On The Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God

By Fr. Simon Atta Denchira

On the first day of January every year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is called the Mother of God (Theotokos in Greek) because she gave birth to the son of God, who is also the second person of the Blessed Trinity.

Pope St. Paul VI instituted this Solemnity in 1970. The celebration is assigned to January 1st in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the City of Rome, where a commemoration of this feast was held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of God.

Is Mary’s divine maternity rooted in both scripture and the Church’s tradition? Yes! Does the Bible use the expression “mother of God”? No, but Mary is clearly identified as the “mother of Jesus” (cf.Mt 2:13,22; Lk1:31;2:34; Acts 1:14) and the mother of the Son of God (cf.Lk1:35; Gal.4:4). Even before the birth of Jesus, Elizabeth proclaims her as the “mother of my Lord” (cf.Lk 1:43). Clearly, Mary is identified throughout the New Testament as the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And since Jesus is truly God, we can conclude that Mary is the Mother of God. In Early Christian Tradition, Mary’s divine motherhood is richly attested to in the writings of the church fathers. For example, St. Irenaeus (d.202) wrote, "The Virgin Mary being obedient to His word, received from an angel the glad tidings that She would bear God."

The Catechism (CCC #509) summarizes the teaching as follows: Mary is truly Mother of God since she is the mother of the eternal son of God made man, who is God himself. The title “mother of God” points to the sublime truth of the Incarnation, that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.

Why does the Church celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God? The Church primarily celebrates this solemnity to honor Mary for the role she played in the history of salvation. The celebration is also meant to exult the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the ‘Holy Mother’ through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of Life. 

Why is Mary so important to us as we start a New Year? First, we as Catholics are privileged to begin the year with the Mother of God, because she knows her son more than we do, and will lead us to her son. Second, she is OUR mother in the order of grace, the new mother of all those who are alive in Christ, the mother of all Christ’s beloved disciples. Third, she is a powerful intercessor for all our needs here on earth.

So as we journey through the year 2023, we need life, hope, and peace in our hearts, in our families, and in the world. Jesus is the Life. He is our hope. He is the Prince of Peace. Since Mary is the Mother of Jesus, She is the mother of life, hope, and peace. That is why we need her, and we are encouraged to journey with her and to pray through her so that, as a mother, she will pray always for us.

May Mary, the Mother of God, intercede for us. Amen!