Mother of Christ

The word "Christ" is the English transliteration of the Greek word"Khristos", and it has the same meaning as the word "Messiah" which came from the Hebrew word "Mashíach". Both words essentially mean the "the anointed one" or "the chosen one". The Jews were expecting the coming of "the anointed one" who would deliver them from the oppressions of all their enemies and establish an earthly kingdom, based on many prophesies found in the Old Testaments. Collectively, these prophecies were referred to as Messianic prophecies. The prophesies for coming of the Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is called "Jesus Christ" because He is the one chosen by God and anointed by Him to save His people. Mary, being the mother of Jesus, thus also known as Mother of Christ.

By acknowledging Our Lady as the Mother of Christ, the Church is establishing a clear relationship between her and the Church. Christ is the head of the Church and the members are its body. And Mary, Mother of Christ, is the Mother of the Church. Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. By being the Mother of the Church, Mary is also the mother of the members of the Church. God entrusted Mary with His only begotten Son, and her Son entrusts her with the birth of believers in the Church. By her complete adherence to the Father's will, to His Son's redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church's model of faith, hope and charity. 

When we call Mary "Mother of Christ", we are professing that Jesus is the Messiah. We are also acknowledging her unique and exemplary role in the Church - she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and love in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to souls. By calling her Mother of Christ and Mother of Church, we are also calling her the Mother of all those who are members of Christ's body. Thus every time we say that we are members of the Church, we are calling ourselves sons and daughters of Mary, Mother of Christ.