“ It was the same holy Savior, descending from heaven, who deigned to bring about our salvation in a virginal workshop, being generated a second time by Mary, having been conceived by the working of the Holy Spirit. Clothed in flesh-“The Word became flesh” (Jn 1:14) – without changing in his nature, although uniting a human nature to divinity, being a perfect being from the Father. For our sake, he came into the world in order to fulfil the perfect economy and to bring about our salvation.
Gifted with the perfection of the Father, he took a human body and a human soul and became man in our midst, not in mere appearance but in truth, molding himself a perfect humanity from Mary, the Mother of God, by the Holy Spirit. The Word did not dwell among us as he had before, such as when he spoke through the prophets, living and working in them by means of his power. Instead, the Word himself became flesh.
However, in becoming man, he did not change his own nature, nor did he exchange his divinity for humanity; although to the fullness of divinity, which was proper to him, and to his hypostasis as the Word of God, he united humanity. A perfect humanity, I say, meaning everything that is found in man, just as it exists in man.”
Epiphanius of Salamis, Ancoratus 7S; PG 43, 157 B-D
If you are interested in more quotes on Virgin Mary, you can find them in Mary and the Fathers of the Church on Amazon in both in Kindle and paperback formats.
References:
Gambero, L., 1999. Mary and the Fathers of the Church 1st ed. Translated by Buffer, T., San Francisco: Ignatius Press. p. 130.
