Happy New Year/Solemnity/Octave . . .!

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, our Lady's greatest title.

This feast is the octave of Christmas. A very special celebration. In the modern Roman Calendar only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave.

Here's an extract from CCC about today's Solemnity.

"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." — Catechism of the Catholic Church 721

And the Opening Prayer from today's Mass:

Let us pray

[that Mary the mother of the Lord,

will help us by her prayers]

God our Father ,

may we always profit by the prayers

for you bring us life and salvation
through Jesus Christ her Son
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Today's Solemnity is always celebrated on 1st January so as well as wishing everyone a very happy feast day, it also gives me an opportunity to wish you all . . .

A very Happy and Blessed New Year!

Assumpta est Maria in Caelum, gaudent Angeli! Et Gaudet Ecclesia!

Assumpta est Maria in Caelum, gaudent Angeli! Et gaudet Ecclesia!

From the fifth century the Church has implicitly believed in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul, into heaven. The dogma of the Assumption was promulgated by Pope Pius XII on 1st November 1950.

Mary's Assumption is a marvellous precursor of our own resurrection; it is made possible by Christ's own rising from the dead. St Paul reminds us, 'He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in glory' (Phil 3:21)

Our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, speaking about today's Solemnity says, 'Today's Solemnity is like a continuation of Easter, the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord. It is at the same time, a sign and source of hope for eternal life and the future resurrection.'

Our Blessed Lady is a great advocate before the throne of God. May we ask her today; Mary, Refuge of Sinners, show us your son Jesus whom we are in need of above all else.

'Today the Virgin Mother of God is taken up into heaven to be the beginning and pattern of the Church in its perfection, and a sign of hope and comfort for your people on their pilgrim way.' (Preface of the Assumption).

Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul . . .

The Apostles Peter and Paul are rightly considered as the first pillars of the Universal Church. Peter's first meeting with Jesus was through his brother Andrew and 'Jesus looked straight at him'.

From the beginning, 'the position of Peter in the Church is that of a rock on which its edifice is built' (Pope Paul VI 1965) When we consider Peter and the Church, it is easy to apply the words of Christ himself, 'rain fell and floods came, and wind blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall' The rains, floods and wind continue in different guises but the Church is built on a Rock - the Rock of Peter.

St Paul at the moment of his conversion, asked, 'What must I do, Lord?' Jesus replied, 'Rise and go to Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed to you to do.' Paul, once the persecutor, as soon as he is transformed by grace received instruction and Baptism from Ananias. Very soon Paul realises that Christ is all that matters and soon gives himself immediately to making the Good News known far and wide.

Today let us pray for the successor of St Peter, Pope Benedict and let us ask Our Blessed Lady, Regina Apostolorum, to help each of us in our daily apostolate.

Solemnity of St Joseph ....

Of course, parish priests don't really have 'days off' in the usually accepted understanding of the word but I delayed the start of my 'day off' today to celebrate Mass in the parish in honour of St Joseph before going out.

Once again, we had a good number of people at Mass this morning and it is so encouraging to see this. We were fortunate too that Flick, our organist, was able to play for us so we began our celebration with the hymn, 'Hail, holy Joseph, hail!'

St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and Patron of the Universal Church,

Pray for us.

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

This is the day which Abraham saw and was glad, and David sang of in the Psalms, ‘all the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord.’ Pope St Leo the Great, from the Divine Office.

In the remaining days of Christmas let us visit the crib and renew our faith so that we too may shine out to those with whom we meet.

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.