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When did Mary start being called the ‘Mother of God’?

Michie

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(OSV News) — Jan. 1 is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the final day of the Christmas octave.

In the fifth century, a heresy led by Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople (r. 428-431) claimed that Jesus was actually two persons: one human and one divine — that his divinity was instilled on him after he was born. Thus, they reasoned incorrectly that Mary was the mother of Jesus but not the mother of God. Their rationale contradicted ancient Christian beliefs as well as proclamations and canons issued at earlier Church councils.

At the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325, the Church Fathers had clearly determined that Jesus was consubstantial with the Father and, therefore, Mary was the Mother of God.

Mary as ‘Theotokos’​


Continued below.
 
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Jipsah

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In the fifth century, a heresy led by Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople (r. 428-431) claimed that Jesus was actually two persons: one human and one divine — that his divinity was instilled on him after he was born. Thus, they reasoned incorrectly that Mary was the mother of Jesus but not the mother of God.
And we see a great many Protestants who believe that very thing, as we may well be told in this thread.

Their rationale contradicted ancient Christian beliefs as well as proclamations and canons issued at earlier Church councils.
Old heresies never really go away. They just keep popping up and accepted as "new" by those who don't know any better.
At the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325, the Church Fathers had clearly determined that Jesus was consubstantial with the Father and, therefore, Mary was the Mother of God.
"Arghhh! God doesn't have a mother!!!!", right? How many itmes have I been told that by well-meaning Protestant friends.

I try the simple syllogism:
Jesus is God.
The BVM is Jesus's mother.
Ergo the BVM is the Mother of God

The answer is always "Yes, yes, NOOOOOOOOOOO!".

-sigh-
 
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RileyG

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And we see a great many Protestants who believe that very thing, as we may well be told in this thread.


Old heresies never really go away. They just keep popping up and accepted as "new" by those who don't know any better.

"Arghhh! God doesn't have a mother!!!!", right? How many itmes have I been told that by well-meaning Protestant friends.

I try the simple syllogism:
Jesus is God.
The BVM is Jesus's mother.
Ergo the BVM is the Mother of God

The answer is always "Yes, yes, NOOOOOOOOOOO!".

-sigh-
I think a lot of them think of God as God the Father so the term "Mother of God" is confusing.
 
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fide

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And we see a great many Protestants who believe that very thing, as we may well be told in this thread.


Old heresies never really go away. They just keep popping up and accepted as "new" by those who don't know any better.

"Arghhh! God doesn't have a mother!!!!", right? How many itmes have I been told that by well-meaning Protestant friends.

I try the simple syllogism:
Jesus is God.
The BVM is Jesus's mother.
Ergo the BVM is the Mother of God

The answer is always "Yes, yes, NOOOOOOOOOOO!".

-sigh-
I think the protestant belief breaks down and threatens if not fractures their belief in the Trinity.
A dialogue might be:
Prot: Mary is mother of 'God the Son, Jesus,' not mother of 'God the Father' nor mother of 'God the Holy Spirit.'​
Cath: At what point of time or of eternity did 'God the One Holy Trinity' break into three separated parts?​
Prot: Wait - are you going to accuse me of believing in three separate Gods?​
Cath: Are you affirming, with us, that God is eternally One God, not three separate Gods?​
Prot: Hmmmmm. I don't think I want to deny the oneness of God!​
Cath: No, you don't. God is ONE. Jesus said so. God the Holy Trinity can never be separated into three "gods". God is ONE. If we could put God into the "box" of human reasoning and logic, we would have a work of our human hands - an idol. His ways and thoughts are not inconsistent with good reasoning, but they are different and on a 'higher plane' we might say: beyond the 3- (or even 4-) dimensional reality of human thinking. We must bow to, and seek union with, the mind of Christ and not the mind of mere natural man. Jesus is both natural and supernatural; He is both man and God. God is ONE. Jesus is God Incarnate.​
Mk 12:28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"
Mk 12:29 Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one;
Mk 12:30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
Mk 12:31 The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Mk 12:32 And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he;
Mk 12:33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Mk 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.
In truth, the Catholic Catechism is correct and ought to be listened to and heard in the world of protestantism:
CCC 971 “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.”<Lk 1:48; Paul VI, MC 56> The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.”<LG 66> The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.<Cf. Paul VI, MC 42; SC 103>
(emphasis added to stress the point here)
 
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