Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

On New Year's Day, January 1st the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This solemnity celebrates our ancient belief in the nature of Jesus as being fully human and fully divine.

Proclaiming Mary as the Mother of God and the title Mother of God is a literal translation of the Latin title Mater Dei, which in turn is a rendering of the Greek title Theotokos, meaning Bearer of God, which was adopted by the First Council of Ephesus in the fifth century.

This solemnity is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on January 1st, which is also the eighth day of Christmas, and is a holy day of obligation. Christians of the Byzantine and Syriac Rites celebrate Mary as the Mother of God on December 26th, while the Coptic Church does so on January 16th, sometime between the 13th and 14th centuries.

Rome began to also celebrate January 1st as the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord

and the Octave of the Nativity, while still staying oriented towards Mary and Christmas. The Eastern Orthodox Church, traditional Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans observe this Feast of the Circumcision on January 1st. On this day we also celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Peace.

The Second Vatican Council, through Lumen Gentium, affirmed Mary as the Mother of God.

The Virgin Mary, who had the message of the angel, received the Word of God in her heart

and in her body, and gave life to the world, is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and the Mother of Our Redeemer. The Council further stated clearly, from earliest times, the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God.

The Church in Rome has celebrated this day since even before the Feast of the Annunciation and The Assumption, which were adopted from Constantinople in the seventh century. The 1969 revision of the Roman Rite liturgical calendar states January 1st, the Octive Day of the Nativity of the Lord is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and also the commemoration of the conferral of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Pope Paul the Sixth explained this celebration, placed on January 1st,

is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation.

It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the Holy Mother through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life. It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels, and to pray for the supreme gift of peace.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.