Saints of Christmas: Mary, Mother of God
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Friday, January 01, 2010 10:00 AM
From Pope Paul VI’s Apostolic Exhortation, Marialis Cultus:
“The Church’s reflection today on the mystery of Christ and on her own nature has led her to find at the root of the former and as a culmination of the latter the same figure of a woman: the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ and the Mother of the Church. And the increased knowledge of Mary’s mission has become joyful veneration of her and adoring respect for the wise plan of God, who has placed within His family (the Church), as in every home, the figure of a Woman, who in a hidden manner and in a spirit of service watches over that family ‘and carefully looks after it until the glorious day of the Lord.’”
Isn’t that lovely? About today’s specific feast he writes,
This celebration, assigned to January 1 in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the ‘holy Mother . . . through whom we were found worthy . . . to receive the Author of life.’ It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewed adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels, and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace. For this reason . . . we have instituted the World Day of Peace…
Which is the reason that subsequent popes have written an annual letter for the occasion.
Here is Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for The World Day of Peace, 2010: If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation.
Does your family do anything special to observe the Maternity of Mary? We go to Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and make a little family pilgrimage, during which we offer the year to Our Lady and place ourselves under her protection.
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