Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

The Christmas Octave concludes with the occasion of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Whenever we venerate Our Lady as the Mother of God, we simultaneously claim her to be our mother.

Even though Mary was venerated as the Mother of God from the earliest days of the Church, the Feast was not established until the 4th Century.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read . . .

Mary, Mother of God - Catechism of the Catholic Church 495

Called in the Gospels "the Mother of Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God".

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Ave Maria, gratia plena . . .

This beautiful Feast of the Mother of God, and our mother, is an occasion of great joy because Our Lady's arrival is a sign that Redemption is at hand.

The liturgy of today's Mass calls Mary the fulfilment of God's design in calling all of us to everlasting life.

In the Prayer After Communion from The Roman Missal we pray,

'Lord,

may your Church renewed in this Holy Eucharist,

be filled with joy at the birth of the Virgin Mary,

who brought the dawn of hope and salvation to the world.'

Let us today renew our devotion to Our Blessed Lady, the Refuge of Sinners.

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus,

Holy Mary, mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the beginning of a New Year.

"As Catholics, we firmly believe in the incarnation of our Lord: Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Lk 1:26-38 and Mt 1:18-25) Through her, Jesus Christ ... entered this world, taking on human flesh and a human soul. Jesus is true God and true man. In His person are united both a divine nature and a human nature."

"Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus, who existed with the Father from all eternity. "In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly 'Mother of God' (Theotokos)" (CCC, No. 495)."

(More on Mary, Mother of God from Fr William Saunders writing here for EWTN).

At the beginning of this New Year, we ask God's blessing on our parish and on our readers.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.