What does Mother of God mean to you?

[Kevan]

“Equivocation,” a basic logical fallacy, involves using a word inconsistently; first it means one thing, then something slightly different. For instance, one might claim “All men are equal” while another responds “there have never been two equal men in all of history.” Each is correct, but they aren’t using the word “equal” in the same way. Likewise with the term “God” in this thread.

The problem with the expression “mother of God” is that it naturally connotes more than the technical meaning assigned to it by theologians. Those who argue against the title either (1) don’t understand its technical meaning or (2) perceive its inherently misleading character.

The title is inshrined in so much liturgy, it would be a shame to see it clarified into some clumsy assemblage like “mother of the God-man.” But that’s all the expression means, as runandsew demonstrated in the quotation from JP2 (above).

The point of departure, however, is found where JP2 said the title is “a privileged expression of their faith in the divinity of Christ and their love for the Blessed Virgin.” Detractors certainly affirm the former, but we reject the latter. So it isn’t really a question of “IS JESUS GOD???” or some similar apologetic gambit. The issue is devotion to Mary.

 

[guanophore]

So since the Father and Son are ONE… then, Mary is the Mother of the Father and the Son.

John 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.

This was actually a common misconception and some heresies arose over it until the concept of the Trinity was defined more clearly. Yes, the Son, the Spirit, and the Father are all One God, but Mary was only mother to the second person of the trinity, the son. More properly, she is the Spouse of the HS.

It is even simpler than that.
The triune God has no mother.

ARe you a Nestorian?

 

[M_Oliver]

What does Mother of God mean to you?

I keep it simple.

Word is God.
Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus is the Son of Mary.
Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God (the Second Person of the Trinity).

Non-Catholic Christians please reframe from using the word blasphemy when you heard this title. This title is Christocentric because Jesus is God, and since Mary is the Mother of Jesus, she is also the Mother of God.

Nothing. I’m sure she was a nice woman but she is dead awaiting her resurrection. There is nothing Spiritual about a dead woman awaiting resurrection.

By the way, she is the mother of the MAN Jesus Christ, not God. Christ comes from God the Father and was around to do the little task of creating everything that currently exists. I don’t think Mary was around for that…

 

[guanophore]

JMJ_coder;2360963:

Hello,

Did anyone here claim that Mary was the Mother of the Trinity? I said, and I quote:

There is something wrong with this logic. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews, and followed all the laws of Moses. The same with Jesus. Jesus received the baptism of repentance from John. Does that mean he had sins?

 

[M_Oliver]

truthnlight;2361089:

There is something wrong with this logic. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews, and followed all the laws of Moses. The same with Jesus. Jesus received the baptism of repentance from John. Does that mean he had sins?

Absolutely not…

For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God’s righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21 CLV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 ESV)

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

Mary is the Mother of God and also the Spouse of the Holy Spirit…
Ravyn

 

[MelanieAnne]

I’m not sure there is a connection, and someone knowledgeable, please correct me as needed. But, Jesus didn’t need to be baptized, either. Still, he said, let it be so in order to fulfill all righteousness, words to that effect, as I recall.

I take this to mean that the mere fact that Mary did all that required under Mosaic law has no meaning in terms of her Immaculate Conception.

I believe you are correct that it was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized. But, as He did in the rest of His life, he set a pattern for us to follow.

I’m sure she was a nice woman but she is dead awaiting her resurrection. There is nothing Spiritual about a dead woman awaiting resurrection.

If you are speaking about Mary, and it appears that you are, that statement is incorrect. She did not die and is not awaiting her resurrection. Indeed, the Feast of her Assumption is coming up soon.

 

[O.S.Luke]

What does Mother of God mean to you?

If I heard it exclaimed, I would think a true miracle had taken place - the Cubs are going to the World Series.

 

[Zooey]

http://bestsmileys.com/movingeyes/4.gif

Nothing. I’m sure she was a nice woman but she is dead awaiting her resurrection. There is nothing Spiritual about a dead woman awaiting resurrection.

By the way, she is the mother of the MAN Jesus Christ, not God. Christ comes from God the Father and was around to do the little task of creating everything that currently exists. I don’t think Mary was around for that…

http://bestsmileys.com/halloween1/13.gif<<<<<Nestorius has come to life…
http://bestsmileys.com/bored/1.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/bored/2.gif uch: :yawn: ***again…:banghead: ***

 

[M_Oliver]

Mary is the Mother of God and also the Spouse of the Holy Spirit…
Ravyn

Give me two Scriptures that support that theory please.

 

[M_Oliver]

http://bestsmileys.com/movingeyes/4.gif

http://bestsmileys.com/halloween1/13.gif<<<<<Nestorius has come to life…
http://bestsmileys.com/bored/1.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/bored/2.gif uch: :yawn: ***again…:banghead: ***

Scared of the truth, aren’t you?

 

[Allweather]

Give me two Scriptures that support that theory please.

Mary is spouse of the Holy Ghost, Luke 1:35

Mary is Mother of God, Luke 1:43

Of course, YOUR interpretations may vary, but thank Heaven YOU aren’t the infallible interpreter of Scripture.

 

[Allweather]

Scared of the truth, aren’t you?

Lordy, the sight of ol’ Nestorius’ bones arising from that grave, yessir, that is one scary sight.

But the truth? Never skeered of the truth.

 

[rbarcia]

What does Mother of God mean to you?

I keep it simple.

Word is God.
Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus is the Son of Mary.
Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God (the Second Person of the Trinity).

Non-Catholic Christians please reframe from using the word blasphemy when you heard this title. This title is Christocentric because Jesus is God, and since Mary is the Mother of Jesus, she is also the Mother of God.

Word is God.
Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary.
Jesus is the Son of Mary.
Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God (the Second Person of the Trinity).

If you follow your own logic, then I can say
Mary is Mother of Jesus
Jesus is God
God is the Father , Son, and Holy SPirit
Therefore Mary is the mother of Father, Son , and Holy Spirit.

I did not realize catholics believed Mary is the mother of the full Trinity. (AT least the logic above says this)

 

[Oregooner]

When I came into the Church, I had a hard time with calling Mary the Mother of God as well. But I stopped simply reacting from an instinctive urge (which seems to be endemic to virtually all Protestants) to shun Mary and I looked at it logically. Now I think of it this way:

My wife is very smart. I am not. If our daughter grows up to become a Nobel Prize Winner, everyone who knows my wife and I knows that she didn’t get it from me. However, people would still be correct in calling me the father of a Nobel Prize Winner, even though I had nothing to do with it. If people wanted to stop me on the street and say, “Great job with that kid!”, I would say thank you, but defer to my wife. This, by the way, is exactly what Mary does. The handmaid of the Lord points to her Son and says, “Do what He tells you.”

 

[M_Oliver]

Mary is spouse of the Holy Ghost, Luke 1:35

Mary is Mother of God, Luke 1:43

Of course, YOUR interpretations may vary, but thank Heaven YOU aren’t the infallible interpreter of Scripture.

Ok, look at what you are trying to convince me of. The CREATION {Mary} gave birth to her CREATOR {Jesus Christ}. The creation predates the Creator???

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4

Come on Allweather, at least prove you theories Scripturally.

 

[MelanieAnne]

M Oliver, please remember this is a Catholic forum that is graciously hosting you and while you are posting please remember to do so respectfully even when your opinions differ.

As for Mother of God ~

Jesus is God
Mary is the Mother of Jesus
Mary is therefore the Mother of God

It’s really very simple.

Cheers!

 

[DixiesFinest]

Ok, look at what you are trying to convince me of. The CREATION {Mary} gave birth to her CREATOR {Jesus Christ}. The creation predates the Creator???

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4

Come on Allweather, at least prove you theories Scripturally.

Calling Our Lady the “Mother of God” affirms that JESVS CHRIST is God, not that before the Blessed Virgin there was no God.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

Ok, look at what you are trying to convince me of. The CREATION {Mary} gave birth to her CREATOR {Jesus Christ}. The creation predates the Creator???

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4

Come on Allweather, at least prove you theories Scripturally.

you are defining God by human time limits.
and you are also assuming that it matters to Catholics that Tradition is defined by Sola Scriptura which we do not even regard as correct. (God’s word alone–yes, but God’s word is not just scripture.) And since the OP is “What does Mother of God mean to you?” not “prove to Protestants that Mary is the Mother of God” the burden of proof lies with you not us.
Ravyn

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

JMJ_coder;2360963:

Hello,

Did anyone here claim that Mary was the Mother of the Trinity? I said, and I quote:

let us look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, a real woman like many of you who are reading this. We believe that she was a fine woman, because God chose her for a very special task which would bring her to prominence and cause her to be held up as an example. There is, however, no reason to believe that she was conceived without sin, because after the birth of Christ we find her in the temple offering a sacrifice for her purification (Luke 2:22-24). This is the same action that all the Hebrew women took after childbirth (Leviticus 12). In addition, in her prayer of thanksgiving for being chosen to be the mother of Christ, Mary calls God my Savior (Luke 1:47). Had she been born without sin, she would not have needed either an offering for purification, or a savior.

Jesus was, is, utterly sinless - yet He was baptised by John.​

Why should His Most Holy Mother be greater than He ? If the Holy One of Israel made man could submit to what sinners needed, then so could she; for she is not greater than her Lord & Son, but is His handmaiden.

He was “born under the Law”, & lived under it - why is she to be different ? Matters are different for us, as we live after His Resurrection & after the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; when He was born, she did not; so she observed the Law.

Who denies that He is her Saviour ? Not the CC. Of course He is her Saviour.