Mary Mother of God

Friday January 1

 

Mary Mother of God

 

1. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

2. A Blessed Year

3. World Day of Peace 

 

1. Mary, Mother of God

Greeting (See Second Reading)

God sent his Son, born of a woman,
to enable us to become God’s children.
Through the Spirit of the Son we can cry out to God:
“Father, my Father!”
May Jesus, this Son, be always with you. R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction

      It is a pleasure to begin the year with Mary. As followers of Jesus we want to be close to him. Who was closer to him than his mother? We want to grow up in Christ. Mary conceived him and carried him in her body until he was born from her. She saw him grow up day after day. She helped him grow up. She is eager to help him grow in us. We place ourselves in the care of Mary, that she may help us this year to grow into the full stature of Jesus.

 

Penitential Act

Today we ask the Lord to forgive us our past sins
and to lead us with confidence to the future.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son
and son of the Virgin Mary,
let God’s will be done in us, his servants.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you were born of a woman
to make us capable of becoming
Sons and daughters of the Most High God:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, keep speaking to us
your word of peace and hope
and help us to treasure this word in our hearts:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins,
that we may live this year in your love,
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
                        (pause)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its yes to your call
and there burst upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary’s trusting faith,
that we may always be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

2. A Blessed New Year: Introductory Rites

Greeting (See First Reading)

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord be gracious to you
and show his face to you
this whole year long.
The Lord be with you. R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction

      In the Hail Mary we pray to the Mother of God: “Blessed are you among women.” Mary was indeed blessed by God: God placed in her all his trust and all the blessings he would bring on all people through Jesus, her Son. On this New Year’s Day, we wish one another all God’s blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless all of us today as he blessed Mary, that we too, may bring God’s love and joy to one another and give Jesus to this cold world.

 

Penitential Act

For all the things we have done wrong in the past
against God and against people,
we now ask the Lord and one another to forgive us.
                        (pause)
Lord Jesus, yours are the seasons and the ages.
Give us a new heart and a new spirit:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, you are the beginning and the end
of all that is, including our lives.
Make a new beginning with all of us:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you breathe your Spirit on all creation.
Make our old world new again:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and let your forgiveness and love
come down on us day after day.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

With the help of Mary, the Mother of God,
let us ask for God’s blessings
                        (pause)
Our living and loving God,
to you belong all the ages.
For each of us you want this year to be
a time of grace.
Bless us, that like Mary
we may say yes to you and to your plans
for us and for the world.
Like Mary, may we grow closer to you
and give your Son Jesus to the world,
that those who seek may find in him
your truth, your justice and your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

3. Peace in Our World: Introductory Rites

Greeting

A Happy New Year to all of you.
May God’s grace and peace accompany you
the whole year long
and may the Lord Jesus stay with you. R/ And also with you.

 

Introduction by the Celebrant

      A new year begins today and we wish one another God’s blessings, good health, happiness. On this day as we celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, we also include very earnestly and insistently wishes and prayers for deep and lasting peace in a world beset with violence and strife, for Mary gave us Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let our sense of justice and unity, of mutual forgiveness and acceptance create the atmosphere in which peace can grow in our hearts, in our homes, in the world.

 

Penitential Act

Let us seek from God and from one another
the peace of forgiveness and reconciliation,
that we may share more deeply in the Eucharist
that unites us in Christ.
                        (pause)
In our homes and our communities
we have often failed to spread joy and peace.
Forgive us, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

We give little encouragement and support
to those who fight without violence
for justice and peace.
Forgive us, Lord.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

We have failed to speak to one another
words of forgiveness and peace.
Forgive us, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us Lord, forgive us our sins.
Fill us with your Spirit of peace
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
                        (pause)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its yes to your call
and there burst upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary’s trusting faith,
that we may ever be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Bless us through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

 

First Reading: God Blesses His People

      God blessed the people with whom he had made a covenant: he was to them the source of all blessing. May his blessings and grace come down on us, his people, this whole year long. 

Reading 1: Nm 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them."

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

1. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.

   May God have pity on us and bless us;

   may he let his face shine upon us.

   So may your way be known upon earth;

   among all nations, your salvation.

   R. May God bless us in his mercy.

   May the nations be glad and exult

   because you rule the peoples in equity;

   the nations on the earth you guide.

   R. May God bless us in his mercy.

   May the peoples praise you, O God;

   may all the peoples praise you!

   May God bless us,

   and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

   R. May God bless us in his mercy.

 

Second Reading: Sons and Daughters of God through Mary’s Son

      God has given us his Son Jesus through the Virgin Mary. With God’s Son we have become the sons and daughters of God.

Reading 2: Gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, "Abba, Father!"
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

 

Alleluia: Heb 1:1-2

Alleluia, alleluia.

1. In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;

   in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

   R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel: They Found Mary and the Child

      The shepherds saw Jesus and accepted him in faith. They praised God and could not keep silent about what they had seen. Mary treasured these events in her heart. 

Gospel: Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

 

Intercessions

With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us call upon the Lord to pour out his blessings on all God’s children and on the world. Let us say:

          R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, pour out your blessings on the Church, that all the people of God may grow in faith and hope, that there may be unity and cooperation between the leaders and the laity, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, bless all priests and religious, that they may live the Gospel: and proclaim it, that their heart may be open to everyone, that they may care especially for the last and the least, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, bless all fathers and mothers, that they may be faithful and loving to one another as you are faithful and tender to them, and that they may reflect your own love on their children, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, bless all children and young people, that they may have parents who care, that they may learn at home and in school to become generous and responsible, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, bless our country, that there may be justice among us, jobs for all, access for all to the wealth of resources in our land and peace and unity in all our diversity, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

–         Lord, bless the seekers and doubters, the sick, orphans and widows, those who are sad, all who have to carry heavy burdens in life. Give them hope, make your people show them your love, we pray:

           R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

 

Lord, let this year be to all of us a year of grace, of peace and joy, that we may face the future with hope and live in your love now and forever. R/ Amen.

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, loving Father,
in this bread and this wine
we bring before you our offering
of this new year.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,
give us your Son to be with us
in this Eucharistic celebration
and every day of this year.
As he gives himself to us,
help us to share ourselves with each other
every day you give us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

 

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let us give wholehearted praise and thanks to God our Father for giving us Jesus through the Virgin Mother Mary. May this Eucharist bring us his blessing and give us Jesus to go with us through life today and every day of the year.

 

Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer

Through the Spirit of Jesus
alive in our hearts,
we pray to our Father in heaven
in the words of Jesus himself. R/ Our Father...

 

Deliver Us

Lord, deliver us this year
from every evil of sin
and grant us and the whole world
your reliable, lasting peace.
Grant us your understanding love
and your infinite respect for others,
that in justice and goodness
we may prepare for the final coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

 

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus our Lord,
born from the Virgin Mother Mary.
He comes among us
to be our saving God-with-us
and to grow in us.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

 

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, loving Father,
you have given us in this Eucharist
your Son Jesus as our guide on your way of peace
and Mary, his Mother, as our model of faith.
Let your grace this year
be stronger than our weakness and self-will.
Keep blessing us and let them inspire us
that all we say and do
may give praise to you
and lead us to the joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

 

Blessing for New Year

With Mary we have blessed the Lord today
that he has done great things for us in the past.
May he keep blessing us
and give us his peace:
peace with God himself, peace with ourselves
peace in our families, peace among nations.
May this year be to all of us
a year of grace,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace, a happy New Year to all of you,
and take the Lord’s blessing with you
all the days of your life. R/ Thanks be to God.

 

Commentary:

Happy New Year!

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
It is also the world day of Peace. Pope Francis calls on all us to foster a Culture of Care as a Path to Peace”. A culture of care – care for our brothers and sisters, especially care for those who have nobody else to care for, and of course, Care for Creation - Our Common Home are the proposals, Pope Francis put forth for our New Year resolutions as we begin the year 2021.

We must have already exchanged many "New Year" greetings – particularly through our social media network. But there is a danger involved in this way of sending our Christmas and New Year wishes to our friends and dear ones. Because, most of these messages are created by someone else and there is no personal element in those greetings.

Today’s Word of God brings us a beautiful prayer, which could be made our personal wish and prayer for our dear ones, whom you want to wish a blessed New Year! The First Reading gives us this Prayer:
God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
God look on you full in the face, and make you prosper.
Just three Verses… “The LORD bless you and keep you!” These are the first words we hear on this first day of the year and I think there is no better greeting.

Why not use them today and in the coming days to bless and wish one another! The Scripture says, “by doing so, you will place my name on the people and I will bless them.” At a time, when the world lives in fear of a pandemic, all what we rely on is God’s mercy and His blessings!

Today is also the Solemnity of “Mary, Mother of God.” In 1970, Pope Paul VI instituted the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Church assigns this solemnity on the first day of the New Year to emphasize the importance of Mary’s role in the life of Christ and of the Church. She is a powerful intercessor for all of our needs here on earth. In celebrating her special feast day, we call on her maternal accompaniment in our daily life; and like Mary, we cooperate with the plan of God for our lives. The Church observes this day also as the World Day of Peace and invites us to pray specially for peace in the world.

May God bless all of us today as he blessed Mary, that we too, may bring God’s love and joy to one another and give Jesus to this cold world.