Every January 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Mary, Mother of God, one of the most significant feasts dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This date highlights Mary’s unique role as Mother of Jesus Christ, true God and true man. 
It was at the Council of Ephesus in 431 that her title of Theotokos, meaning IB, was officially proclaimed. This recognition underlines her central role in the mystery of the Incarnation.
The celebration of January 1 not only honors Mary, but also invites us to reflect on the incarnation of Christ, the beginning of our redemption. Moreover, coinciding with the beginning of the calendar year, it is associated with the World Day of Peace, instituted by Pope Paul VI in 1968. During this solemnity, the faithful ask for the intercession of Mary as Queen of Peace, and meditate on the need to build a more just and united world.
Saint Augustine and the divine motherhood of Mary
Saint Augustine and the divine motherhood of MaryAlthough St. Augustine of Hippo died in 430, a year before the Council of Ephesus, his theological thought had a profound influence on the deliberations of the council, especially in the definition of the title Theotokos applied to the Virgin Mary.
For St. Augustine, Mary’s motherhood is not limited to a biological aspect, but has a crucial theological dimension. In his work De Natura et Gratia, he wrote:
“From Mary was born the Son, who is equal to the Father according to divinity, but less than the Father according to humanity” (De Natura et Gratia, ch. 36).
With this affirmation, St. Augustine reaffirms the dogma of the Incarnation: Jesus Christ is a single person with two natures, divine and human, inseparably united. This dogma, defended during the Council of Ephesus, was firmly opposed to the heresies that tried to divide or confuse these two natures.
Mary, model of faith and humility
Mary, model of faith and humilityFor St. Augustine, Mary’s true greatness lies not only in her role as the mother of Jesus, but in her faith and obedience to God’s will. In one of his sermons he stated:
“Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ” (Sermo 72A, 7).
With this reflection, the bishop of Hippo underlines that the “fiat “fiat of Mary, her “Let it be done to me according to your word”, was an act of absolute trust that made her a perfect model of faith.was an act of absolute trust that made her a perfect model of faith. For Augustine, Mary is an example of humility and total surrender to divine plans.
The mystery of the Incarnation and the divine paradox
In another of his works, Enarrationes in Psalmos, St. Augustine reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation with an expression that captures the divine paradox:
“The Creator of Mary was born of Mary; the Son of Mary is at the same time the Son of God and the Creator of Mary” (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 86, 5).
With these words, St. Augustine emphasizes the greatness of Mary as mother of the eternal Son of God, and the infinite humility of Christ, who, being God, assumed our human nature. This mystery is the heart of the Christian faith and confirms Mary’s unique role in the history of salvation.
Divine maternity in the work of redemption
Divine maternity in the work of redemptionSt. Augustine also linked Mary’s divine maternity with the plan of redemption. In De Trinitate, he wrote:
“The Virgin gave birth to him who is our salvation, our life and our redemption” (De Trinitate, IV, 13).
In this vision, Mary is not only the biological mother of Christ, but an essential instrument in God’s redemptive work. Her obedience contrasts with Eve’s disobedience, which is why the Christian tradition has recognized her as the “New Eve”. “New Eve”whose faith and humility repaired the damage of original sin.
Legacy and contribution to the Council of Ephesus
Legacy and contribution to the Council of EphesusThe writings of St. Augustine were a key reference for the bishops who participated in the Council of Ephesus, especially for those who defended the title of Theotokos against the doctrines of Nestorius. Among these defenders was St. Cyril of Alexandria, who shared the Augustinian vision of the unity of the two natures of Christ and the essential role of Mary in the economy of salvation.
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, invites us to contemplate the depth of the mystery of the Incarnation and to rediscover Mary’s unique role in the history of faith. Her example of faith, humility and love inspires us to trust in God’s plans, as we ask for her intercession for peace and reconciliation in our world.