On this episode of The Patrick Madrid Show, John from Georgia called in asking about Mary being called the “Spouse of the Holy Spirit.” He was under the impression that this belief is simply Church tradition, but not official doctrine.

Patrick explained that this teaching is indeed doctrine! He broke it down pretty simply: The title comes from Luke 1, where the Holy Spirit “overshadows” Mary, leading to the conception of Jesus without a human father. It’s through the Holy Spirit that Mary became the mother of Jesus. So, in a mystical sense, she’s considered the “spouse” of the Holy Spirit. Kind of mind-blowing, right?

Patrick also clarified the whole doctrine vs. dogma concept. A doctrine is a teaching revealed by God, like Jesus becoming human. It’s something you have to believe as a Catholic. A dogma is a doctrine that’s been officially defined by the Church to really lock it in—like when the Trinity was declared a dogma at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. It’s not that dogma is “more important,” it’s just been made super clear, so that no one gets confused.

If you’re interested in going deeper, Patrick recommended checking out Redemptoris Mater by St. Pope St. John Paul II. It’s an encyclical that unpacks all of this and will give you more insight into Mary’s role and her relationship with the Holy Spirit. 📚 Definitely worth the read!

In a nutshell: calling Mary the “Spouse of the Holy Spirit” isn’t just a random title; it’s a beautiful way of understanding her unique role in salvation. If this is sparking your curiosity, Patrick’s advice is simple — dive into the Church’s teachings and see how it all fits together!

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS