Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
The title “Mother of God” goes back to the third or fourth century, but the Greek term Theotokos was officially consecrated as Catholic doctrine at the Council of Ephesus in 431, thus becoming the first Marian dogma. At the end of the Council of Ephesus, crowds of people marched through the streets shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!”
This Catholic doctrine is based on the doctrine of Incarnation, as expressed by St. Paul: “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” . In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution “Lumen Gentium” calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times. On this day the Catholic Church also celebrates the World Day of Peace, a tradition established by Pope Paul VI and confirmed by Pope John Paul II.23"Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,25 The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:27"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them." And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.