Mary is God

Question from inhisname44 on 2/14/2008:  
If mary was the Mother of God then ...

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Answer by Fr. John Echert on 2/14/2008: 
Among the many titles appropriately applied to Mary by the Church, Mother of God is one such singular and honorable title. This English title follows upon what was solemnly declared at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD), wherein Mary was given the title “Theotokos” (God bearer). The word “Theo” means God and the word “tokos” means to bring forth. Hence, the title is literally understood as “The One Who Brought Forth God.” Notice that the Church does not restrict this title to the humanity of Christ. Had the Church wanted such a limited application of the motherhood of Mary, such a title would no doubt have been applied and now be the norm. But the Church fully intended what sounds to many so incredible: that Mary is the Mother of God. This title is based upon an essential theological principle and not simply by nature. This is not to suggest that she as a creature is the biological mother of God in His divine Essence but follows upon the fact that she was and is the true mother of the humanity of Christ and what can be said of one aspect of Christ can be affirmed of Christ as an individual. To fail to acknowledge this has dire consequences, for then we could not say that God suffered and died for, in which case we would remain unredeemed. In short, the Church affirmed that Mary is the Mother of God qua God, in the qualified sense that she is creature and God is an eternal being. And while there is no explicit statement in the Bible, "Mary is the Mother of God," we do have the words of Elizabeth in the Visitation, "Why is granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" I suggest that the title "Mother of my Lord" is foundational to what the Church has articulated, "Mother of God." The OT uses "Lord" and "God" interchangeably when referring to God. So the title applied by the Church is biblically based, though also a matter of Tradition.

As to Protestant misunderstanding, without being unkind I must say that my experience is that the problem of misunderstanding is not so much due to Catholic practice and language but the fact that there were splits from the Church centuries ago and now the descendants of those who left full communion have been brought up with a principles and a predisposition to either mistrust or reject what is held to by Tradition or taught by the Magisterium. We work hard at apologetics and have recently published The Catechism of the Catholic Church which clearly and simply articulates the bulk of what we believe as Catholics. This book is available widely and inexpensively and I hope every Christian in the world and every non-believer as well buys this book and reads precisely what we believe. I have never in my entire life of mixing with Catholics found one who worshipped Mary, yet this is a common charge heard from some non-Catholics. Bah! We have done nothing to contribute to such a charge and I suspect that those who hold such a position have done even less to verify what it is they believe about us.

Please, to all non-Catholics reading this posting, if you want to know what the Church believes and teaches, get a copy of The Catholic Catechism of the Church and read it cover to cover. This should leave no doubt as to what Catholics believe.

Father Echert