St. Mary the Mother of God

The Lutheran Service Book calls today “St. Mary, the Mother of our Lord,” but that, frankly, is slightly nestorianizing. She is the rightly called the Mother of God, not somehow the mother of the eternal Trinity, God forbid, but she is the mother of the Incarnate Logos, carrying the Son of God within her womb, which, we all know, makes her a Mother.

It is on this day that she fell asleep, and tradition has it, was laid to rest in Ephesus. Her tomb is there to this day. The Roman Catholic Church says she then was assumed bodily into heaven, which is an old tradition. The Eastern Orthodox Churches remain agnostic on this, calling today the Dormition (falling asleep) of the Theotokos (Mother of God).

In the interest of honoring the Theotokos and not debating her titles, person or reputation consider this:

Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;

So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.

The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.

She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.

With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace.

Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.

I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever. (Psalm 45:9-17 NKJV)