Readings
I - Num. 6: 22-27
II - Gal. 4: 4-7
III - Lk. 2: 16-21
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (Solemnity)
There are four Marian dogmas stating Mary’s personal relationship with God and her role in the history of salvation: Divine motherhood, Perpetual virginity, Immaculate conception and the Assumption. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, the title attributed to Mary by the Council of Ephesus held in 431. God descended from his divinity taking up the human form in or to make all of us ascend into that Kingdom with the honour of the children of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This was possible only through Mary, the blessed one, full of grace, the pride of Israel and the honour of human race. Besides being mother of God, she is our mother as well given by Jesus, her son. It is befitting to begin the brand new year 2023 with the blessings, assistance, accompaniment and guidance of our Blessed Mother.
God in His graciousness has gifted us with New Year enwrapped with new visions, hopes, dreams, possibilities, challenges, vigour and enthusiasm; and with the blessed assurance, “I am with you always” (Mt. 28: 20). In the Book of Proverbs we read, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” At the start of this new year entrust everything into the all-powerful and loving hands of the Lord, wait for Him and count on Him. As the Bible says, he will lead you in the way you know not (Is. 42: 16). Let us begin this New Year, with Jesus, our Lord, Mary, our mother and St. Joseph, our protector. Repeat this prayer in the silence of hearts as often as possible and entrust the year into the loving hands of the Lord through our Blessed Mother: “Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, Pray for us”
HAPPY NEW YEAR
ASSURANCE OF PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS
