Lake Forest