Jan-1: Feast of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Jan-1: Feast of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God



We close out the Christmas octave (the eight days of Christmastide following the birth of Christ) with a day honouring the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God (from the Greek Theotókos), our Lady's greatest title.  

Mother Mary has been called "Theotokos", or "God-Bearer". This title reflected an effort to preserve the teaching of the Church that Jesus was both Divine and human, that the two natures were united in His One Person. In the Annunciation by the divine messenger of God, he says to her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk. 1:28). And continues saying, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Lk. 1:30-32).


Collect prayer: O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen


In these devotions to Mary, "while the Mother is honoured, the Son, through whom all things have their being and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, is rightly known, loved and glorified and all His commands are observed." 


This feast can be traced back to the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. By the 7th century, January 1st was observed as a celebration of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in place of the pagan festival of New Year honouring the Roman God Janus. In the 13th century, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ had come to replace the feast honouring Mary. In 1974, Pope Paul VI removed the feast of the Circumcision of Christ from the liturgical calendar and replaced it with the feast of the “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God”, bringing Mary’s feast day back to the first day of the calendar year.


In the encyclical Marialis Cultus (1974) Pope Paul VI states: "This celebration, assigned to January 1 in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the 'holy Mother . . . through whom we were found worthy . . . to receive the Author of life.' It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewed adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels, and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace. For this reason . . . we have instituted the World Day of Peace, an observance that is gaining increasing support and is already bringing forth fruits of peace in the hearts of many" 


Here is the list of Feast Days of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God *
January 8 Our Lady of Prompt Succor
February 2   Presentation of the Lord
February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25 Annunciation
May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
May 31 Visitation
June 27 Our Mother of Perpetual Help
July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel
August 15 Assumption *
August 22 Queenship of Mary
September 8 Birth of Mary
September 12 The Most Holy Name of Mary
September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8 Immaculate Conception *
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
* Holy day of Obligation


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