Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1)
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The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of GOd
January 1, 2025
Gospel: Luke 2: 16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told to them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010125.cfm
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Visual Arts
Myanmar Madonna Child, Burmese style
Sister Star Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral (ရွှေနှလုံးတော် ကက်သလစ် ဘုရားရှိခိုးကျောင်း), Cathedral Mandalay, Myanmar
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Sacred Music
Magnificat
Lori True
We have many reasons to give due consideration and prayerful reflection to the Magnificat. It is the longest discourse recorded of Mary in Divine Revelation. Many stories are written telling about the heart of Mary as shown in that beautiful prayer. Certainly inspired, it was pronounced by Mary herself when she was carrying the Diving Child in her womb. It is the perfect act of humility and of profound humble adoration. It is part of the Church's liturgy and has been since the very first centuries. It has been recited or sung daily by ancient monks and other Religious who have consecrated themselves to God.
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Poetry
Noel
J.R.R. Tolkien
Grim was the world and grey last night:
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.
The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind, the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.
The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.
Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.
Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.
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Reflection
What moments do you keep in your heart to help you remember God's presence in your life?
How do you feel about being a child of God? What does it mean to you to be part of God's family and coheir with Christ?
- What hopes and fears do you bring to this new year? How might you invite God into them?
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O God, grant that we may desire you, and desiring you, seek you, and seeking you, find you, and finding you, be satisfied forever.
Francis Xavier, 1506-1552
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