Why won't Protestants call Mary "Mother of God"

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Well, Mary IS the Mother of God! It’s common sense in a way. I mean, what else would she be? :rolleyes:
 
I want to quote St. Louis de Montfort for a moment:

"Just as in natural bodily generation there is a father and a mother, so in the supernatural and spiritual generation there is a father who is God and a mother who is Mary. All true children of God have God for their father and Mary for their mother; anyone who does not have Mary for his mother does not have God for his father. This is why the reprobate, such as heretics and schismatics, who hate, despise or ignore the Blessed Virgin, do not have God for their father though they arrogantly claim they have, because they do not have Mary for their mother. Indeed if they had her for their mother they would love and honor her as good and true children naturally love and honor the mother who gave them life.

An infallible and unmistakable sign by which we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from one of God’s true friends is that the heretic and the hardened sinner show nothing but contempt and indifference for our Lady. He endeavors by word and example, openly or insidiously - sometimes under specious pretexts - to belittle the love and veneration shown to her. God the Father has not told Mary to dwell in them because they are, alas, other Esaus."

(Just a side note; St. Louis earlier in his book related the children of God to be “Jacob” and children of the devil to be “Esau.”)
 
E.E.N.S.:
I want to quote St. Louis de Montfort for a moment:

"Just as in natural bodily generation there is a father and a mother, so in the supernatural and spiritual generation there is a father who is God and a mother who is Mary. All true children of God have God for their father and Mary for their mother; anyone who does not have Mary for his mother does not have God for his father. This is why the reprobate, such as heretics and schismatics, who hate, despise or ignore the Blessed Virgin, do not have God for their father though they arrogantly claim they have, because they do not have Mary for their mother. Indeed if they had her for their mother they would love and honor her as good and true children naturally love and honor the mother who gave them life.

An infallible and unmistakable sign by which we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from one of God’s true friends is that the heretic and the hardened sinner show nothing but contempt and indifference for our Lady. He endeavors by word and example, openly or insidiously - sometimes under specious pretexts - to belittle the love and veneration shown to her. God the Father has not told Mary to dwell in them because they are, alas, other Esaus."

(Just a side note; St. Louis earlier in his book related the children of God to be “Jacob” and children of the devil to be “Esau.”)
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Wow! That’s some serious stuff. Thank you for that quote E.E.N.S. And now we go back to Scripture. At the foot of the cross, Christ put His mother in the care of the beloved Apostle St John. Sacred Tradition tells us that St John represents all of humanity, and hence, Mary is mother to us all! But some within protestantism has disregarded this interpretation–how very sad. By rejecting Sacred Tardition, they have thrown out the baby with the bath water.

The deepest wells have the clearest water.
 
Linus,
Where you seem to think that we Catholics make too much of the Blessed Virgin you confirm our opinion that you make too little of her.

Sad…but it’s your loss.
Pax tecum,
 
Personally, I think that things like St. Louis de Montfort can… overstate Mary. I don’t mean this in what he is saying is wrong so much as… maybe it’s a cultural thing.

In other words, in his culture, Protestants were really people who were rejecting the Church actively. Today, Protestants reject the Church passively.

Basically what I am getting at is that your average Protestant who grows up today not honoring Mary doesn’t do so out of “contempt” as he put it, or even real indiference. Rather, they do it because they were never taught anything else. They didn’t grow up knowing much about her. Or, they grew up being taught Catholics worshipped her. So perhaps what he said would be appropriate at the time, but today, it is too strong to be throwing around (I believe Jimmy Akin made this point on one of his radio shows or perhaps his blog).

In other words, I would not say that a Protestant today is arrogant in calling God his Father because he doesn’t call Mary his mother.

In fact, I wouldn’t necessarily call one arrogant at the time he wrote it, depending on his or her particular circumstances.

But the point is well taken.
 
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Lazerlike42:
Personally, I think that things like St. Louis de Montfort can… overstate Mary. I don’t mean this in what he is saying is wrong so much as… maybe it’s a cultural thing.

In other words, in his culture, Protestants were really people who were rejecting the Church actively. Today, Protestants reject the Church passively.

Basically what I am getting at is that your average Protestant who grows up today not honoring Mary doesn’t do so out of “contempt” as he put it, or even real indiference. Rather, they do it because they were never taught anything else. They didn’t grow up knowing much about her. Or, they grew up being taught Catholics worshipped her. So perhaps what he said would be appropriate at the time, but today, it is too strong to be throwing around (I believe Jimmy Akin made this point on one of his radio shows or perhaps his blog).

In other words, I would not say that a Protestant today is arrogant in calling God his Father because he doesn’t call Mary his mother.

In fact, I wouldn’t necessarily call one arrogant at the time he wrote it, depending on his or her particular circumstances.

But the point is well taken.
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Careful, this wasn’t addressed to “Protestants” but “heretics.” There is a difference. 😉
 
E.E.N.S.:
Careful, this wasn’t addressed to “Protestants” but “heretics.” There is a difference. 😉
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LOL… I just had to laugh… I do appreciate this E.E.N.S. 👍

And don’t think that EVERY protestant completely ignores Mary’s status within Christianity… I myself really appreciate what Mary did for us. She took an incredible leap of faith to accomplish what she did. And I for one thank her for that. But where the catholics and I differ is HOW I appreciate her. I don’t call her the Mother of God because to me that is a concept I cannot grasp. It’s a paradox to say the least. Yes, she is Jesus’ mother and since He is God in the flesh I can see how the catholic faith sees her as the Mother of God but I cannot see it that way. Here is my thought process on that. She is Jesus’ earthly mother. Just as HER father is Jesus’ grandfather but we don’t venerate him or his wife (Mary’s mother) as the grandparents of God right? The veneration that you extend to Mary should extend to her family, right? This is the way I look at it. 🤷 🙂
 
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Singinbeauty:
She is Jesus’ earthly mother. Just as HER father is Jesus’ grandfather but we don’t venerate him or his wife (Mary’s mother) as the grandparents of God right? The veneration that you extend to Mary should extend to her family, right? This is the way I look at it. 🤷 🙂
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Yes, Sts. Anna and Joachim are very much venerated in the Church. Their feast day is July 26.

If you reject the title “Mother of God,” I guess that mean’s you’re something other than a mainstream Protestant, right? Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists and such accept that title for Our Lady.
 
I claim non-denominational or it claims me… however you want to look at it. 🙂
 
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Singinbeauty:
Yes, she is Jesus’ mother and since He is God in the flesh I can see how the catholic faith sees her as the Mother of God but I cannot see it that way.
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IOW, you admit that, yes, Mary is the Mother of God, but you’re still going to deny this rather basic fact of the Christian faith.

:hmmm:
  1. Jesus Christ is God.
  2. The Virgin Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother.
  3. The Virgin Mary is God’s mother.
The conclusion can only be denied by denying one or both of the first two statements, neither of which are statements that any Christian can rightfully deny.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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mlchance:
IOW, you admit that, yes, Mary is the Mother of God, but you’re still going to deny this rather basic fact of the Christian faith.

:hmmm:
  1. Jesus Christ is God.
  2. The Virgin Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother.
  3. The Virgin Mary is God’s mother.
The conclusion can only be denied by denying one or both of the first two statements, neither of which are statements that any Christian can rightfully deny.

– Mark L. Chance.
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You’re missing what she said. Jesus said:

Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty

Jesus in his divine state has no beginning or any end.

Jesus in his earthly state was born of Mary. Mary is Jesus’ earthly mother.

Jesus in his divine state as the Christ has no mother because he has no beginning.

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jn 1:2 He was with God in the beginning.
Jn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

So if he made Mary, how could Mary be his divine mother?

Not trying to argue, but the question was why do we not call her mother of God. THis is why 🙂
 
posted by Singinbeauty
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I don’t call her the Mother of God because to me that is a concept I cannot grasp. It’s a paradox to say the least. Yes, she is Jesus’ mother and since He is God in the flesh I can see how the catholic faith sees her as the Mother of God but I cannot see it that way.
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It probably is a good thing not to call Mary the Mother of God until you can grasp the concept. Good for you. :yup:

One thing to remember though, the title is not to elevate Mary, but rather Christ. One of the reasons Catholics so vehmenantly defend the title of Mother of God is because to do otherwise would be to NOT defend Christ, in the Catholic way of thinking.

Deny that Mary is Mother of God=Deny Christ is God the Son

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to wrap your brain around this very complex subject.

God Bless,
Maria
 
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mlchance:
IOW, you admit that, yes, Mary is the Mother of God, but you’re still going to deny this rather basic fact of the Christian faith.

:hmmm:
  1. Jesus Christ is God.
  2. The Virgin Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother.
  3. The Virgin Mary is God’s mother.
The conclusion can only be denied by denying one or both of the first two statements, neither of which are statements that any Christian can rightfully deny.

– Mark L. Chance.
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You know Mark, I have read several of your posts and I can’t help getting the feeling that you are trying to attack my beliefs but in a very sneaky way. I thought I was being overly sensitive at first but the more I bump into your posts the more I can’t shake that feeling. If this is not your intention I apologize but I wanted to make you aware of how you are coming off. 🙂

And no, I do not admit that she is the Mother of God but I do admit that I see where catholics get the IDEA of this title…
 
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Singinbeauty:
If this is not your intention I apologize but I wanted to make you aware of how you are coming off. 🙂
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Your inference is not my implication.
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Singinbeauty:
And no, I do not admit that she is the Mother of God but I do admit that I see where catholics get the IDEA of this title…
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Then which do you deny: That Jesus Christ is God, or that Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother?

– Mark L. Chance.
 
Fifty years after the First Council of Constantinople, Theodosius’ son Theodosius II ruled as emperor. He was much more inclined to hear the Church, influenced by his saintly sister Saint Pulcheria and, in harmony with Pope Saint Celestine I, a third General Council was called in Ephesus in the southern tip of Asia Minor. Over 200 bishops attended, declaring the Divine Maternity Dogma of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Also, led by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, the Council defined that Christ has two natures - Divine and human, but only one Person which is Divine. This affirmation condemned Nestorianism and deposed Nestorius, who was the bishop of Constantinople. The Council also affirmed the Council of Carthage held for the local Church in 416, thus condemning Pelagius and his teachings.

Here is the full document of the 3rd council of Ephesus:
dailycatholic.org/history/3ecumen1.htm
 
The Holy Trinity comes into play here…

We have God the Father
We have God the Son
We have God the Holy Spirit

Distinct yet three in one…

In my belief system Mary is the mother of God the Son… I will give you that. But She is not the mother of God the Father or God the Holy Spirit… I think this is where the confusion comes from… The Trinity is never clarified and there are many takes on it. So Mary may be the mother of God the Son (Jesus) but not the Mother of God as a whole. Did that make sense?
 
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mlchance:
Today’s fallacy: the straw man.

– Mark L. Chance.
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I don’t get how my response is a straw man in any way. I explained why we protestants don’t call Mary the mother of God.
 
Emphasis added:
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Singinbeauty:
So Mary may be the mother of God the Son (Jesus) but not the Mother of God as a whole. Did that make sense?
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“May be” the mother of God the Son? Meaning, may be she’s not His mother, or maybe Jesus isn’t the True Son of God?

Let’s cut straight to the chase. If these two statements are true:
  1. Jesus Christ is God.
  2. Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother.
It is necessarily true that this statement is also true:
  1. Mary is the mother of God.
Contrary to nonsense above about the Catholic Church somehow trying to sneak the idea that Mary is the originating point for God (a patently absurd notion defended nowhere by the Catholic Church), the doctrine of Mary being the Mother of God exists precisely to combat the denial of Christ’s divinity. Nothing less, and certainly nothing more.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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roadrunner570:
I don’t get how my response is a straw man in any way. I explained why we protestants don’t call Mary the mother of God.
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It’s a straw man because no one is saying that Mary is originating point for God, that God originates from Mary. Well, except for you setting up that tired notion as a straw man in order to knock it down.

The logic of the syllogism I’ve posted is inescapable. To deny its conclusion, you either must deny Jesus Christ’s divinity or else deny that Mary is Jesus Christ’s mother.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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