Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Blessed Virgin Mary was venerated from the beginning as Mother of God. During the 4th century Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, contested the Greek title Theotokos, insisting that Mary was mother of the man- Jesus, nor God. In 431, the Council of Ephesus solemnly affirmed that Mary, being the mother of Jesus, who was God, was to be called MOTHER OF GOD.

After the Council, the people carried the bishops in triumph throughout the city and Pope Sixtus III, as a memorial of that event, built in Rome the splendid basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Today, we also celebrate the Circumcision and the giving of the name Jesus, which means God-saves.

As it is written: When the 8 days were completed for his Circumcision , he was named Jesus (Luke 2:21). It was in obedience to the command that God gave to Abraham: Every male among you, when he is 8 days old, shall be circumcised (Genesis 17: 12). To be circumcised means to be consecrated to the Lord.

In the encyclical “Marialis Cultus” (1974) Pope Paul V1 states: This celebration, assigned to Jan.1 in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation.