Holy Virgin Mary

Saint of the day:

The title “Mother of God” goes back to the third or fourth century, but the Greek term Theotokos (“The God-bearer”) was officially consecrated as Catholic doctrine at the Council of Ephesus in 431, thus becoming the first Marina dogma. At the end of the Council of Ephesus, crowds of people marched through the streets shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!”.

This Catholic doctrine is based on the doctrine of Incarnation, as expressed by St. Paul: “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4).

In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution “Lumen Gentium” (“Light of the People”) calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times.

On this day the Catholic Church also celebrates the World Day of Peace…

I took this photo at the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth not so long ago:

And as we stand at the start of a brand new year, I can think of no better way to begin than by focusing on the wonder that is the Incarnation of God. That He, who is Eternal, would take on human flesh, our likeness, to become one of us, and that for the purpose of our redemption, is just mind-blowing. What grace, what mercy, and what love! And the question we would do well to ask is, where would we be without God’s offer of salvation in His Son Christ Jesus? The answer, quite simply: Dead in our sins (Rom 6:23). ‘But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us’ (Rom 5:8). And God’s chosen vehicle, the one appointed to be the earthly Mother of the Incarnate God, was a young Jewish maiden, who in an act of great faith, responded to the message of an angel with the simple words that have resounded across centuries:

‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’ (Lk 1:38).

What a portrait of devotion and faith!    

You may also like to look at:

• Visions of Mary at First Things.
• Marian faith always points to Christ by Archbishop Charles J Chaput.
• The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God by Bishop Paul Andre Durocher.
• The story of Virgin Mary, as told in the Qur’an in the Winnipeg free press.

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