Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God



Happy New Year and Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God!

On this first day of the new year, just eight days after the feast of the birth of Christ, we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary by celebrating her divine motherhood. As the Mother of God, her greatest title, Mary is known as Theotokus, which means the "God-Bearer". It is appropriate to honor Mary as Mother of Jesus, following the birth of Christ. When Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Incarnate, we are not only honoring Mary, who was chosen among all women throughout history to bear God, but we are also honoring our Lord, who is fully God and fully human.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the "perfect woman" -- hand-picked and created by God to be His mother. She is the "highly favored one". She knows the fullness of God's love and passes this beautiful blessing onto to us. For, she is not only God's mother, but our mother, too. She is the gentle, concerned mother who watches over us day and night, and cares for our every need. Every pain, every worry, every joy we feel she wants us to share it all with her. The love that God manifests toward her, she shares abundantly with us. The Holy Spirit dwells within her heart, and she is a conduit of love, grace, and tender mercy for us. She also serves as a wonderful model of love to emulate.

Just as Christmas honors Jesus as the "Prince of Peace," the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God honors Mary as the "Queen of Peace". Like the holy infant, we are forever safe within her arms.

May the Lord fill each one of our hearts with with His love and give us peace as we enter the New Year with Mary as our mother, the "Queen of Peace", watches over us, guides us, and intercedes for us. Mary, Queen of peace, fill our hearts with the peace that is in your heart.

~ © Jean M. Heimann, January 1, 2013
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Comments

  1. Anonymous1/1/13, 2:39 PM

    The Church in Her wisdom guided by Divine grace asks us to begin our new year, celebrating together at the altar of our Lord. We begin the new year choosing what sacrifices we will make to improve ourselves but not forgetting the One Sacrifice that Jesus made for us which defeated Satan. It only makes sense to sing and praise with heaven, and remember that our God, our Creator, chose us to be His adopted sons and daughters. This is the real celebration today. God who loves us beyond our comprehension gave us His only Son, to suffer and die for so that we could resurrect and ascend with Him to heaven.

    Today we acknowledge Mary, and we are reminded that it is because of her fiat, her total devotion to God that we could be saved. This new year should be a reflection of our Holy Mother's willingness and courage. This year should be a year that all of us improve on saying yes to God. Our Pope has called us to a year of faith, and that is exactly what our blessed mother had when she said yes to God. Let all of us pray that we can imitate this faith and that this faith never fades in the hardships to come this year. Amen

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