Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The Octave Day of Christmas
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. This feast is important enough that the Church makes it a holy day of obligation – the Church asks all of us to attend Mass on this day to worship the Lord and remember his mother. But of course it’s much more than a simple obligation, more than another item to check off our to-do list: the Church is really asking to spend the whole day rejoicing in our salvation and offering gratitude for Mary’s role in it. We’re not just being told, “Go to Mass today”; we’re being invited, “Live joyfully today!”
And on this day we have great cause for such celebration. Because of Mary’s yes to God, because of her motherhood, Christ took on flesh on entered into the world to redeem mankind. And Mary’s yes continued every day, as she raised Christ, fed him, and taught him. And her yes still continues to this day, as she intercedes for us all in heaven as our common mother. On this feast, the Church asks us to remember how much good Mary’s motherhood has accomplished for us and still accomplishes for us, and to rejoice in such great gifts. In honor of our heavenly mother, then, let’s pray for the grace to live joyfully today, as Mary desires us to.