Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Jan. 1
Catholics on Jan. 1 will observe the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus.
It is a reminder of the role she played in the salvation of humankind. The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the Greek “Theotokos,” which means “God-bearer.”
In the 13th and 14th centuries, Jan. 1 was the date of the Feast of Circumcision. In Jewish law, circumcision would occur eight days after birth.
“It was considered to be the first shedding of His blood,” said Father John Gordon, Secretary for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark.
When the Novus Ordo was introduced in 1968, the liturgical calendar was revised, and the Feast of the Circumcision was sidelined for the Solemnity of Mary.
It is a Holy day of Obligation. This year, Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday.
Jersey Catholic sat down with Father Gordon, to discuss the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
JC: Why do we, as Catholics, need this Holy Day of Obligation?
When we celebrate Mary as the Mother of God, we are saying something not so much about Mary. It’s about Jesus, that Jesus is fully God and fully human and she’s the mother Jesus. God always was, always is, always will be. But Jesus, the second person, that Trinity, who is God, was born of the Blessed Mother. Her unique role in the salvation history is unparalleled. And she not only has a role in terms of what she gave to us, Jesus, but in terms of how she models for us how to live, how to accept Jesus and in terms of how she models for us how to live, how to accept Jesus and welcome Jesus into our hearts and into our lives.
JC: Why is it celebrated on Jan. 1? What is the significance of the date?
She is the mother of God. We are in the midst of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Civil year, Jan. 1. It’s appropriate that we kind of place Mary at the head of the year.
JC: Are there any traditions Catholics follow in addition to going to Mass?
Many people in the world present the New Year as a time for making resolutions. And there’s certainly never a bad time to make a resolution. In the Catholic tradition, we have lots of opportunities to make resolutions every day. Certainly when you go to confession to make a resolution not to sin again. When you go on retreat, make some retreat resolutions. Lent is a time of great resolution. So there’s nothing particularly sacred about resolutions for Jan. 1. But it’s kind of like a time to start all over again. It’s an opportunity.
Featured photo: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is on Jan. 1. (Erica Viana/ Cathopic)
