Padre's Post for the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God (New Year's Day)

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all! As we continue celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas with the joy of the gospel proclaimed, the solemnities and feasts punctuating these days continue to draw our minds and hearts to the true meaning of the Christmas mystery.

On New Year's Day, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God. Today's gospel continues the gospel proclaimed on Christmas, Mass in the Night. We read in Luke, Chapter 2, that it is the shepherds acting upon the message they receive from an angel to travel to Bethlehem to find Jesus lying in a manger. As the shepherds approach this scene, they see everything just as the angel had described. At this moment, all was fulfilled in the manifestation of Emmanuel – God with us - the gift of salvation we receive through Christ.

On this solemnity, we learn three things about Mary. First, she is a reflective person keeping and pondering what was reported by the shepherds in her heart. Second, we understand how obedient Mary is to God when she named the child "Jesus" as directed by the Angel Gabriel. Third, we witness Mary and Joseph's faithfulness in observing their Jewish tradition by having Jesus circumcised. Mary's faithfulness to God is evident in these three examples, which enable her to participate out of her lowliness in God's plan of salvation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: 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" (Theotokos). (CCC 495)

Mary's openness to God's invitation provides a model of discipleship rooted in the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. Mary bears to the world Christ, whose body is the Church. Mary, Christ's first disciple, models the way of discipleship throughout her life and beholds the name Mother of the Church.

I pray as each of you receive the gift of the New Year of 2023, you have the courage to pray to the Holy Spirit to grow in your call and witness to discipleship. Through our Baptism, we have the capacity and the will to be a person of prayer, seeing God's presence and work in our life. Discern what it means to be obedient to God and His Will and to be a disciple with fidelity to the Scripture and Tradition of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

In this New Year, resolve to discover how you can grow as a disciple, becoming an active member of your parish family. Opportunity awaits!

PAX - Father Anthony, OSB