THEOTOKOS, MY MUM

THEOTOKOS is a compound word, made up, of two Greek words; Theo, (which means God), and tokos (which means, childbirth), and so, ‘One who gives birth to God’. Very often it is paraphrased as the Mother of God. But what we have to keep in mind is that Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus, who existed with the Father from all eternity, she is not the source of her Son’s divinity.

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ, whom Christians see as the Lord, Son of God. It is celebrated on the octave (8^th day) after Christmas Day, that is January 1^st, in some countries it is a Holy Day of Obligation.

The holy virgin gave birth in the flesh to God, united with the flesh according to hypostasis, for that reason we call her Theotokos... “If anyone does not confess that Emmanuel is, in truth, God, and therefore that the holy virgin is Theotokos (for she bore in a fleshly manner the Word from God become flesh), let him be anathema." (Cyril's third letter to Nestorius)

Hypostasis is a Greek word that has a range of meanings: nature, substance, image, essence, etc. It is translated as "nature" in Heb. 1:3, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power."

Leaving the study of Theology aside, coming to think of it, on January 1^st we could say that it is Mother’s Day. Mary is our Mother, she gave birth to all humanity on Calvary before Jesus’ death. So I could say that … I, and all of us, are part of the same family of God. This is a wonderful thought; I am the brother of Jesus, or rather Jesus is my (our) elder brother. Do we appreciate this thought?

No wonder St. Bernard wrote that beautiful Memorare:                                                                                                     

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate! despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen. “

A wonderful plea, prayer by a son to his Mum, and what mum, worthy of the name would not help or answer such a plea? The Theotokos will answer all prayers because she madly wishes to fill all heaven with many other Christs; and that includes … me and you.

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