The Divine Maternity

Today’s Meditations on Christian Dogma is called “The Divine Maternity.” It was submitted by Sister Mary Claire and her little sister Kathy from Camp Littlemore Farm, and comes from their very old book, Meditations on Christian Dogma by Father James Bellord, first published in the 19th century. Sister Mary Claire received the book as a gift from an elderly nun friend in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and she treasures it dearly.
The Divine Maternity

I. The association of God with humanity takes place under several different forms. Its highest expression is the elevation of human nature to the divine in the unity of the Person of Jesus Christ. We are united to the Divinity individually by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in our souls, and by corporal union with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This did not exhaust the resources of God’s power. He further raised one created person to union with Himself under the form of the Divine Maternity; this is the unique privilege of the Blessed Virgin. Her God was her Child. She gave human existence to Him who had created her. She gave to her Redeemer the blood which He shed to preserve her from sin. For a time He lived physically with her life; she lived spiritually with His divine life of grace. In a unique sense she could say with St. Paul, “I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal. ii. 20). He was more her Son than in ordinary cases, for she alone gave of her substance to Him. And this Son was God. “The Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke i. 35). Isaias gives the name of her Child as “Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty” (Isa. ix. 6). How marvellous is this! Thank God for this new link that binds the human race to the Divinity. Adore the Divine Child who was God the Son. Reverence the blessed among women who was worthy to be the earthly Mother of God. Pray that you too may be closely united with Him in this life and the next.

II. Our Lady’s dignity as Mother of God is intimately associated with the Divinity of Jesus Christ. The truth that Jesus is God and Man in one Person involves the other truth that Mary is Mother of God. Because she is the Mother of Jesus, therefore, He is proved to be a real Man; because she is the Virgin-Mother, He is shown to be true God. In early times the heresies that assailed the divine character of Christ generally did so under cover of an attack on the prerogatives of His Mother. Christianity, in defending the truth, could not separate the two causes of the Son and Mother. The word “Theotokos,” “Mary is Mother of God,” summarized the faith of Christians in the integrity of Christ’s double nature and one personality. Now, again, the two causes are associated. Denial of Mary’s title leads soon to disbelief in Jesus as God; then follows the rejection successively of Christ’s miracles, of the Bible, and of God. In devotion, as in faith, the cause of Mary is the cause of Jesus. Veneration and love of the one are inseparable from veneration and love of the other. If we truly appreciate Our Lord we shall esteem all that belongs to Him, we shall love all that He loves. When we honour His Mother it is so much honour rendered to Him.

III. The fact that Mary is the Mother of Jesus makes her also the Mother of men. Her position in the supernatural order corresponds to that of Eve in the natural order. There is a continual parallelism between the first and the second Eve, as between the first and the second Adam. In consequence of the sin, Eve’s maternity was limited to our natural life. Her title of “Mother of the living” was transferred in its supernatural sense to her greater daughter, who introduced the higher life into the world when she gave birth to Our Redeemer. Thus she brought us to our second and spiritual birth, she was made the source of our life, and became our Mother in becoming the Mother of Jesus Christ. Our Blessed Lord is made “the first-born of many brethren” (Rom. viii. 29). We are His brothers; and thereby He takes our likeness, and communicates His likeness to us. With that likeness He gives us a share in His relationships. His Father becomes our Father, His Mother becomes our Mother. Therefore, as regards this Blessed Mother, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. ii. 5). Treat her as a Mother, and she will regard you as a brother of her Son. 

Cinematic

A rich, immersive experience that can unpack the complex ideas of The Divine Maternity through engaging visuals and storytelling. Use the tool (second from right) at the bottom of the video to Enlarge. Enjoy!