January 1st - Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

For a few years now, I've received a calendar from America Needs Fatima that includes many feast days of Mary throughout the year, many of which I've never heard of. My goal for this year is to post about many of these feast days (maybe I'll turn it into a book sometime). I have no idea how successful I'll be actually doing these, but I did January 1st. That's something, right?

 

January 1st The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Church celebrates January 1^st as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. According to Jewish law, on the 8^th day after his birth, Jesus would have been circumcised.

While part of Christian tradition from the earliest days, Mary was officially named the Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD and again at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. This was done in response to heresies that questioned whether Jesus was both true God and true man as well as those who wondered whether Mary should be considered a goddess because she gave birth to God. In response she was declared the Mother of God, the Theotokos, God-bearer. 

Pope Benedict XVI stated:

Thus, the description "Mother of God", so deeply bound up with the Christmas festivities, is therefore the fundamental name with which the Community of Believers has always honoured the Blessed Virgin. It clearly explains Mary's mission in salvation history. All other titles attributed to Our Lady are based on her vocation to be the Mother of the Redeemer, the human creature chosen by God to bring about the plan of salvation, centred on the great mystery of the Incarnation of the Divine Word. (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/mother-of-god-6759)

According to the Catechism of the Catholic 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.

On this first day of the year, we honor Mary in her highest of titles. God blessed her with the honor of being the mother of Jesus, who was sent to save us. Because she had the courage to say “yes” when God asked this great task of her, the course of the world was forever changed.

Prayer

Mary, Mother of God, we ask you to intercede for us as we begin this New Year. Help us to follow your example and always do what God asks of us.

Reflection

Although not in the same way as Mary, when we receive the Eucharist, we too are God-bearers. How can we then carry Christ to others as we go about our daily lives?