Theotokos

Mary’s role in the Catholic faith is intimately bound to the Church’s understanding of the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  Mary’s chief role and position is that she is the mother of Jesus.  From this unique and very special prerogative flow all her other titles, roles, and prerogatives

. 

The earliest title for Mary was proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus  in 431 A.D.  This council of over 200 bishops from all parts of the known world solemnly declared that in Christ is found a unity of the human and divine.  Christ is true God and true Man.  The council then declared that Mary is truly the theotokos, that is the mother of God.  In Jesus Christ, there is a union of God and Man – without division or separation.  If Jesus is God and if His humanity does not exist apart from His divinity, then Mary, his mother, is truly the Mother of God.  As His mother, Mary is the mother of our Redeemer and as such is intimately tied to the atonement.

Mary’s chief privilege is her divine motherhood.  From this flow all other prerogatives, functions, and titles.  In exploring and explicating Mary’s place in the faith, we will focus on two major areas:  the divine motherhood of Mary as the source of all her prerogatives, and these privileges themselves.