Do Catholics believe that Mary is the Mother of God?

Yes, Catholics believe that Mary is the Mother of God. This belief is a central part of the Catholic faith and is deeply rooted in the understanding of who Jesus is. When we affirm that Mary is the Mother of God, we are saying that she gave birth to Jesus, who is God made man. This does not mean that she is greater than God, but rather that by bringing Jesus into the world, she gave birth to Him who is, at the same time, true God and true man.

The Bible helps us understand this truth. In the Gospel of Luke, for example, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. When Mary says "Yes" to God's plan, she accepts to be the Mother of the Savior. By giving birth to Jesus, who is God incarnate, Mary becomes the Mother of God. Another important passage is in Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, where Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, calls her "mother of my Lord." In this case, "Lord" refers to the divinity of Jesus. Thus, it is clear that Mary is the Mother of God.

This title, "Mother of God," was formally recognized by the Church at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. At that time, some questioned whether Mary could be called this, but the Church reaffirmed that Jesus is one person with two natures, divine and human. Therefore, as Mary gave birth to Jesus, she gave birth to God in His human nature.

Many people might think that by calling Mary the Mother of God, Catholics are exaggerating. However, this belief does not elevate Mary to a position higher than God. On the contrary, it reinforces the truth that Jesus is God and that, in His humanity, He was born of Mary. This also does not mean that Mary is eternal or existed before God, but simply that she is the mother of Jesus, who is God incarnate.

Mary is called the Mother of God because, by saying her "yes" to God, she uniquely participated in the plan of salvation. Jesus, being true God, chose to be born of a woman, and that woman was Mary. This motherhood of Mary is so special that the Church celebrates this truth on January 1st, in the Solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God.

Thus, Mary is the Mother of God, and this title helps us better understand who Jesus is and the great mystery of His incarnation. By recognizing Mary as the Mother of God, Catholics celebrate the great role she played in the history of salvation, always pointing to her Son, Jesus, God with us.