Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, our Lady’s greatest title. This feast is the final day of the Christmas octave and a Holy Day of Obligation (However, when a feast falls on either a Monday or a Saturday, the obligation is removed). In the current liturgical calendar, only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave. Our Mother Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and was declared to be Mother of God at the council of Ephesus towards the end of the fifth century and adopted from Constantinople at the start of the 7th century, January 1st began to be celebrated simply as the octave day of Christmas, the “eighth day” on which, according to Luke 2:21, the child was circumcised and given the name Jesus, which means ‘God Saves’. This was as much a declaration about Jesus as it was about Mary. It is because Jesus is both human and divine that Mary, the mother of Jesus, can be declared to be the Mother of God or in the language of the Council, the Theotokos, the God bearer.
This feast takes the place of the Maternity of Mary formerly kept on October 11, which was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1931, as a commemoration of the 15th centenary of the Council of the Ephesus in 431. In the 13th or 14th century, January 1st began to be celebrated in Rome, as already in Spain and Gaul, as the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the Octave of the Nativity, while still oriented towards Mary and Christmas, with many prayers, antiphons and responsories glorifying the maternity of Mary. Pope John XXIII’s 1960 rubrical and calendrical revision removed the mention of the circumcision of Jesus and called January simply the Octave of the Nativity.
The title ‘Mother of God’ is one of Mary’s more exalted titles, the source of all her other privileges. One of the four Marian Dogmas, the Dogma of the Divine Motherhood of Mary, stating that Mary is truly the Mother of God by her being the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world and the Son of God. Because we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, therefore it is only natural that Mary should also be the Mother of God, as the Mother who brings forth into this world God Himself, incarnate in the flesh. From all eternity, God thought of the Virgin of Nazareth as the future Mother of His Son. At the Annunciation, Mary became the Mother of God. On Calvary, Christ gave His mother to all men to be their spiritual Mother, so that through her they might come to God as through her He came to them. Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because His Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where His Son and His Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense, the Church’s Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the “Seat of Wisdom.” On this new year’s day, this feast fits well with the beginning of the New Year so that we may consecrate our year to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of all Christians. Our Blessed Mother Mary’s life was instrumental in ushering in not only a new year but a new age.
PRAYER TO MARY: O Mother of God, you birthed the one who created all. How beautiful the mystery. How exalted your vocation that precedes and makes possible the Apostles’ own vocations. At home you bounced on your knee the one who spins the world on His finger. Help us start this new year with wonder more than resolutions, with eternal gratitude more than mundane goals.🙏
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.🙏
The Memorare: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me… Amen🙏
PRAYER: God, through the fruitful virginity of Mary, You bestowed the blessings of eternal salvation on mankind. Grant that we may enjoy her intercession, for through her we received Your Son, the Author of Life. Amen 🙏
SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/solemnity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-the-holy-mother-of-god/
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/