1 January 2011: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ, who is true God and true man. Being the mother of God, Mary is endowed by God with special privileges -- free from all sins, she was assumed into heaven body and soul. (Fr James Socias, et al [Editors], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1449) The oldest Marian feast native to Rome. (‘Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p639)

Mother of God and Our Mother

Today we thank and praise God the Father because “The Holy Spirit came upon her and she conceived your only-begotten Son. ... she brought forth Our Lord Jesus Christ, forever the light of the world”. (cf “Preface”, Maternity of the Virgin Mary)

From our hearts we sing “Hail, Holy Mother, you gave birth to the King”; (“Entrance Antiphon of the Mass”) “she who has conceived has at the same time the joy of motherhood and the glory of virginity” (cf “Divine Office”, Lauds, Antiphon 3).

Mary is Our Lady, full of grace and virtue (Lk 1:28) “she whom all generations shall call blessed” (Ibid, op cit, 48). The Church teaches that Mary is highest and closest to God, because of her divine motherhood. “She, after her son, by the grace of God, was exalted over all angels and men.” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 63)

“Through you, O Virgin Mary, have been fulfilled all the oracles of the prophets who announced Christ -- being a virgin you conceived the Son of God and, remaining a virgin, you gave birth to him.” (“Magnificat”, Antiphon of 27 December)

Jesus became man, like us, taking our human nature in the most pure womb of the Virgin Mary. As far as he is God, Jesus is generated by God the Father from all eternity; but as man, he was born of Mary.

“I am exceedingly astounded, that there should be anyone who has any doubt as to whether the Blessed Virgin should be called the Mother of God. If Our Lord Jesus Christ is God, why should the Blessed Virgin, who gave him birth, not be called the Mother of God? That is the faith that Our Lord’s disciples transmitted to us. And what the holy fathers have taught us.” (cf St Cyril of Alexandria, “Letter” 1, 27:30)

Thus was it defined by the Council of Ephesus. (H Daniel-Rops, “History of the Church of Christ”, 1959, 2:145) “The greatest praise we can give to the Blessed Virgin is to address her loud and clear by the name that expresses her highest dignity -- Mother of God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 274)

On this solemnity of Our Lady we begin the New Year. There could not be a better start to the year, and of all the days of our life, than being very close to Mary. ‘Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and forever. Amen.’

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:283-9

Getting to know our Lady

In a very natural way we start wanting to speak to the Mother of God, who is also our mother. We want to treat her as someone who is alive. She is body and soul in the presence of God the Father, her Son, and the Holy Spirit. For death has not triumphed over her.

If we want to understand Mary’s role in the Christian’s life and to feel attracted to her, to be in her company, we need not go into the theological theory, although it is an inexhaustible mystery that she is the Mother of God.

The catholic faith sees Mary as a sign of God’s special love. God calls us his friends; his grace acts in us, winning us from sin, enabling us to reflect in some way the features of Christ, even though we are still wretched dirt. We are not stranded people who God has promised to save. His salvation is already at work in us. ...

Mary tells us about this warmth and security. That’s why her name goes straight to our heart. ...

Ref: Ibid, “Christ is passing by”, 142

Mary, Mother of the Church

Pope Paul VI solemnly proclaimed ‘Mary, Mother of the Church’ at the end of the third session, Second Vatican Council. When we invoke this title, we re-emphasize that Mary belongs to the Church, just as any mother is truly a part of her family where she has a place of special honor.

Mary is the greatest, loveliest, and most powerful mother. The words of Jesus on the cross, "Behold your Mother" (Jn 19:27) summarize all that Mary should be to us. St Louis de Montfort said, ‘He has not God for his Father, who has not Mary for his Mother’.

Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p11

Our confidence in Mary

Mary became our spiritual Mother on two occasions. First, when she merited to conceive in her virginal womb the Son of God. St Bernardine of Siena emphasizes, ‘when at the Anunciation the most blessed Virgin gave the consent, she from that moment asked our salvation of God and as a most loving mother, she bore us in her womb’.

The second occasion was when she offered to the Eternal Father the life of her beloved Son on Mount Calvary, with so bitter sorrow and suffering. So that St Augustine declares that, ‘as she then cooperated by her love in the birth of the faithful to the life of grace, she became the spiritual Mother of all who are members of the one head, Christ Jesus’.

Oh, blessed are they who live under the protection of so loving and powerful mother! ‘And who’, says Cardinal Bellarmine, ‘would ever dare to snatch these children from the bosom of Mary, when they have taken refuge there? What power of hell, or what temptation, can overcome them, if they place their confidence in the patronage of this great Mother, the Mother of God, and of them?’

St Anselm encourages us, saying: ‘O happy confidence! O safe refuge! The Mother of God is my Mother. How firm, then, should be our confidence, since our salvation depends on the judgment of a good Brother and a tender Mother.’

Ref: cf St Alphonsus Liguori, “The Blessed Virgin Mary”, pp19-25

· ‘O Lord, I thank You for having created the Blessed Virgin Mother, for having made her so beautiful and for having given her to us as our Mother.’ -- St Leonard of Port Maurice (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, op cit, p10)

· ‘Mary alone by her dignity transcends heaven and earth ... She is at once the Handmaid and Mother of God, a Virgin and yet a Mother.’ -- St John Chrysostom (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, op cit, p11)

Dedication of Our Lady of the Annunciation, at Florence, by Cardinal William d’Estonville, in the year 1452. There is preserved in this church, a picture of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, which was found miraculously finished when the painter, who had sketched it, prepared to put the finishing strokes to it. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)

Commemoration of the Divine Maternity (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)