Catholic Fire

Happy New Year, and a blessed Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God! What a beautiful feast day this is! 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 Jesus, who is fully God and fully human. Everything begins with Mary. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta told us, "No Mary, no Jesus." St. Alphonsus Liguori stated:  "Such is the will of God that we should have everything through Mary." St. Louis de Montfort revealed: “We never give more honor to Jesus than when we ho...

Happy New Year, and a blessed Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God! What a beautiful feast day this is! 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, ...

Mary, Mother of God (TheoTokos)~Solemnity Chants by the Benedictine Monks at Fontgombault. Hail, star of the sea, Nurturing Mother of God, And ever Virgin Happy gate of Heaven. Receiving that "Ave" (hail) From the mouth of Gabriel, Establish us in peace, Transforming the name of "Eva" (Eve). Loosen the chains of the guilty, Send forth light to the blind, Our evil do thou dispel, Entreat (for us) all good things. Show thyself to be a Mother: Through thee may he (Jesus) receive (our) prayer Who, being born for us, Undertook to be thine own (Son). O unique Virgin, Meek above all others, Make us, set free from (our) sins, Meek and chaste. Bestow a pure life to us, Prepare a safe way: That seeing Jesus, We may ever rejoice. Praise be to God the Father, To the Most High Christ (be) glory, To the Holy Spirit (Be) honor, to the Three equally. Amen. ~ Via Catholiques. Related Post: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Happy New Year to all and a blessed feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God! Eight days after the feast of the birth of Christ, we remember Mary, Theotokus, which means God - bearer. Today, we look at and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of God, and also the Mother of the Church. "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 For Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, go here. WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE The Church also takes time on this day, the first day of t...