December 31, 2016 - January 1, 2017 - Happy New Year
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
We celebrated the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 1st, which is the Octave of Christmas. Only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave, which is an eight-day extension of the feast. The honoring of Mary as the Mother of God can be traced back to the Council of Ephesus in 431. By the 7th century, January 1st was observed as a celebration of the maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 13th century, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ had come to replace the feast honoring Mary; however in 1751, after a push in Portugal for an official feast day celebrating Mary's divine maternity, Pope Benedict XIV allowed Portugal's churches to devote a feast to Mary on the fist Sunday in May. Eventually, the feast extended to other countries, and in 1914 began to be observed on October 11. In 1931, Pope Pius XI extended the feast to the entire church, and in 1974, Pope Paul VI removed the feast of the Circumcision of Christ from the liturgical calendar and replaced it with the fest of the "Solemnity of ary, Mother of God", bringing Mary's feast day back to the fist day of the year.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
We celebrated the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 1st, which is the Octave of Christmas. Only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave, which is an eight-day extension of the feast. The honoring of Mary as the Mother of God can be traced back to the Council of Ephesus in 431. By the 7th century, January 1st was observed as a celebration of the maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 13th century, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ had come to replace the feast honoring Mary; however in 1751, after a push in Portugal for an official feast day celebrating Mary's divine maternity, Pope Benedict XIV allowed Portugal's churches to devote a feast to Mary on the fist Sunday in May. Eventually, the feast extended to other countries, and in 1914 began to be observed on October 11. In 1931, Pope Pius XI extended the feast to the entire church, and in 1974, Pope Paul VI removed the feast of the Circumcision of Christ from the liturgical calendar and replaced it with the fest of the "Solemnity of ary, Mother of God", bringing Mary's feast day back to the fist day of the year.
The feast is a celebration of Mary's motherhood of Jesus. The title "Mother of God" is a western derivation from the Greek Theotokos, which means "God-bearer". On this day, we are reminded of the role that the Blessed Virgin played in the plan of our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father prepared Mary to be the dwelling place where His Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. Christ's birth was made possible by mary's fiat, or sanctioning of God's plan with her words, "Be it done to me according to thy word". Calling mary "Mother of God" is the highest honor we can give to her. Just as Christmas honors Jesus as the "Prince of Peace", the Solemnity of mary, Mother of God honors Mary as the "Queen of Peach". New Year's Day is also designated as the "World Day of Peace", further acknowledging the role of Mary in our hearts and in our world.
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Celebration of the Fiftieth World Day of Peach
1 Jan 2017
Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace
On this occasion, I would like to reflect on nonviolence as a style of politics for peace. I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values. May charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other as individuals, within society, and in international life. When victims of violence are able to resist the temptations to retaliate, they become the most credible promoters of nonviolent peacemaking.