Template:POTD/2010-01-06
A chiaroscuro woodcut of Mary and the infant Jesus. Christians believe that she conceived her son miraculously by the agency of the Holy Spirit. This took place when she was already the betrothed wife of Joseph and was awaiting the concluding rite of Jewish marriage, the formal home-taking ceremony. A number of important doctrines concerning Mary are held by Catholic churches. Primary among these is that as mother of Jesus, Mary became Theotokos, literally the "God-bearer", or "Mother of God".Artist: Bartolommeo Coriolano; Restoration: Lise Broer