Joshua Bennett
The veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church is a widely studied topic in theology and history. While there is no evidence of Marian veneration in the first and second centuries, the Sub Tuum Praesidium, a hymn from the 3rd or 4th century, is the oldest known Marian devotion. The Council of Ephesus in 431 AD endorsed the title Theotokos or Mother of God for Mary, which was a significant step in the development of Marian theology. The Middle Ages saw a growth in Mariology, with the belief in the Assumption of Mary becoming widespread from the 6th century onwards. The 19th century witnessed debates about the Immaculate Conception, which was proclaimed as dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854. Today, Marian devotion remains a central aspect of Catholic belief and practice, with numerous churches dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Belief in the incarnation of God the Son through Mary | Basis for calling her the Mother of God |
| The Council of Ephesus in 431 | Declared the above belief as a dogma |
| The term hyperdulia | Special veneration due to Mary, greater than the ordinary dulia for other saints |
| The Holy See | Insists on distinguishing "true from false devotion, and authentic doctrine from its deformations by excess or defect" |
| The growth of Roman Catholic veneration of Mary and Mariology | Comes from Marian writings of the saints, popular devotion, and reported Marian apparitions |
| The Holy See approves | Only a select few apparitions as worthy of belief |
| The most recent approval | The 2008 approval of certain apparitions from 1665 |
| Canonical coronations | Granted to popular Marian images venerated in a particular locality all over the world |
| The Sub Tuum Praesidium | The oldest known hymn (3rd or 4th century) in honour of Mary |
| The Greek term Aeiparthenos ("Ever Virgin") | Attested to from the early 4th century |
| The Immaculate Conception | Proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 |
| The Assumption | Declared a dogma in 1950 |
| The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City | The most visited Catholic shrine in the world |
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What You'll Learn
- The Council of Ephesus in 431 endorsed Mary as 'theotokos' (mother of God)
- The Virgin Mary is a central artistic topic in Roman Catholicism
- The Immaculate Conception: the belief that Mary was conceived without sin
- The Assumption: the belief that Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul
- Marian apparitions: visions of the Virgin Mary
The Council of Ephesus in 431 endorsed Mary as 'theotokos' (mother of God)
The Council of Ephesus in 431 endorsed Mary as Theotokos, meaning "God-bearer" or "Mother of God". This was a significant development in the veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church, which has a rich history of artistic and devotional expressions dedicated to her.
The term "Theotokos" first emerged in the fourth century, attributed to Athanasius and Gregory of Nazianzus. However, it was the Council of Ephesus that officially endorsed this title for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The council was convened to address the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who proposed the term "Christotokos" or "Christ-bearer" instead of "Theotokos". Nestorius emphasised the dual nature of Christ, attempting to reconcile those who emphasised Christ's humanity and those who stressed his divinity. He argued that Mary gave birth to the incarnate Christ, not the divine Logos.
The Council of Ephesus, a third ecumenical council representing all of Christendom, denounced Nestorius' teachings as heretical. They affirmed that Jesus possessed both a human and divine nature but was one person, not two separate persons. This affirmation led to the declaration that Mary, as the mother of Jesus, could rightfully be called "Theotokos".
The council's decision had a significant impact on the elevation of Mary's position within Christian theology. Influential theologians like Augustine of Hippo began to devote more time and attention to doctrines that further exalted Mary's status. The title "Theotokos" became a favourite among the faithful, and Mary's role as the "Mother of God" was solidified in Catholic belief.
The veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church extends beyond the title of "Theotokos". It encompasses various devotions, including prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music. Popes have encouraged these devotions, and Mary's image as the "Madonna and Child" has become a central icon in Catholic art. The Holy See distinguishes between true and false devotion and emphasises the importance of authentic doctrine in these expressions of veneration.
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The Virgin Mary is a central artistic topic in Roman Catholicism
The Virgin Mary has been a central artistic topic in Roman Catholicism for centuries. The earliest known artistic depictions of Mary date back to the first half of the 2nd century, with paintings in Roman catacombs showing her holding the Christ Child. The Roman Priscilla catacombs contain the oldest known Marian paintings, which date from the middle of the 2nd century. By the 6th to 8th centuries, there were several icons of the Virgin and Child in Rome, forming the majority of representations surviving from this period.
The Byzantine images of the Theotokos (God-bearer or Mother of God) were adopted in the West and widely distributed by the 7th century. The title "Theotokos" was attributed to Athanasius and Gregory of Nazianzus during the 4th century and endorsed by the Council of Ephesus in 431, after which influential theologians like Augustine of Hippo further elevated Mary's position.
Mary has been a major subject of Christian art, Catholic art, and Western art since Early Christian art. She has been portrayed in iconic "portraits", often known as Madonnas, with the infant Jesus, and in narrative scenes from her life, known as the Life of the Virgin. These artworks include masterpieces by renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Murillo, Botticelli, and folk artists.
The tradition of Catholic Marian art has continued into the 21st century with artists like Miguel Bejarano Moreno and Francisco Cárdenas Martínez. The artistic depictions of Mary are not limited to paintings but also extend to statues, reliefs, sculptures, and stained glass, among other media. Apparition-based art, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is considered miraculous by Catholics and holds significant cultural and symbolic value in Mexico.
The veneration of Mary in Roman Catholicism encompasses various forms of devotion, including prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music. Popes have encouraged this veneration, and it is expressed through artistic depictions of Mary as a refuge, advocate, protector, and intercessor with her son, Jesus. The artistic representations of the Virgin of Mercy, for example, portray Mary as the protector of Christians, sheltering them under her mantle.
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The Immaculate Conception: the belief that Mary was conceived without sin
The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic dogma that states that Mary was conceived without original sin. The term "immaculate", meaning "without stain", refers to the belief that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin and its consequences. This doctrine is based on the idea that Mary, as the mother of God, must have been free from all sin and its effects. The concept of the Immaculate Conception first arose from a general acceptance in the early church of Mary's holiness, especially after she was declared the mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD.
The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that Mary was conceived by her parents, Anne and Joachim, in the same way that all humans are conceived. However, some theologians suggested that Mary's conception was sinless because it was pure and free of sexual lust. This belief gained popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Spain, and led to a proliferation of Immaculist devotion. The Habsburg monarchs strongly supported this belief and pressured the papacy to elevate it to the status of dogma.
The Immaculate Conception became a subject of controversy during the Middle Ages, causing a divide between Franciscans and Dominicans. The Franciscans, known as "Scotists", favoured the doctrine, while the Dominican "Thomists" opposed it. In 1439, the Council of Basel, in schism with Pope Eugene IV, declared the Immaculate Conception a "pious opinion" consistent with faith and Scripture. However, the Council of Trent in the early 1500s did not make any explicit declarations on the subject but affirmed that Mary was free from all sin, even venial sins, throughout her life.
In 1849, Pope Pius IX sought the views of the bishops regarding the doctrine and, in 1854, officially added the word "immaculate" to the name of the feast day, solidifying the belief in the Immaculate Conception as a dogma in the Catholic Church. The Immaculate Conception is now celebrated on December 8 and is typically a holy day of obligation for Catholics.
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The Assumption: the belief that Mary was assumed into heaven body and soul
The Assumption of Mary is a Catholic doctrine of faith that states that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was assumed (or taken up) body and soul into Heaven at the end of her life. Pope Pius XII defined it on 1 November 1950 in his apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus, as the assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. It is celebrated on 15 August.
The belief in the Assumption of Mary is said to have originated in the earliest days of Christianity, with the earliest documentation addressing the Assumption dating back to the 3rd or 4th century. The idea of the Assumption slowly gained popularity, and it became a widely held belief throughout the centuries. The Bible mentions two figures who were taken up to heaven, Enoch and Elijah, which serve as important precedents for the Assumption of Mary. The German nun Elisabeth of Schönau in the 12th century reportedly had visions of Mary and her son, which influenced the Western Church's tradition. In the 8th century, St. John of Damascus wrote that the Roman Emperor Marcian had requested possession of Mary's body, to which St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, replied that Mary's tomb was found empty, and thus her body was assumed to have been taken up to Heaven.
The Catholic Church cites several Scriptural passages as evidence for the Assumption, including Mary's miraculous conception of Jesus, her prompting of Jesus during his first miracle at Cana, her witness to her Son's crucifixion, and her presence at Pentecost after Jesus's death. The Church reasons that Mary's union with Jesus required a continuation after death, and so as Jesus entered Heaven with his body and soul, so did His mother. The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds that the Assumption of Mary is a "singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians."
The Assumption of Mary is one of four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. While some Catholics believe that Mary died before being assumed and was miraculously resurrected, others believe she was assumed bodily into Heaven without dying. The belief in the Assumption is important to many Christians, especially Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, and Anglicans.
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Marian apparitions: visions of the Virgin Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been a central figure of Catholic belief and tradition for centuries. The veneration of Mary, or Marian veneration, is a unique aspect of Catholic theology and devotion. This veneration is expressed through various forms, including prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music devoted to her. While the exact date of when Mary entered Catholic belief is unclear, evidence suggests that Marian devotion has been a part of Catholic tradition for centuries, dating back to early Christian art and the teachings of the Apostles.
One significant aspect of Marian devotion in the Catholic Church is the belief in Marian apparitions, which are reported supernatural appearances of the Virgin Mary. These apparitions are considered expressions of Mary's ongoing motherly care for the Church and are often associated with religious messages and devotional practices. The Catholic Church has established specific norms and guidelines for investigating and evaluating claims of Marian apparitions, with the majority of investigated apparitions being rejected as fraudulent or false.
Marian apparitions have been reported throughout history and across different regions. One of the earliest purported apparitions occurred in 40 CE in Zaragoza, Spain, when the Apostle James the Greater reportedly saw a vision of Mary while preaching on the banks of the Ebro River. Other notable apparitions include Our Lady of La Vang in Vietnam (c. 1800), Our Lady of Zeitoun in Egypt (1968-1971), and Our Lady of Knock in Ireland (1879).
The apparitions often carry religious messages and are believed to serve a purpose relevant to the particular time and place they occur. For example, during an apparition at Dzhublyk, Mary's mission was said to be reinstating the church's power and uniting the people within the church. Some apparitions are associated with requests for the construction of shrines, such as the visions received by Juan Diego in Mexico and Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France.
Apparition sites often become popular pilgrimage destinations for believers, who may attribute healing powers and other miracles to these locations. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most-visited Marian shrine in the world, attracting millions of pilgrims each year. While the Catholic Church has approved only a select few apparitions as worthy of belief, many Catholics, including popes, express belief in Marian apparitions and their significance in the Catholic faith.
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Frequently asked questions
The earliest known hymn in honour of Mary, the Sub Tuum Praesidium, dates back to the 3rd or 4th century. However, the veneration of Mary became more prominent in the 5th century when the Council of Ephesus endorsed the title "Theotokos" (Mother of God).
The belief that Mary is the Mother of God is based on the understanding that she is the mother of Jesus Christ, who is considered the Son of God. This dogma was declared at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
The Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without sin. It became a widely held belief among Catholics in the 19th century and was proclaimed as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
The Assumption of Mary is the belief that Mary was taken up body and soul into heaven after her earthly life. Accounts of the Assumption have circulated since at least the 5th century, and it became widespread across the Christian world from the 6th century onward. It was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
The Virgin Mary has been a central artistic topic in Catholic art, often depicted as the Madonna and Child. She is also revered in Catholic culture through prayer, pious acts, music, and poetry. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, demonstrating the significance of Marian devotion among Catholics.
