Mother of GodSolemnity of Mary, Mother of God - January 1Doctrine Even though the New Testament uses a variety of images in its reflection on Mary, that of mother is most fundamental. The historical fact that Mary gave birth to Jesus established her unique relationship to her Son, a relationship that serves as the basis for all other reflections about her. That simple fact is declared throughout the New Testament: Jesus did not drop down from heaven; he was born of a woman. Paul gives that fundamental belief in his Letter to the Galatians: (first letter written): But when the completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman . . . (Galatians 4:4). The title Mother of God had a fiercely fought history. No one ever doubted that she was mother of Jesus, that she gave birth to Jesus of Nazareth, that she was the mother of the one who died on the cross during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. But since some in the early days of Christianity doubted the Divinity of the Son, they doubted also her claim to that title Mother of God. Mother of Jesus - Yes: Mother of God - No. At times, a given issue comes to a head. Then an Ecumenical Council (General Council), a meeting of bishops representing the entire Church is called together; which proposes carefully phrased doctrines, statements to be believed by the entire Church.
Subsequent Ecumenical Councils (of the whole Christian World), such as Chaleedon, 451 A.D., and 11 Constantinople, 553 A.D., made the meaning of Mother of God even more precise. The Council of Ephesus 431 and the Council of Chaleedon 45 1, reinterpreted the biblical language to express the essence of Jesus as having the nature of God and the nature of man in one and the same person. The Churchs insistence on this title, Mother of God, (Greek: Theotokos - God bearing), is understandable, since no other formula makes so evident the intimate link between devotion to the Virgin Mary and belief in the Incarnation (Latin, taking on human flesh). This title was already in use in parts of the Church as early as the third century. The original form of the familiar prayer, We fly to your patronage, 0 holy Mother of God may also be that early. |
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In 431 a Council was called at Ephesus because Nestorius, the Patriarch (Church leader) of Constantinople and some of his followers refused to call Mary the Mother of God. He taught that there were two separate persons in Christ, one divine, the other human. He held that Mary is not the Mother of God, but of the man Jesus Christ. His heresy was strongly opposed by Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, who condemned Nestorius. The Council declared at its first meeting that Mary was the Mother of God. That evening crowds of Ephesians were jubilant and chanting, Praised be the Theotokos (Creek, God-bearer), Long live Cyril, accompanied Cyril and the bishops to their hostels.
