3rd Jan 2025
The Word of Life
Virgin Mary
Mother of God
1st Jan Feast Day of Mary the Mother of God
On 1st Jan 2026, I felt so blessed as I was attending a Mass in Chempumukku St Michael's Church in Ernakulam. The youth Choir of the parish sang so beautifully and was exemplarily outstanding. The songs were lifting the souls of the whole congregation. The priest conducted the mass in English, and very devotedly he did the Sacrifice of Holy Mass. I was so moved by his homily about Mother Mary as it was the feast of Mary the Mother of God.
The priest discussed the significance of the Council of Ephesus, which created new dogma in the Catholic Church and other Apostalic churches and proclaimed Mother Mary to be the Mother of God(Theotokos).
He was describing the Doctrinal Note released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mater Populi Fidelis from the Vatican. Father was describing how important the title of Mary the Mother of God is. The Council decided to install the Dogma. Declares Mary as the Mother of God(Theotokos in Greek) because she bore Jesus, who is truly God and truly man man (the Hypostatic Union)He explained this doctrine of faith by adding that, the Word became flesh in the womb of Virgin Mary, the Word is Jesus, in human nature and Divine nature of God and the Word is from God the Father. So she became the Word bearer, the mother of Jesus the Lord, so she became the Mother of God. Father said quoting St Augustine is, ‘Mary was so humble and pure the Word of God slipped into the womb of Virgin Mary and Word became flesh and she conceived Jesus, the Son of God’
He also said, according to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith, issued a major doctrinal note in late 2025 approved by Pope Leo XIV titled Mater Populi Fidelis(Mother of the Faithful People) to use the title Co-Redemptrix. He said the Church considers the devotion to Mother Mary as she is not a mediator and she cannot be called Co-Redemptrix, but we can ask for her intercession by praying Rosary or Novenas. The Church never declared or made any decree or Dogma about this kind of devotion to Mary. He said the Church cannot give equal divinity for Mother Mary along with Jesus. Jesus is Lord and he is the only Redeemer in the mystery of salvation and no other fourth person in the Trinitarian God.
I was just thinking about how humble she was going to receive God's message from the Archangel Gabriel: Luke 1:28–38, which states that even though she was a virgin, she would receive God's favour and bear a son who would be known as God's son. Without original sin, she is going to become pregnant by the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Mary believed this message in a very humble way even though the consequences were so harsh and she may get the death penalty. Her submission to her husband Joseph is another illustration of her humility. The Lord's angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 2:13–14 and instructed him to send Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt. This was a challenging voyage, but Mary followed Joseph's instructions without questioning him and spent time in Egypt. The angel Lord appeared to Joseph once more in Matthew 2:19–20, instructing him to return to Judaea with Mary and Child Jesus. Mary respectfully followed her husband Joseph's instructions and accompanied him to dwell in Nazareth. Mother Mary's humility is seen in the fact that she always paid attention to Joseph's instructions and followed them. She is the best example of humility and has received God's highest favour by giving birth to Jesus, His only Son.
