This article explores the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. It shows its deep ties to the mystery of Christ, and how honoring Mary leads us closer to true worship of her Son.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May God’s choicest blessings be yours throughout this new year (2025), the Jubilee of Hope. Amen.
Every January 1, the Catholic Church of the Western rite celebrates Mary, the Mother of God. Today’s reflection invites us to consider the profound connection between devotion to Mother Mary and the worship of Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Inspired by Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation, Marialis Cultus (For the Right Ordering and Development of Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary), this reflection highlights key themes in the relationship between Marian devotion and the worship of God.
True devotion to the Mother of God enriches our devotion to the Child Jesus. Thus, for New Year’s resolution, I would consider the firm resolve to become what God has called us to be. Being who God has called us to be is an act of worship to God. In fulfilling this purpose, we adore Him and reflect His glory to the world. We also fulfill our mission.
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Nine years after promulgating Sacrosanctum Concilium (The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), Pope Paul VI published Marialis Cultus in 1974. This apostolic exhortation addresses the place of Marian devotion in sacred worship. In it, the Holy Father declares that the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, be celebrated in the revised Roman Rite on January 1.
Through many years in pastoral ministry, I’ve encountered many Christians who question devotion to Mother Mary. I’ve also witnessed countless individuals grow to understand the deep connection between worshiping the Lord and venerating His Mother. This transformation often occurs when people open their hearts to learning from Jesus what true devotion entails. They realize quickly that Mother Mary is the perfect model for learning how to worship the Lord. Also, reverence for her is the praise of the Lord, her Son.
Devotion to Mary and Worship to God
Pope Paul VI emphasizes that all feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary are deeply intertwined with the worship of God. According to the Holy Father, the mystery of Christ is inseparably linked to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ and the Mother of the Church.
Thus, Mary exemplifies the very essence of the Church. “True worship of God is intricately tied to the Mother of God, who worships the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit, and the Church, who learns from Mother Mary what true worship of the Son is and whose life models the way of true worship” (Marialis Cultus, Introduction, para. 4).
Liturgy, the public worship of God through Christ, is central to our Christian mission and identity. Worship reflects the depth of who God created us to be and offers us a foretaste of heavenly adoration. Worship belongs to God alone, and it is through Mary that we learn how to offer God perfect praise. The praying Church finds its example in Mary, through whom Christ entered the world. For this reason, the Church has always held that the veneration of Mary and all the saints in heaven is deeply connected to the true worship of Christ.
Four Marian Solemnities
Solemnities are the highest rank of liturgical celebration in the Catholic church. The Church celebrates several feasts dedicated to Mary, four of which are solemnities. They are the following:
- The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1
- The Annunciation of the Lord on March 25
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15
- The Immaculate Conception on December 8
Immaculate Conception
Each of these feasts ties to Christ’s life and salvation. For example, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception during Advent emphasizes Mary’s unique preparation for the birth of Christ. This celebration, as described in Marialis Cultus, aligns with the liturgical focus of Advent, “incorporating readings and prophecies about the Virgin Mother and the Messiah,” particularly from December 17–24 (Marialis Cultus, 3).
The celebration calls the faithful to reflect on Mary’s loving anticipation of Jesus, imitating her “vigilance in prayer and joyful praise” as they prepare for the Savior’s arrival (Marialis Cultus, 4). The Holy Father states that these connections ensure Marian devotion remains Christ-centered while harmonizing with the spirit of the liturgical season (Marialis Cultus, 4).
Motherhood of God
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on New Year’s Day, concludes the Christmas Octave. This feast highlights Mary’s divine motherhood and her unique role in the mystery of salvation (Luke 1:38; Galatians 4:4).
Positioned immediately after the Nativity, it invites the Church to honor Mary while adoring Christ, recognizing her role in bringing the Savior into the world. The day’s observance also aligns with the Church’s institution of the World Day of Peace, providing an occasion to invoke the Queen of Peace for God’s ultimate gift of peace (Marialis Cultus, 5).
Annunciation
The Annunciation on March 25 is a joint feast. It celebrates Christ’s incarnation and Mary’s obedient “yes” to God’s plan (Luke 1:30–31). This event profoundly underscores Mary’s role as the new Eve (Genesis 3:15; John 19:26-27). Her cooperation with God brought about the redemption of humanity. She is the archetype for the Church (Revelation 12:1-6). Marialis Cultus calls this moment “Christ’s salvific ‘fiat,’ signifying the moment when the Word became flesh, uniting divine and human natures in His person” while also celebrating Mary’s own “fiat” (Marialis Cultus, 6).
Assumption
Finally, is the Solemnity of the Assumption, celebrated on August 15. It honors Mary’s being taken into heaven, body, and soul. This feast reflects the “image of hope and fulfillment” as humanity anticipates its final glorification in eternity (Marialis Cultus, 7). The Holy Father emphasizes that Mary’s queenship complements this celebration on August 22, which invites the faithful to “contemplate her as Queen and intercessor beside her Son” (Marialis Cultus, 7).
These Marian feasts exemplify how devotion to Mary is deeply rooted in the worship of Christ and the Church’s hope in salvation. By beginning the year with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, we entrust the year to the Lord through her intercession. It is a powerful way to seek God’s blessings and peace for the months ahead.
Blessings
To conclude, I encourage you to ask the Lord, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to bless your days throughout this year. It’s how I do it, and I find in the ritual unimaginable spiritual richness. I can’t count the blessings flowing from this close bond with the Lord through Mary, his mother, and our mother.
May peace reign in your heart, home, and community. May you hear God’s whispers guiding you in all areas of your life as you strive to honor Him and inspire others to do the same.
I leave you with the words of the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24–26:
“The Lord bless you and keep you!” Amen. May “The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you!” Amen. “The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!” Amen.
