The Third Article

"who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary"

COMPENDIUM

This article teaches us that the Son of God took a body and a soul like ours in the most pure womb of the Virgin Mary by the operation of the Holy Ghost, and that He was born of this Virgin.

Moreover, both the Father and the Son concurred with the Holy Ghost to form the body and to create the soul of Jesus Christ. If it is said "He was conceived of the Holy Ghost" only, that is because the incarnation of the Son of God is a work of benignity and love, and such works are attributed to the Holy Ghost.

When the Son of God became man, He did not cease to be God; and, therefore, He is both God and man at the same time, perfect God and perfect man. And, therefore, He has two natures: a human nature and a divine nature.

Jesus Christ, however, has not two persons, but only one person, and that is divine; but He has two wills, a human will and a divine will.

His will, moreover, was free, but He could not do evil, because the power to do evil is a defect, and not a perfection of liberty.

Further, the Son of God and the Son of Mary are one and the same Person, i.e., Jesus Christ, true God and true man. And therefore, too, Mary the Virgin is the Mother of God, because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ, who is truly God.

Mary became the Mother of Jesus Christ solely by the operation and virtue of the Holy Ghost; and, therefore, it is of faith that the most Holy Virgin was ever a virgin, and she is called "the Virgin" by preeminence.

CATECHISM

83. What is taught in the Third Article: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary?

The Third Article of the Creed teaches that, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, the Son of God took a body and soul like ours, in the chaste womb of the Virgin Mary, and that He was born of that Virgin.

84. Did the Father and the Son also take part in forming the body and creating the soul of Jesus Christ?

Yes, the whole Three Divine Persons co-operated in forming the body and in creating the soul of Jesus Christ.

85. Why then is it simply said: He was conceived by the Holy Ghost?

It is simply said: He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, because the Incarnation of the Son of God is a work of goodness and love, and the works of goodness and love are attributed to the Holy Ghost.

86. In becoming man, did the Son of God cease to be God?

No, the Son of God became man without ceasing to be God.

87. Jesus Christ, then, is God and man at the same time?

Yes, the incarnate Son of God, that is, Jesus Christ, is both God and man, perfect God and perfect man.

88. Are there, then, two natures in Jesus Christ?

Yes, in Jesus Christ, who is both God and man, there are two natures, the divine and the human.

89. In Jesus Christ are there also two Persons, the divine and the human?

No, in the Son of God made man there is only one Person, namely, the divine.

90. How many wills are there in Jesus Christ?

In Jesus Christ there are two wills, the one divine, the other human.

91. Did Jesus Christ possess free will?

Yes, Jesus Christ possessed free will; but He could not do evil, since to be able to do evil is a defect, and not a perfection, of liberty.

92. Are the Son of God and the Son of Mary one and the same Person?

Yes, the Son of God and the Son of Mary are one and the same Person, that is, Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

93. Is the Blessed Virgin the Mother of God?

Yes, the Blessed Virgin is the Mother of God, because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ, who is true God.

94. How did Mary become the Mother of Jesus Christ?

Mary became the Mother of Jesus Christ solely through the operation and power of the Holy Ghost.

95. Is it of faith that Mary was always a Virgin?

Yes, it is of faith that the most holy Mary was always a Virgin, and she is called the Virgin of virgins.