49On the Mother <strong>of</strong> God 97 98<strong>Quintessence</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Religious</strong> <strong>Doctrines</strong>fusion. The modus operandi or the mode <strong>of</strong> effecting <strong>of</strong> thisunion, the S.O.C. opines, is a mystery because it cannot beexplained by human logic, despite many a theory. It is in theattempt to unravel this mystery that the Christian Church gotsplit up into sects like, Miaphysites as the Jacobites andDyphysites like the Byzantines and the Roman Catholics.The Syrian Antiochaean Patriarch Severius, Bishop JacobBurdaeus, Philoxinose Mabugg were the notable Miaphysiteswho were mistakenly accused <strong>of</strong> Monophysitism. The councils<strong>of</strong> Ephesus and Chalcedon witnessed the internecine fights<strong>of</strong> these sects and the consequent mutual anathema. It is asorry and sad plight that the wounds so inflicted have notyet been healed. After all, every Christian shall rememberthat dividing is easy while unification is pretty difficult.3. As this virgin gave birth to Immanuel, the full God and full man,Ref: Is. 7:14... Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear ason, and shall call his name Immanuel. (K.J.V.)CommentThe child that Mary gave birth was Immanuel, which in Hebrewmeans ‘God is with us’. This name was given to Lord Jesusin fulfillment <strong>of</strong> the prophesy <strong>of</strong> the great Jewish prophetIsaiah, who lived in Jerusalem in the 8 th century B.C.E. Theterm Immanuel has the following deep theologicalconnotation. It means the immanence <strong>of</strong> God as distinct fromHis transcendence. This immanent Immanuel or Jesus wasfully God and fully man simultaneously4. The Blessed Virgin is hailed Mother <strong>of</strong> God. Since Her wombbecame quite suitable to be the throne <strong>of</strong> the Son <strong>of</strong> God, andas the Holy Virgin,Ref: Lk. 1:43. Why should this great thing happen to me,that my Lord’s mother comes to visit me? (G.N.B.)CommentThe S.O.C. avows that as the child born <strong>of</strong> the Blessed Virginhad the full divinity, indissolubly mixed with full humanity in amysterious manner, She is the Mother <strong>of</strong> God. This is thepoint <strong>of</strong> distinction from the Nestorians who hail Mary, as theMother <strong>of</strong> Jesus but not <strong>of</strong> God. On account <strong>of</strong> Her humilityand willingness to co-operate with the divine dispensation <strong>of</strong>Incarnation, God selected Her womb to be His Throne.5. Never knew man; She remained ever a Virgin.Ref: (a) Jn. 19:26, 27. Jesus saw his mother and the disciplehe loved standing there, so he said to his mother,“He is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Sheis your mother.” From that time the disciple took herto live in his home. (G.N.B.)(b) Ezek. 44:1-3. The man led me to the outer gate at theeast side <strong>of</strong> the temple area; the gate was closedand the Lord said to me, “this gate will stay closedand will never be opened. No human being is allowedto use it because I the Lord God <strong>of</strong> Israel, haveentered through it. It is to remain closed...” (G.N.B.)CommentAs St. Mary never knew any man including St. Joseph, thefoster father <strong>of</strong> Jesus, the S.O.C. asserts that she remainedall throughout Her life a Virgin. She is therefore hailed theever Virgin or technically ‘Sompre Virgo’. She is ever hailedby the S.O.C. as the one filled with divine grace and theVirgin Mother. The latter term sounds paradoxical but forGod everything is possible.6. We shall, in accordance with the annunciation <strong>of</strong> the Angel giveevery honour to this Holy Mother and desire <strong>of</strong> her solicitationsfor us.Ref: (a) Lk. 1:28. The angel came to her and said, “Peace bewith you! The Lord is with you and has greatlyblessed you!” (G.N.B.)(b) Lk. 1:48. For he has remembered me his lovelyservant! (G.N.B.)CommentThe justification <strong>of</strong> the honour or dulia accorded to MotherMary is no mere accident. It is, rather in line with the hailing
50On the Mother <strong>of</strong> God 99<strong>of</strong> the archangel Gabriel. If an archangel can honour Herwhy should not ordinary mortals do so? Moreover, myriads<strong>of</strong> men and women vouch on the efficacy <strong>of</strong> Her intercession.S.O.C., however, is cautions to see that the dulia that Sheaccords to the Divine Mother does not verge on hyperduliaor over veneration. It is true that the S.O.C. hails St. Mary asthe gate <strong>of</strong> Heaven. But She is not hailed the Lady <strong>of</strong>Immaculate Conception as the Roman Catholic Churchpredicates Her.Theme No: 19On the Prayer to the Saints1. As the Saints who have departed from the mortal body are stillalive in the spirit,Ref: (a) Lk. 20:38. “He is the God <strong>of</strong> the living, not <strong>of</strong> thedead, for to him all are alive.” (G.N.B.)(b) 1 Pet. 3:19. And in his spiritual existence he wentand preached to the imprisoned spirits. (G.N.B.)CommentPersons who had led a pious and saintly life and haveapparently departed from us are still alive. On the authority<strong>of</strong> the dominical words, deeds, the Bible and Tradition, theS.O.C. contends that such people are alive in spirit. True,they are not visible to mortal eyes. It is because they arespirits without sensory faculties.2. It is quite behoving that affection and honour are accorded tothem in the name <strong>of</strong> Christ. As they are the loved ones <strong>of</strong> ourLord, respecting and loving them are like giving the same toHim.Ref: Mt. 10:40, 41. “Whoever welcomes you welcomesme; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the onewho sent me.” (G.N.B.)CommentAs the saints are still alive, <strong>of</strong> course, in the spiritual planeand as they have won the love <strong>of</strong> Christ, it is only fit that, werevere them and commemorate their feasts; on the basis <strong>of</strong>the utterance <strong>of</strong> Jesus, that whatever has been done to Hisservant will be deemed as a service to He Himself. So, whatwe do to the saints are <strong>of</strong>ferings to Him.3. As the prayer <strong>of</strong>fered by the children <strong>of</strong> the ancient PatriarchsAbraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David in grateful memory <strong>of</strong> them,was heard and answered by God, so our prayers beseeching