January 01, 2015
Mary, Mother of God
Why do we have a Holy Day of Obligation set on Jan 1st? Could it be a pastoral attempt by the Church to lessen excessive partying on New Year’s Eve with the expectation of going to Mass in the morning? Blessed Pope John Paul II calls this day: “Mother’s Day.†We recall the ancient title given to Mary at the Council of Ephesus in 431 – Mary, Mother of God. It honors Mary in her special role in giving birth to Jesus, the Beloved Son of God. After the angels depart from Bethlehem, Mary ponders all these things in her heart. After eight days the boy is circumcised and named Jesus, a name meaning: “God saves.†With Mary we can reflect upon the happenings of 2014 and look forward with hope and confidence that whatever transpires in 2015 that “God is with us.†The depiction of Mary and the baby as the Madonna and Child is foremost in our religious imagination but this rendering in art must be complemented with the Pieta – Mary holding the lifeless body of her son at the foot of the cross. We can relate to Mary of Nazareth both in her giving birth and in her grief. Indeed, she will bring our cries for help and strength to her Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
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Epiphany
