family prayer | Christmas Season | Blessed Virgin Mary
Today in addition to welcoming another year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. If unfamiliar with the phrase, ‘Mother of God,’ it would seem to imply some supernatural or divine being. It seems a little daunting to imagine ‘Mother of God.’ Perhaps the title brings to mind some supremely far away, celestial, or an unreachable person. However, in truth, the ‘Mother of God,’ refers to the Mary, the young girl from Nazareth, who by her Fiat, brought to the world the Incarnation of God, Jesus...
The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the Greek “Theotokos,” which means “God-bearer.” This important title, which proclaims Mary’s divine motherhood, was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. The foundation is based on the understanding that Mary is the mother of Jesus, whom we believe to be God, she would then be the Mother of God.
“Mary is truly ‘Mother of God’ since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 509).
Simply stated by the angel Gabriel when speaking to Mary at the Annunciation, “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus’” (Luke 1:30-31).
In truth, Mary’s seemingly spectacular and supernatural title does what Mary always does, points us to her Son, Jesus. By proclaiming Mary to be the Mother of God; we further profess our faith in Christ as both fully human and fully divine.
“Mary did not give Jesus His divine nature or His divine personhood—those He possessed from all eternity as the only begotten Son of the Father. But she also didn’t just give Him His flesh: She gave birth to the whole person. She gave birth to Jesus Christ, both God and man. That is what we confess every time we say the Apostles’ Creed” (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology).
If Jesus were not God, then Mary would not be the Mother of God. This is why we love and honor Mary because by every aspect of her life, she continually draws us closer to her Son, Jesus! This, then, is why we ask Mary to pray for us. Who better to advocate for us to Jesus Christ our Lord than His very own Mother? Who wouldn’t listen to their beloved mother?
In addition to being the Mother of God, Jesus even tells us to turn to her as our own mother, too. John’s Gospel says, “When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26-27). This is the moment that Jesus gives His whole Church to Mary as her children and gives Mary to us as our mother. How amazing is that? The mother of our Lord advocates for us in the same manner as a loving, dotting mother who always wants the best for her children.
What a generous God we have that she who is called Mother of God, also embraces us as her children! She is the most perfect advocate for all our prayer needs! So, as we embark on this new year, if we find ourselves struggling in prayer or need someone to turn to for help — let us all come to Mary! She is the Mother of our God and our most powerful and loving advocate to Him!