Catholics do not mean that Mary created God, existed before God or is the source of Christ's divine nature.
The title Mother of God is fundamentally a statement about Jesus.
The question is: Who did Mary give birth to?
Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ.
Jesus is one divine Person, the eternal Son, who possesses a true divine nature and a true human nature.
Mary is therefore mother of the Person she bore.
She did not give birth merely to a human person later joined to God.
Theotokos
Ancient Christians used the Greek title Theotokos, commonly translated "God-bearer" or "Mother of God."
The title became especially important during Christological controversy.
The Council of Ephesus in AD 431 defended its use in the context of protecting the unity of Christ's person.
Why does this matter?
If someone says:
"Mary is the mother of Jesus, but not the Mother of God,"
ask what that statement implies about Jesus.
Is Jesus God?
Is He one Person?
The Catholic title protects the answer:
the child Mary bore is truly God the Son incarnate.
Does this mean Mary is divine?
No.
Mary is a creature.
Catholic Christianity worships the Trinity alone.
Her dignity derives entirely from God's grace and from the identity of her Son.
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