Titles of Mary
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All of these descriptives refer to the same woman named Mary, the mother of
Some descriptives of Mary are properly titles,
Historical and cultural context
The relatively large number of titles given to Mary may be explained in several ways.
Mary's intercession is sought for a large spectrum of human needs in varied situations. This has led to the formulation of many of her titles (good counsel, Help of the Sick, etc.). Moreover, meditations and devotions on the different aspects of Mary's role in the life of Jesus have led to additional titles, such as Our Lady of Sorrows.[3] Still further titles have been derived from dogmas and doctrines, such as, the Assumption of Mary, Dormition of the Mother of God and Immaculate Conception.
The veneration of Mary was consolidated in the year 431 when, at the
The
Following the Reformation,
Dogmatic titles
- Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that Mary is Theotokos ("God-bearer") because her son Jesus is both God and man: one Divine Person with two natures (divine and human).[5]This name was translated in the West as "Mater Dei" or Mother of God. From this derives the title "Blessed Mother".
- Virgin Mary: The doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary developed early in Christianity and was taught by the early Fathers, such as, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria (and others).[6] In the fourth century "ever-virgin" became a popular title for Mary.[7]Variations on this include the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", and "Spouse of the Holy Spirit". The perpetual virginity of Mary was declared a dogma by the Lateran Council of 649.
- Immaculate Conception: The dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin was defined in 1854, by Pope Pius IX's apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. This gave rise to the titles of "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception" and "Queen Conceived Without Original Sin". The Immaculate Conception is also honored under the titles of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Caysasay (Philippines),[8] Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, Our Lady of Guidance, and Our Lady of Salambao, also in the Philippines.
- Assumption: The belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven upon completing the course of her earthly life was declared a dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The titles "Our Lady of Assumption" and "Queen Assumed Into Heaven" derive from this. This dogma is also reflected in devotion to Our Lady of Ta' Pinu on Malta.
In the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches the Assumption of Mary may be celebrated as the Dormition, or the "Falling Asleep" of the Mother of God, it is an important feast day, not based on a scriptural canon but affirmed by tradition.
Early titles of Mary
"Our Lady" is a common title to give to Mary as a sign of respect and honor. In French she is called "Notre Dame" and in Spanish she is "Nuestra Señora".[9]
- Mary was identified as the "New Eve" at least as early as the later half of the Second Century. Justin Martyr (100–165) draws the connection in his Dialogue with Trypho. This idea is later expanded by Irenaeus.[10]
- John Chrysostom, in 345, was the first person to use the Marian title Mary Help of Christians as a devotion to the Virgin Mary. Don Bosco promoted devotion to Mary under this title.
- Stella Maris or Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary, used to emphasize her role as a sign of hope and a guiding star for Christians. It is attributed to Jerome and cited by Paschasius Radbertus.
English | Latin | Greek | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
"Our Lady" | Nostra Domina | Commonly used to prefix many Marian titles | |
"Full of Grace", "Blessed", "Most Blessed", "Blessed Virgin Mary" | Gratia plena, Beata, Beatissima, Beatae Mariae Virginis (BMV) | kecharitomene[11] (κεχαριτωμένη) | from the angel's greeting to Mary in Luke 1:28; |
"Virgin", "the Virgin" | Virgo | Parthenos[12][13] (Παρθένος) | Greek parthenos used in Matthew 1:22; Ignatius of Antioch refers to Mary's virginity and motherhood (ca. 110); |
"Cause of our Salvation" | causa salutis | according to Irenaeus of Lyons (150–202);[14]
| |
"Mother of God" | Mater Dei | Meter Theou (Μήτηρ Θεοῦ) | often abbr. ΜΡ ΘΥ in Greek iconography; |
"God-bearer" | Deipara, Dei genitrix | Theotokos (Θεοτόκος) | lit. "one who bears the One who is God"; a common title in Council of Ephesus (431) in response to Nestorianism , which questioned the Church's teaching that Jesus Christ's nature was unified;
|
" Ever-virgin "
|
semper virgo | aei-parthenos[12] (ἀειπάρθενος) | Hippolytus of Rome (c.170 – c.235) held Mary to be "all-holy ever-virgin"[15] |
"Holy Mary", "Saint Mary" | Sancta Maria | Hagia Maria[12] (Ἁγία Μαρία) | Greek invocation is infrequent in contemporary Eastern Christianity;[16] |
"Most Holy" | Sanctissima, tota Sancta[17] | Panagia (Παναγία) | Hippolytus held Mary to be "all-holy ever-virgin"[18] |
"Most Pure" | Purissima | Parallels have been drawn between the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Mother. She travels to the hill country of Judea, where John leaps at her approach, Elizabeth cries out and says "Who Am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me", stays in Zechariah's home for three months, blessing it. Afterward she goes to Jerusalem. | |
"Immaculate" | immaculata | akeratos[12] (ἀκήρατος) | The Angel Gabriel calls Mary "Full of Grace". This is taken by many Christians to imply that Mary was free from all sin. |
"Lady", "Mistress" | Domina | Despoina[12] (Δέσποινα) | related, "Madonna" ( French: Notre Dame, lit. "our lady");
|
"Queen of Heaven" | Regina caeli, Regina coeli | As the mother of Jesus, who in mainstream Christianity is God and King of Heaven, multiple Christian denominations give her the title "Queen of Heaven". Mary is identified with the figure in Revelation 12:1; | |
"Queen of all creation" | Regina totius creati | This term is used by encyclical letter Laudato si' (2015).[19]
|
Papal actions
- After the Blessed Virgin Mother of Victory.
- The first Marian image pontifically crowned was Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome on 27 May 1631, by Pope Urban VIIIby the Vatican Chapter.
- The doctrine of the Pius IX promulgated Ineffabilis Deus in 1854.[20]
- The encyclical Ad diem illum of Pope Pius X commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the dogma of Immaculate Conception
- During World War I, Queen of Peaceto the Litany of Loreto.
- Blessed Virgin Mary.
- In 1954, the papal encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, issued by Pope Pius XII, explained how Mary is Queen of Heaven[21]
- In 1960, Pope John XXIII changed the title of the "Feast of the Holy Rosary" (formerly the "Feast of Our Lady of Victory") to the "Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary."
- Pope John Paul II's 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater took the step of addressing the role of the Virgin Mary as Mediatrix.
- Several Papal actions over the centuries decreed the appellation "Queen of Poland" for Mary, following the solemn vows of King John Paul II on 1 April 2005, on the eve of his death.[23] The feast of The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Polandis on 3 May.
Image Type | Typical Art Style | Description |
---|---|---|
Eleusa icon |
Byzantine
|
In this 12th c. depiction by an unknown artist, Mary holds her baby's face to her cheek as an expression of maternal tenderness. The evocative pose was copied two centuries later by the great Russian painter Andrei Rublev. The original was saved from destruction several times in its history. After the Russian Revolution it was housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, but representations from the Russian Orthodox Church ensured it is once again in a nearby church, where services are held; |
Hodegetria |
Byzantine
|
Mary holds Christ in her left hand and with her right hand she "shows the way" by pointing to Him; |
Sedes Sapientiae |
Romanesque | Christ is seated in His mother Mary's lap, symbolically the "Throne of Wisdom"; |
"Gothic Madonna" |
Gothic | Based loosely on Byzantine Hodegetria iconography; typically depicts a standing, smiling Mary and playful Christ Child; considered one of the earliest depictions of Mary that is strictly Western;[24] |
|
Gothic and Renaissance | The Virgin is depicted breastfeeding the Holy Infant. Our Lady Nursing, as painted in the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome, c. A.D. 250, is one of the earliest depictions (if not the earliest depiction) of Mary;[25] Discouraged by the Council of Trent and rare subsequently. |
Mater Misericordiae |
Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque | A regal, celestial Mary is depicted covering the faithful in her protective mantle; first arose in the late 13th century in Central Europe and Italy; depiction is commonly associated with plague monuments.[26] |
Maestà |
Gothic | Mary is seated in majesty, holding the Christ Child; based on Byzantine Nikopoia iconography; |
Pietà |
Renaissance
|
Mary cradles the dead body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion; this type emerged first in the 13th century in Germany as an (1498–1499) is considered a masterpiece; |
Mater Amabilis |
Renaissance, Baroque
|
Iconic Western depiction with many variations; based loosely on Byzantine Glykophilousa ("sweet kisses") iconography; Mary turns her gaze away from the Christ Child as she contemplates His future linear perspective are evident;
|
Madonna della seggiola |
Renaissance round painting
|
Mary with toddlers Jesus and his cousin, Ingres.[28]
|
Devotional titles
In the Loreto Litanies Mary's prayers are invoked under more than fifty separate titles, such as "Mother Most Pure", "Virgin Most Prudent", and "Cause of Our Joy".[29]
Other devotional titles include:
- Ark of the Covenant
- Comfort (or Help) of the Afflicted
- Our Lady, Gate of the Dawn
- Holy Mary
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Mother of Christ
- Mother of Mercy
- Mother of Sorrows
- Mother for the Journey
- Mother of the Church
- Mystical Rose
- Our Lady of the Annunciation
- Our Lady of Charity
- Our Lady of Providence
- Our Lady of Ransom
- Our Lady of Solitude
- Our Lady, Star of the Sea
- Queen of All Saints
- Queen of Angels
- Queen of Apostles
- Queen of Confessors
- Queen of Families
- Queen of Martyrs
- Queen of Patriarchs
- Queen of Prophets
- Queen of Heaven
- Queen of Virgins
- Queen of the World(in Latin Regina mundi)
- Refuge of Sinners
- Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the People of Rome)
- Untier of Knots(also, Undoer of Knots)
Theological Mariology
With the exception of Jesus Christ, who is believed to have a twofold nature, both human and divine, (dyophysitism), the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered among many Christians to be the unique human being about whom there is a dogma. She is connected to four different dogmas and numerous Marian titles. Christian invocations, titles, and art bear witness to the prominent role she has been accorded in the history and programme of salvation in parts of Christendom, although this is not shared by many (mainly reformed) Christian churches.
In the
Tradition has it that the Virgin Mother of God was anointed by the Holy Spirit, hence putting her on a par with the anointing of the Kings, Prophets, Judges, and High Priests of Israel, as Jesus Christ is said to have been. This in turn opens the way to titles such as:
- Advocate of the Church (like the judges of Israel)
- Mediatrix of all graces[30] (like a High Priest of Israel),
- Queen of Angels (like the kings of Israel): the Coronation of the Virgin paintings represent the hierarchy of angels of God while starting to serve Mary forever, after she has accepted to become the Mother of God.
- Marian apparitionsare said to testify to Mary's gift of prophecy.
In the Roman Catholic and in the Orthodox Churches, the Virgin Mother of God is venerated in a special form expressed in Greek as
Titles associated with devotional images
- The Black Madonna (French: Vierge Noire, Catalan: La Moreneta) is a statue or painting of Mary, generally of the 12th to 15th centuries, where she often with the infant Jesus, are depicted as having swarthy or black skin.[31] There are over 450 Black Madonnas in Europe alone. The title given to Mary, usually reflects the location of the image. The Black Madonna of Częstochowa, the Virgin of Candelaria, Our Lady of Ferguson, and Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage are noted examples.
- Latin: Mater boni consilii) is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, after a painting said to be miraculous, now found in the thirteenth century Augustinian church at Genazzano, near Rome, Italy.
- Schoenstatt Movement.
Titles of images related to epithets include:
Titles of images related to places of worship include:
- Our Lady of Altagracia (Dominican Republic)
- Our Lady of Bethlehem
- Our Lady of Chartres
- Our Lady of Combermere
- Our Lady of Covadonga
- Our Lady of Ipswich
- Our Lady of Joy
- Our Lady of Atocha[32]
- Santa Marian Kamalen (Guam)
- Our Lady of Good Health (India)
- Our Lady of Korattymuthy(India)
- Our Lady of Lebanon
- Our Lady of Loreto
- Our Lady of Manaoag
- Our Lady of Maulawin
- Our Lady of La Naval de Manila
- Our Lady of Nazaré
- Our Lady of Peñafrancia
- Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage of Noveleta
- Our Lady of Piat
- Our Lady of Porta Vaga
- Our Lady of Turumba
Titles associated with apparitions
- Our Lady of Akita
- Our Lady of All Nations
- Our Lady of Balintawak
- Our Lady of Banneux
- Our Lady of Beauraing
- Our Lady of Cabeza
- Our Lady of Caravaggio
- Our Lady of China
- Our Lady of Coromoto
- Our Lady of Fátima
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Our Lady of Good Health
- Our Lady of Good Help
- Our Lady of the Hens
- Our Lady of Kibeho (Mother of the Word)
- Our Lady of Knock
- Our Lady of La Salette
- Our Lady of La Vang
- Our Lady of Laus
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Our Lady of Maulawin
- Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Our Lady of Pellevoisin
- Our Lady of Pontmain
- Our Lady of the Pillar
- Our Lady of the Snows
- Our Lady of Walsingham
- Our Lady of Zeitoun
Latin America
A number of titles of Mary found in Latin America pertain to cultic images of her represented in iconography identified with a particular already existent title adapted to a particular place. Our Lady of Luján in Argentina refers to a small terracotta image made in Brazil and sent to Argentina in May, 1630. Its appearance seems to have been inspired by Murillo's Immaculates. Our Lady of Copacabana (Bolivia): is a figure related to devotion to Mary under the title "Most Blessed Virgin de la Candelaria, Our Lady of Copacabana". About four feet in height, the statue was made by Francisco Tito Yupanqui around 1583 and is garbed in the colors and dress of an Inca princess.[33]
- Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos (Our Lady of the Troubled), Brazil[32]
- Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación (Our Lady of the Annunciation)[32]
- Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Our Lady of the Assumption)
- Our Lady of Aparecida
- Our Lady of Carmel of the Maipú[33]
- Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
- Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
- Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolás, Buenos Aires, Argentina[35]
- Virgin de la soledad de Parral (Our Lady of Solitude of Parral), Parral, Mexico
- Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Our Lady of the Angels), Costa Rica[33]
- Virgin of Suyapa(Honduras)
- Virgin of the Thirty-Three
- Rainha da Floresta (Queen of the Forest), Santo Daime in Brazil
- Virgen del Pozo (Our Lady of the Well) Puerto Rico
Titles in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Theotokos means "God-bearer" and is translated as "Mother of God". This title was given to Mary at the Third Ecumenical Council in Ephesus in 431 AD.(cf. Luke 1:43).[36]
- Life-giving Spring
- Our Mother the Holy Virgin (John 19:27)[36]
- Our Lady of Kazan
- Our Lady of St. Theodore
- Panagia
- Panagia tis Angeloktistis
- Panagia Episkopi
- Panagia Portaitissa
- The Queen Who is by the Right Side of the King (from Ps.45:9)[36]
- Our Lady of Philermos
- Theotokos of Bogolyubovo
- Theotokos of Buchyn
- Theotokos of Kursk
- Theotokos of Miasena
- Theotokos of Tikhvin
- Theotokos of Tolga
- Theotokos of Vladimir
Titles of Mary in Islam
The
- Ma'suma - "She who never sinned"
- Mustafia - "She who is chosen"
- Nur - "Light". She has also been called Umm Nur ("Mother of one who was Light"), in reference to 'Isa
- Qānitah - the term implies constant submission to Allah, as well as absorption in prayer and invocation.
- Rāki’ah - "She who bows down to Allah in worship"
- Sa’imah - "She who fasts"
- Sājidah - "She who prostrates to Allah in worship"
- Siddiqah - "She who accepts as true", "She who has faith", or "She who believes sincerely totally"
- Tāhirah - "She who was purified"
See also
- Agni Parthene
- Ave Maria ... Virgo serena
- Catholic Marian art
- Catholic Marian church buildings
- Catholic Marian music
- Intercession of the saints
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Magnificat
- Marian apparitions
- Mary of Egypt
- Roman Catholic Mariology
- Salve Regina
- Stabat Mater
- Theotokion
- Veneration of Mary in Roman Catholicism
Citations
- ISBN 1-110-47186-6page 17
- ^ "Why does Mary have So Many Different Titles?" All About Mary, International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton.
- ISBN 0-8146-5914-4p. 95
- ^ Roskovany, A., conceptu immacolata ex monumentis omnium seculrorum demonstrate III, Budapest 1873
- ISBN 0802822665p. 84
- ^ Maas, Anthony. "Virgin Birth of Christ." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 10 April 2016
- ISBN 9781592760947
- ^ "In Honor of Nuestra Señora de Guia", De Anda (2009-11-22),
- ^ "Hargett, Malea. "Marian titles chosen for one out of four churches in diocese", Arkansas Catholic, Diocese of Arkansas, 20 May 2006". Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ Mauriello, Matthew R., "Mary the New Eve," Frei Francisco.
- ^ "... Byzantine inscriptions from Palestine ... in the sixth [century] ... fourteen inscriptions invoke "Holy Mary" (Hagia Maria), eleven more hail her as Theotokos; others add the attribution of "Immaculate" (Akeratos), "Most Blessed" (Kecharitomene), "Mistress" (Despoina), "Virgin" or "Ever-Virgin" (Aei-Parthenos)." (Frend 1984, p. 836)
- ^ a b c d e Frend 1984, p. 836.
- ^ "Blue Letter Bible" lexicon results for parthenos Archived 1 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 19 December 2007.
- ^ "Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.22.4".
- ^ Hippolytus of Rome. Against Beron and Helix: Fragment VIII. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ The Titles of Saints, Orthodox Holiness, 18 December 2005
- ^ "Universität Mannheim". www.uni-mannheim.de. 3 January 2019.
- ^ Hippolytus of Rome. Against Beron and Helix: Fragment VIII. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Pope Francis, Laudato si', paragraph 241, published 24 May 2015, accessed 28 May 2024
- ISBN 9781565484498.
- ^ Pope Pius XII (11 October 1954). "Ad Caeli Reginam". Roman Catholic Church. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010.
- ^ "Śluby króla Jana Kazimierza, złożone dnia 1 kwietnia 1656 roku" [King John Casimir's vows made on 1 April 1656] (in Polish). Konferencja Episkopatu Polski i Wydawnictwo Pallottinum. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Paweł Zuchniewicz [in Polish]. "Ostatni dokument Jana Pawła II" [The Last Document of Pope John Paul II] (in Polish). Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Madonna. (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 February 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: [1]
- ^ "Catacombe di Priscilla". Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ Jeep 2001, p. 393.
- ^ Watts, Barbara. "Pietà". Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, Retrieved 17 February 2008, http://www.groveart.com/
- ^ Zoffany Archived 2014-10-18 at the Wayback Machine, RoyalCollection.org, retrieved 18 October 2014
- ^ "The Loreto Litanies". The Holy See. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ Mark Alessio (31 January 2006). "Mary, advocate of the Church and Mediatrix of all graces". catholicism.org. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.
- ^ Duricy, Michael P., "Black Madonnas: Origin, History, Controversy," All About Mary, International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton.
- ^ a b c "Titles of Mary", Regis University
- ^ a b c "Latin American Titles of Mary", All About Mary, International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton.
- ^ Paraguay: South America's Lewis Carroll world
- ^ Website of Center for the Promotion of Devotion, Sanctuary of Mary of the Rosary of San Nicolás]
- ^ a b c "Titles of the Holy Theotokos, Saint Mary", Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Diocese of Los Angeles
References
- ISBN 0-8006-1931-5.
- Jeep, John M. (2001). Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN 0-8240-7644-3.
External links
- Archaeological project to collect all epithets of Mary in Greek, Latin, and Syriac
- International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton. The Institute, a leading center for research and scholarship on the Blessed Virgin Mary, has a vast presence in cyberspace.
- List of 6,000 Catholic titles of Mary
- Marian Library at the University of Dayton. The Marian Library is the world's largest repository of books, periodicals, artwork, and artifacts on Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
- Eastern Orthodox understanding of saints' titles
- Raised to Heaven because Co-Redemptrix on earth. Thoughts on the foundation of the Catholic dogma Archived 24 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Lecture by Monsignor Brunero Gherardini. Explains the meaning of the Marian titles Assumpta, Mediatrix, Co-Redemptrix.