Women in the Catholic Church In AD 431, the Council of Ephesus granted Mary the title of Mother of God. In 553, the Council of Constantinople, proclaimed that she was perpetually a virgin. In 863 AD, the pope pronounced the Feast of Our Lady to be equal to the feasts of Easter and Christmas. By the 12th Century, the Hail Mary prayer had become popular, which in turn led to the widespread use of the rosary. According to historian Geoffrey Blainey, Mary had become the "favoured intermediary through whom the ear of God could be reached". She had become an important subject for theologians and
Latin Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar Latin Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar The Latin Bishop of Gibraltar is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar, covering the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, which is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province, nor is it part of any (Spanish or British) episcopal conference. The Diocese's episcopal seat (cathedra) is located in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned. The diocese also has a National Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. The incumbent, the Right Reverend Carmelo Zammit, who was appointed Bishop of Gibraltar on 24 June 2016 and received