Why Do Catholics Call Mary the Mother of God?

06-09-2019Why do we do that?

The simple answer is: Because she is the Mother of Jesus, Mary is the Mother of God. As Vatican II puts it: “At the message of the angel, the Virgin Mary received the Word of God in her heart and in her body, and gave life to the world. Hence, she is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer” (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, #53).

This does not mean that Mary was the source of the divine nature of Jesus, but that she was the mother of his human nature and that there was no time when the human Jesus was not God. The second person of the Trinity existed for all eternity, but when the “Word became flesh,” Jesus was both human and divine from the first moment of his conception. Mary was Mother of Jesus Christ, both God and a human. Therefore, it is proper for us to call Mary the “Mother of God.”

Why Do We Call Mary, Mother of the Church?

Another important Catholic truth about Mary is that she is given to us as a mother. “Woman, here is your son,” said Jesus on the cross to Mary. “Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother’ (John 19:2627). Most commentators say that the disciple stands for all Christian disciples and that Mary is being presented as mother to all Christian disciples. This led the Church to see and call Mary “Mother of the Church.” 

What is more, Mary continues this persevering prayer with and for the Church. Taken up into heaven she did not put aside her saving office of concern for us whom Christ gave to her as her children.

On this Solemnity of the Pentecost, May, Mary, our Mother and Queen of Heaven, Pray for us her children, amen!

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