Mother of God

Catholic Teaching

Catechism of the Catholic Church

963 Since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. "The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer."

Argument

Premise 1: Jesus is God.

Demonstrated in Jesus is Lord and God.

Premise 2: Mary is the mother of Jesus.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus." (Luk 1:30-31)

Conclusion: Mary is the mother of God.

Objections & Replies

Objection 1

God existed before Mary, so Mary cannot be called his mother. God is the origin of Mary, not the other way around.

Reply: This is a straw man since motherhood does not imply source of origin. God is the origin of all Creation, including Mary. Motherhood implies that a woman conceived and bore a child. The child that Mary conceived and bore in her womb was indeed God.

Objection 2

Jesus has two natures, human and divine. While Mary did give birth to Jesus, who is God, she only gave birth to his human nature. His divine nature always existed since before Mary, and therefore it is incorrect to call her the mother of God.

Reply: A mother does not give birth to a nature but to a person. The person of Jesus Christ has two natures: human and divine. What was conceived in and bore by Mary was a person who was both human and divine. It is therefore proper to call Mary Mother of God.

Scripture

Luke 1:30-31

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus."

Commentary:

Passages Compiled: Mat 5:25-26, 1 Cor 3:10-15

Tradition

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