January 1st

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

January 1st is a day of obligation, but more importantly it is a great feast day of the Church.

This day celebrates the dignity of Mary but also speaks to the amazing reality that Jesus, Son of God, was born.

His humanity cries out the love and nature of our good God who wishing to reconcile us to Himself.

He humbled Himself being born. He was God made flesh.

This act of love should cause us exclaim -

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Today, we celebrate Mary as Jesus' Mother and Mary as the Mother of God.

We celebrate that the two are one.

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”