Mary, Mother of God, Mary: Day 136

Mary, Mother of God

At first sight, says Blessed John Newman, calling Mary the “Mother of God” seems impossible. But its meaning is clarified when we consider the identity of her Son.

The “Mother of the Creator” is a title which, of all others, we should have thought it impossible for any creature to possess. At first sight we might be tempted to say that it throws into confusion our primary ideas of the Cre- ator and the creature, the Eternal and the temporal, the Self-subsisting and the dependent. Yet on further consideration we shall see that we cannot refuse the title to Mary without denying the divine Incarnation—that is, the great and fundamental truth of revelation, that God became man.

And this was seen from the first age of the Church. Christians were accus- tomed from the first to call the Blessed Virgin “the Mother of God,” because they saw that it was impossible to deny her that title without denying St. John’s words: “The Word” (that is, God the Son) “was made flesh” (see Jn 1:14).

What can be more consoling and joyful than the wonderful promises which follow from this truth, that Mary is the Mother of God? The great wonder, namely, that we become the brethren of our God; that, if we live well, and die in the grace of God, we shall all of us hereafter be taken up by our incarnate God to that place where angels dwell; that our bodies shall be raised from the dust, and be taken to heaven; that we shall be really united to God; that we shall be partakers of the divine nature (see 2 Pt 1:4); that each of us, soul and body, shall be plunged into the abyss of glory which surrounds the Almighty; that we shall see him, and share his blessedness, according to the text: “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father that is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (see Mt 12:50).
—Blessed John Henry Newman, Meditations and Devotions

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Have I ever considered that, when I call Mary both the Mother of God and my mother, I’m saying that I have God the Son for my Brother? Do I find consola- tion and hope in that truth?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina: May the mother of Jesus and our mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her most holy Son, every heavenly blessing.

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