Father Chris – MARY, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 2021 - Homily

“Mary, Mother of Love and Peace”

A New Year has begun! And as it begins today, it is especially wonderful that we celebrate this new beginning with a focus on the World Day of Peace as beautifully honoured and emphasized by our Liturgical Celebration of the Solemnity of Mary as the Holy Mother of God, she who has been the fervent, divine advocate for peace on earth since the birth of her Son, Jesus.


Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Love, like her Son, is ever present to us. She kindly responds as intercessor for our petitions; is ever joyful with our thanks and praise; is so full of love for humanity she has even made herself visible to us many, multiple times to promote peace in our world.


In the early years, the Eastern Churches celebrated ‘The Feast of the Congratulation of Mary’ on Dec. 26th as tribute to the Mother of God, still celebrated today. Rome formally adopted the same Feast at the Council of Ephesus 451, but on Jan. 1st to counter competing pagan events. But Mary was not always celebrated on Jan. 1st.


In the 6th and 7th Cs, Spain and Gaul, honouring Luke’s words (2.21): “After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child,” celebrated the sacred Jewish ritual. In the 12th C, again according to Luke’s scripture, “and he was called Jesus, the name given by the Angel,” a Celebration of the Holy Name was approved by Rome for the Franciscans, Jesus which means “to save or to rescue” in Hebrew. It was such a popular event, Pope Clement VII in 1530 instituted it for all orders, then later for the entire church in 1721 by Pope Innocent XIII. By 1913 Pope Pius X had even moved it closer to its original date on the Sunday between Jan 2nd and 5th.


In union with Pope XII’s 1950 declaration the ‘Immaculate’ Mary was the Mother of God, the bishops of Vatican II, true to bringing the Church back to its original sacred practices, restored the Feast to its original purpose and date: celebrating the Holy Mother of God with the themes of circumcision and Christ’s holy name referenced within the overall celebratory context. The liturgy would also include Apostle Paul’s first and only reference to Our Lady, the ‘woman’ who was prophesied to bear the Messiah according to the Law, in his Letter to the Galatians, before the Gospels were even written.


It was especially fitting when Pope Paul VI would later reference Mary, the Mother of God, our greatest Advocate for Peace, to inspire the first day of the New Year as of Jan. 1st, 1968, to be the World Day of Peace. His historic proclamation would become an inspiration to the United Nations who themselves formally instituted celebrations of the International Day of Peace in 1981.


And so, we should rejoice in a day of celebrations which is like no other: a celebration of the first day of a new year, a celebration of all earnest promotions of peace, and of a celebration of Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of Peace, the Mother of Love Incarnate.


The late priest, poet and speaker, John O’Donohue, once wrote how to welcome the first day of a new year, if not everyday of the year, in his book of blessings:


I arise today,
Blessed by all things, Winds of breath, Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper, Intimacy of touch, Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought, Miracle of health, Embrace of God.


May I live this day,
Compassionate of heart, Clear in word, Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought, [and] Generous in love.


Throughout the rest of this first day of 2022, as it comes to mind in our thoughts, let us honour our beloved Mother by asking her Son: “Peace, Lord, give us peace.”


– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario