On this special day, we are pleased to share this reflection on Mary, Mother of God by Maggie Cascioli, a member of the Formation Commission of the British Province of Carmelites.

Throughout the Church’s liturgical calendar there are several solemnities, feast days and memorials in honour of Our Lady. We celebrate Our Blessed Lady as the Mother of God which is not accepted by all Christians – many will accept Mother of Christ but not Mother of God. For us, Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. Therefore, as his mother, Mary is the Mother of God. However, this does not place Mary in a position superior to God or to her Divine Son, but acknowledges that she is mother of Jesus while also acknowledging exactly who her Son is – God. 

The Vatican II document, Lumen gentium, says: ‘At the message of the angel, the Virgin Mary received the Word of God in her heart and in her body, and gave Life to the World. Hence she is acknowledged and honoured as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer.’ (Lumen gentium 52).