Mary, Mother of God
Year Recognized by the Church: 431 AD
Pope in Office: Pope Celestine I (422-432 AD)
Declared By: The Council of Ephesus
Feast Day: January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God)
Apparition: Not directly associated with an apparition.
Mary, Mother of God, also known as Theotokos (“God-bearer”), affirms Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus Christ, who is both fully divine and fully human. This title was officially defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to combat heretical teachings that questioned Christ’s divinity. By declaring Mary as the Mother of God, the Church underscores her integral role in the mystery of the Incarnation and her unique position in salvation history.
Dedication to Mary, Mother of God
O Mary, Mother of God and our mother, we offer ourselves to your loving care. Today we choose you as our mother, guide and friend. May we always be faithful to you, and desire, say and do only what is pleasing to you. O most tender and loving mother, we beg you through the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, your Divine Son, to keep us especially dear to you and to obtain for us the strength to lead a holy life, a life of goodness, purity and love, offered to God in thanksgiving and praise. Be present with us at all times, O Blessed Virgin Mary, and especially at the hour of our death. Then Mary protect us from the Evil One, the enemy of our souls. Guide us safely into the presence of Jesus, the Risen Lord, so that we may, with you and all the saints, share His life, happiness and love, forever. Amen.
Resources for Mary, Mother of God
Mary: God’s Yes to Man
Saint JP II
A profound reflection on Mary’s role in salvation history and her relationship with Christ and the Church.
Hail Holy Queen
Dr. Scott Hahn
A theological exploration of Mary’s role through Scripture, offering a deeper understanding of her as the Mother of God.
Mary Mother of God
Grzegorz Górny
A richly illustrated and thoroughly documented exploration of the life of Mary.
Theotokos: A Theological Encyclopedia of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Michael O’Carroll
A comprehensive reference that dives into the theology, history, and devotion surrounding Mary, including her title as Mother of God.
Theology of Mary, Mother of God
The Catholic Church honors Mary with the title “Mother of God,” a name rich in theological meaning and deeply rooted in tradition. This revered title not only reflects her special role in salvation history but also affirms core Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ. What does it mean to call Mary the Mother of God? How did this title come to be, and why is it vital to our faith? Let us delve into the history and meaning of this profound designation.
Understanding Mary as the Mother of God begins with understanding the nature of Jesus Christ. Christianity teaches that Jesus is one person with two distinct natures: fully divine and fully human. Known as the Hypostatic Union, this doctrine holds that Jesus’ divine and human natures are inseparably united. This belief is central to comprehending Mary’s unique role.
Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is God incarnate. Therefore, it follows that Mary is rightly called the Mother of God—not as the origin of His divinity, but as the mother of the person who is both God and man. By giving birth to Jesus, the second person of the Holy Trinity who took on human nature, Mary becomes the Mother of God in a profound and mysterious sense. This title emphasizes the divine identity of her Son while reaffirming the mystery of the Incarnation.
The Council of Ephesus and the Declaration of the Title
The title “Mother of God” (Greek: Theotokos, meaning “God-bearer”) was formally defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. This ecumenical council was convened to address the teachings of Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, who argued that Mary should only be referred to as “Christotokos” (Mother of Christ). Nestorius’ view suggested a separation between Jesus’ divine and human natures, undermining the unity of His person.
The bishops at the council rejected this view, affirming that Mary could rightly be called Theotokos. They emphasized that Jesus Christ is one person with two natures, fully God and fully man, and that Mary gave birth to this unified person. The council issued this powerful decree: “If anyone does not confess that Emmanuel is truly God and that the holy Virgin is therefore the Mother of God, since she gave birth according to the flesh to the Word of God made flesh, let him be anathema.”
The Importance of the Title
The title “Mother of God” safeguards vital truths about the Christian faith. It affirms the Incarnation, the central belief that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. By calling Mary the Mother of God, Christians uphold the unity of Jesus’ divine and human natures, a truth essential for understanding His role as Redeemer.
Moreover, this title highlights Mary’s unparalleled role in salvation history. By her fiat, or willing “yes” to God’s plan, she became the mother of the Savior. Her title, Theotokos, honors her cooperation with God’s grace and her singular place in the life of the Church.
Theological Support for Mary, Mother of God
Biblical Reference
Luke 1:35 – “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”
Luke 1:43 – “And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
Galatians 4:4 – “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.”
Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church
CCC 495 – “Called in the Gospels “the mother of Jesus,” Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as “the mother of my Lord.” In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father’s eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly “Mother of God” (Theotokos),”
CCC 509 – “Mary is truly “Mother of God” since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself,”
CCC 721 – “Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church’s Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the “Seat of Wisdom.” In her, the “wonders of God” that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ and the Church began to be manifested,”
Theological Insights from the Saints
St. Cyril of Alexandria (376–444) – “If anyone does not confess that the Emmanuel in truth is God, and therefore that the holy Virgin is the Mother of God (Theotokos), for she bore in a fleshly way the Word of God become flesh, let him be anathema.”
This statement affirms the dogma of Mary as Theotokos (“God-bearer”), defended at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD), which St. Cyril championed.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) – “Mary is more blessed in receiving the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. For to her, it was said, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.’ And so also she is blessed because she kept it in her mind as well as in her body.”
Augustine emphasizes that Mary’s divine motherhood is deeply rooted in her faith and obedience to God.
St. John Damascene (676–749) – “O most blessed Virgin, you are the temple, the gate, the palace, the throne of the King. From you, my Redeemer, Christ the Lord, appeared to the world, clothed in your flesh.”
In his Marian hymns, St. John Damascene reflects on Mary’s dignity as the Mother of God, through whom Christ entered the world.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) – “She is the Mother of the Creator, yet remains a virgin; she is the one who bore the Light and remains in the radiance of her purity.”
Bernard eloquently highlights the mystery of Mary’s perpetual virginity and her unique role as Mother of God.
St. Louis de Montfort (1673–1716) – “God the Father made an assemblage of all the waters, and He named it the sea; He made an assemblage of all His graces, and He called it Mary.”
Louis de Montfort often reflected on Mary’s role as the Mother of God, emphasizing her as the mediatrix of grace.
St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941) – “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”
Kolbe frequently meditated on the mystery of Mary as the Mother of God, encouraging a deep devotion to her.
St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582) – “In difficulties, in struggles, when the judgments of men press upon you, turn to Mary, and you will see that the Son who was born of her will come to your aid.”
Teresa honors Mary’s divine maternity, encouraging trust in her intercession.
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787) – “Since Mary is the Mother of God, she is also the Mother of every one of us. God has placed the whole price of redemption in her hands.”
Liguori reflects on the universality of Mary’s role as Mother of God and spiritual mother – to all believers.
Mary: The Mother of God, The Footprints of God (DVD)
Steve Ray
Mary’s ordinary life took an extraordinary turn whe she agreed to become the MOther of God.
Additional Titles of Mary
- Mother of Divine Grace
- Mother Most Chaste
- Mother Most Admirable
- Virgin Most Merciful
- Virgin Most Renowned
- Tower of David
- Tower of Ivory
- House of Gold
- Mirror of Justice
- Seat of Wisdom
- Mystical Rose
- Rose Without Thorns
- Spiritual Vessel
- Vessel of Honor
- Singular Vessel of Devotion
- Refuge of the Afflicted
- Advocate of Eve
- Lily Among Thorns
- Temple of the Holy Spirit
- Treasury of the Church
- Handmaid of the Lord
- Bride of the Holy Spirit
- Holy Mother of Unity
- Daughter of Zion
- New Eve