Why do Catholics say "Mary, mother of God?"?

Question

That sounds very dis-honoring to God, since the Bible refers over and over to God, as the Father...Do you think that God then died for 3-days before ascending back to heaven? If he was dead, how did he resurrect himself and then sit down at his own right hand? That is all so very confusing.

Answer 1

Because they, like most "Christians", believe Jesus is God. But that is not correct. The angel Gabriel was clear when he told Mary that her Son would be called GOD'S SON, not God. Luke 1:35. So Mary was the earthly mother of God's Son, not God.

Answer 2

I'm a Muslim, and according to I have read in our holy book (Qur'an) Jesus is not God himself, he's a prophet, and Mary is his mother, since he's born without a father, ppl across the ages confusingly thought that God himself is the father of Jesus, therefore Marry would be the mother then. Also Jesus happens to be the only child that spoke in his cradle.
In (Qur'an) God mentions more than once that he didn't take a son for him and those who say so are mistaken.
In my opinion, somewhere along he history, some ppl claimed that Jesus is the son of God or even God himself to give more power to Christianity and perhaps because of his healing power that were given to him by God.
This doesn't mean at all that Christians are not God believers or religion enemies as some extremist Muslims say, yet they are, but just few ppl got mistaken or mixed up about a little point that might have been beyond human comprehension back then.

Answer 3

I think it is to differnciate the Mary's- There is Mary Magdeline who is Martha's sister- Mary and Martha were very good friends of Jesus. Then there is his Mother, Mary. The Mary's are two very different people.

If you believe like many do that Jesus and God the Father are the same person, then yes the resurrection can be very confusing. If you believe, as I do and Many other Christians do, that God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ are two separate individuals, then it is less confusing. Jesus sat down on the right had of God- his Father.

Answer 4

The answer to most of your questions lies in a basic Christian belief, that Jesus IS God as much as God the Father/Creator and the Holy Spirit are both also God.

This is called the Trinity - "God" being God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. One equal, triune God. It doesn't make a lot of "logical scientific" sense, but if you are willing to take a look at the concept from a philosophical and theological perspective, it is pretty facinating.

Catholics believe in the Trinity. Mary gave birth to Jesus and is, logically, called the mother of God. Jesus was/is/ever will be God, but he also was a human man, which is why he was able to die. The whole "right hand" thing refers back to the Old Testament and cultural understanding of the time; it means that Jesus was to be given a place of honor, which would of course happen since he is God.

Answer 5

Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is God. So Mary is the mother of God. The angel Gabriel said "Hail Mary Full of grace the Lord is with you." Elizabeth said "Blessed are you among women. And How is this that the mother of my Lord should come to me?. " So the bible clearly says Mary is the mother of God. So the Hail Mary says, "Blessed is the Fruit of you womb, Jesus" So she bore Him for 9 months and so she is the mother of God. He is God the Son not God the Father. But Jesus is God nevertheless. This is a mystery we cannot comprehend. He was 100% true God and 100% true Man. Two natures in One divine Person. He had two natures but He was God. Being God, He could die and raise Himself. This proves that He is God because God alone can rise from the dead. It is not confusing. It is logical because nothing is impossible with God.

Answer 6

I think you have some misunderstandings about the Catholic belief in God. See this article on the trinity for a better understanding:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

Also, you probably will want to take a look at this article on the Incarnation to understand Jesus's birth and death and why Mary is called Mother of God.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation_%28Christianity%29

For info specifically on Mary the Mother of God see this article on the Council of Ephesus, but really you need to read the other two to understand this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Ephesus

Answer 7

Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, who is God the Son, and therefore can be addressed as the Mother of God.

This is similar to a commoner who marries a king and becomes the mother of the next king. She is entitled to the title Queen and Mother of the King even though she is not royalty.

Nobody two hundred, five hundred or a thousand years ago would have been confused about it. But this is hard for people to understand in these times where royalty and kings and queens are few and far between.

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

Pastor Billy says: Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Armenians, Anglicans, Lutherans (to some degree), Coptics all use Mother of God because first Christians used it!
This is not dishonouring to God but upholding the rightful nature of Jesus as God the son, second person of the Trinity.

It was first decided to call Mary Mother of God because Jesus her son was being denied his divinity by heretical teachers.
You should try studying early Christianity, the council of Ephesus and the title Theotokos meaning (God carrier, or God bearer).

Finally you might be surprised to know the majority of early Protestants were taught and understood Mary to be Mother of God. Luther, Calvin, Zwingli all taught this. To be frank darling the majority of Christianity rightly profess Mary to be Mother of God. All Marian doctrines starts with Jesus I hope this has helped with your misunderstanding :)

Additional info: Christianity does not steal from Paganism, Christianity Christianizes pagan symbolism, it conquers Paganism. This is a perfect understanding of how God overcomes all and usually peacefully. How does Jesus conquer Jerusalem? On the back of a donkey he conquers it upon entering the city whereby the inhabitants lay palm leaves at his coming. This is also how Christianity conquers Paganism by drawn in those and Christianizing the symbolism giving new meaning much like Jesus with the Jews, Old Testament to New Testament, Old Covenant to New Convenant, Levetical priesthood to new priesthood, Jesus comes not to do away but fulfill, and his Church mirrors Christ's actions.

Answer 9

God the Father is One God made up of 3 persons (The complete ingredient to God)

God the Father
God the Son/The Word
God the Holy Ghost/Spirit/Comforter

God the Father came up on Mary and Mary conceived the Son of God/The Word/Jesus Christ/The Messiah. As you know this was a virgin birth, not conceived of the flesh. Then when God the Son/Word died and rose again, He ascended to heaven to sit on the right side of God the Father. God the Son then sent His Holy Spirit/Ghost/Comforter to dwell on earth with his people.

What you need to remember is that we human beings cannot explain the mysteries of God and that God exceeds our logic. ability and understanding.

Answer 10

The whole trinity thing makes it confusing. Jesus IS God and Mary gave birth to him.
To say that Mary is NOT the mother of God would be to imply that Jesus is not God.
But, to each their own. If it makes you uncomfortable to think of Mary as the mother of God, then don't. Some people are enlightened at the thought. Let them be.