From the Friars: Theotokos

The late Fr. Benedict Groeschel used to misquote Jesus saying: “where two or more are gathered in my name, there will be an argument.” The humor of this statement comes from the reality of so much disagreement among Christians over the centuries. It is especially harmful when it involves doctrinal issues.

The first example is found in Acts 15, which describes the Council of Jerusalem, which dealt with the question of whether or not non-Jewish Christians were required to be circumcised and follow other Jewish disciplinary practices. After much debate, St. Peter rose and gave the authoritative teaching. (Acts 15:7) We can see this same pattern throughout Church history as doctrinal disagreements arose. The first was the question of the Divinity of Jesus, which was defined by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

In the early fifth century the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, began to preach that Mary was not the Mother of God, Theotokos in Greek, but only the Mother of Christ. This provoked a major reaction, especially from St. Cyril of Alexandria. Eventually the truth was authoritatively taught by the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, with the approval of the Pope.

This first and greatest title of Our Blessed Mother is so important because it preserves the truth of the Incarnation. Nestorianism would turn Our Lord into two persons, one human and one divine, but this is absurd. Sadly, many non-Catholic Christians still believe this. He is one Divine Person who took to Himself a human nature. Jesus is God. Mary gave birth to Jesus. Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God.

When this teaching was announced by the bishops in Ephesus, the people held a torch-light procession shouting joyously “Mother of God, Mother of God!” Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church, but the father of lies is always at work attempting to divide and conquer. Even Popes can be in error but they have never taught error in a binding way because of the gift of infallibility.

Let us celebrate the great Solemnity of the Mother of God with joy and gratitude for the gifts of so great a Mother and the truth of our Catholic Faith.

Happy New Year!
–Fr. Peter