MORAL STORIES

HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

During the visitation by St. Mary, her elderly cousin Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son, John the Baptist, was baptized in her womb and jumped with joy. St. Elizabeth, filled with and inspired by the Holy Spirit, addressed St. Mary as 'my Lord's mother.' She exclaimed, "You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? {Luke 1: 42, 43}. The original word for 'Lord' used here in Hebrew is, "Adonai" and in Greek, "Kyrios". These mean "Lord God" (Yahweh). This is the equivalent of the salutation, "Holy Mary, Mother of God," which Catholics repeat in the Holy Rosary.

We firmly believe that St. Mary conceived Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through her, was born as man, Jesus Christ—the second person of the Holy Trinity, one-in-being (consubstantial) with the Father and the Holy spirit, and true God from true God. Jesus is true God and true man. In His person are united both a divine nature and a human nature. We believe that Jesus is a divine person, and this person is God. St.Mary is Jesus' Mother. Hence St.Mary is the mother of God. Mary is not just the Mother of Jesus' human nature alone - mothers are mothers of persons, not natures.

St. John wrote, "The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the Father's only Son." (John 1:14). St.Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus. He existed with the Father from all eternity.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church expresses this truth in the following words: "In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly `Mother of God´ (Theotókos)" (CCC, no. 495).

The angel Gabriel informs St. Mary, "The holy child will be called the Son of God"{Luke,1: 35}. Mary is the Mother of the Son of God, or the Mother of God. She was protected by God from original sin. She was born in sanctity and grew in sanctity without even a shadow of sin, reflecting God's infinite sanctity and divinity.

Just as the moon reflects the brilliance of the sun, she reflects the glory and grace of God and reflects or transmits to us the grace of God, the Sun of Justice, Jesus.

In Christian tradition and faith, she is venerated as the 'Mother of God'. We must follow the great example of humility of our Blessed Mother, who said, "I am the Lord's servant; may it happen to me as you have said" {Luke 1: 38}. We must turn to her always as our own Mother, pleading, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

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By: N.G.Philip, Bethel, Nalamchira, Thiruvananthapuram-15, India and Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.

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