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NEWSLETTER
January 1, 2011: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (B) White
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GOSPEL READING: LUKE 2:16-21 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. |
CHURCH CALENDAR January 2 – St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzem, Bishops and Doctors January 6 – First Friday. additional mass at 12:15 pm; Holy Hour after 6:15 am mass; ROLP Prayer Night after 6:30 pm mass January 7 – First Saturday. Dawn procession at 5:30 am. Act of Consecration/Reparation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Anointing of Sick after the 6:15 am mass. January 8 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord |
JANUARY 1 MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Pope John Paul Catechesis at the General Audience on November 27, 1996:
“Contemplation of the mystery of the Savior's birth has led Christian people not only to invoke the Blessed Virgin as the Mother of Jesus, but also to recognize her as Mother of God. This truth was already confirmed and perceived as belonging to the Church's heritage of faith from the early centuries of the Christian era, until it was solemnly proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
In the first Christian community, as the disciples became more aware that Jesus is the Son of God, it became ever clearer that Mary is the Theotókos, the Mother of God. This is a title which does not appear explictly in the Gospel texts, but in them the "Mother of Jesus" is mentioned and it is affirmed that Jesus is God (Jn 20:28; 5:18; 10:30, 33). Mary is in any case presented as the Mother of Emmanuel, which means "God with us" ( Mt 1:22-23).
Already in the third century, as can be deduced from an ancient written witness, the Christians of Egypt addressed this prayer to Mary: "We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God: despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all evil, O glorious and blessed Virgin" (from the Liturgy of the Hours).
In proclaiming Mary "Mother of God", the Church thus intends to affirm that she is the "Mother of the Incarnate Word, who is God". Her motherhood does not, therefore, extend to all the Trinity, but only to the Second Person, the Son, who, in becoming incarnate, took his human nature from her. Motherhood is a relationship of person to person: a mother is not only mother of the body or of the physical creature born of her womb, but of the person she begets. Thus having given birth, according to his human nature, to the person of Jesus, who is a divine person, Mary is the Mother of God.”
Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo, DD, January 1, 2012, Sambuhay:
“We have two important celebrations today. For the civil year, it is New Year's Day. For the Church year, we have the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. Let us try to connect these two celebrations.
The title "Mother of God" is the primary title of Mary. It spells out her uniqueness. Mary is special because of her son. He is God! The affirmation of Mary as Mother of God is first and foremost an affirmation of our faith that Jesus is God. Jesus is a true human being, too! He is born of a woman, as St. Paul wrote to the Galatians.
It is fitting that we start the New Year thinking of a mother. Mothers are always there at the beginning. It is because of the presence and care of mothers that we began our lives. So every year we, Catholics, look up to our Blessed Mother to ask for God's blessings. We do not know what the year 2012 will bring us. Will the year 2012 bring upheavals to the world? Will it bring great changes in our personal lives? We do not know. We pray, though, that God be with us, or rather that we be with God. So, we invoke our Mother Mary to intercede for us to our Father to bestow on us his blessing, his graciousness, and his peace.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, this New Year is your gift to us. Help us to live it wisely and to spend it on service to you and to our brothers and sisters. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, guide us toward lasting peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
MARY’S CANTICLE (Luke 1-46-55)
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."
A HAPPY, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL!
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