Mary, the Holy Mother of God

This is a beautiful solemnity to celebrate as we conclude the Octave of Christmas and as we prepare to begin a New Year! One thing that you might notice differently in this title is the addition of the word, "Holy." For years, our church calendars read, "Mary, Mother of God." With the unveiling of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal at the beginning of Advent, different titles were once again given their proper usage. Thus, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The word "Holy" is a beautiful reminder for all of us because we have a "Universal call to Holiness." We are all called to live faithful, prayerful, holy lives. We always look for examples of holiness and that is why the Church holds up the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the holy men and women who have gone before us. Our Blessed Mother is a beautiful example of holiness because God kept her for a very special mission, to bring forth His only begotten Son as Savior of the world. Mary trusted in the message of the angel and gave herself totally to the will of God. In our lives, we need to do the same. We need to be open to the will of God and always respond to that universal call to holiness. This Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, takes precedence over all the other celebrations going on, like New Year's. We are beginning a New Year, 2012, and it is a wonderful time for all of us to resolve to begin again in living holy and faithful lives. Let us ask our Blessed Mother Mary to intercede for us as we celebrate this beautiful solemnity and begin the new year. As we enter the New Year, may God richly bless you and your families for He truly knows what is best for all of us! Blessings to you this weekend and for the New Year!!!