Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy Θεοτόκος


Today, the Octave day of Christmas, we celebrate the Solemnity of the divine maternity. January 1st is the day of Mary, the Mother of God (previously October 11). So that New Year's Day is Mother's Day! This is Mother's Day for the Church.

It was the year 431 that the Church at the Council of Ephesus (present day Turkey) gave the Virgin Mary the title of “Mother of God.” The logic of the council fathers was that since Christ is truly the God the Son in Person, Mary, being His Mother, is the Mother of God, really. He was not born through Mary but from Mary (natus ex Maria Virgine—Nicea 325).

Thus, Mary is the physical source of Christmas having given flesh to the Word made flesh. The Word was made flesh of the flesh of Mary alone. The Word made flesh was made flesh of her flesh and in her flesh. Therefore, without the Virgin Mother there is no Christmas and no New Year 2015 Anno Domini.

Mary is the Mother of God: She conceives God when she receives God the Son by the overshadowing and power of the Holy Spirit, she bears (carries) God, she nourishes God for nine months gestation in her virginal womb, she gives birth to God (delivers Him), she hugs God, kisses God, breast feeds God, keeps God clean and warm. She sings to God. She, with Saint Joseph provides for God and protect Him. She loves God—Christ our Lord.

There is an ancient hymn about the Most Blessed and Ever Virgin Mother of God's inseparable biological relationship and connection with the Incarnate Word.

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;

Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;

Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread!

Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!

Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;

Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

Mary the mother, Christ the Mother's Son

By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

May we love her, the most blessed of all women who is so connected to the Incarnate God and remains inseparably united with Him in eternity. She is the Mother par excellence: the divine Mother—Mother of all motherhood, the Mother of our only Love, Mother of our Thrill, Mother of every beauty and all true love and peace, happiness and joy; Mother of the God Child—Mother of our Christmas and of our New Year. Mother of our days and years is Holy Mary, Mother of God. Mother of the Church therefore and Mother of all humanity; she is your Mother and my Mother this great Mother of God.

“We love you Blessed Mother: Most Ever Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. We love you so much in our union with your magnanimous and constant love for your Son, Christ our Lord, the Son of God.”