The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a significant role in salvation history. As the Mother of God, the theotokos, she gave Jesus Christ flesh and served to nurture him as he grew and matured. Over the Christian era Mary has been the subject of great devotion. Catholicism has encouraged this devotion through sacred art, prayer, Church-recognized apparitions, Mary's strong presence in various liturgical celebrations throughout the year, and especially the proclamations of four Marian dogmas that serve as the foundation to Mariology.