December Feasts of Our Lady

[Kenny_Kamel]

Dear Kenny,

Thanks for your reply, especially your comment on my use of the word “shares”: (…hmmmm…) You made me smile. “Share” seemed a good word to use for the Feast of the Holy Family – I know that I learned to share in my family.

Regarding the Jan.1 Feast, a helpful article on the “Historico-Liturgical” aspect is HERE. It was not really “arbitrary” nor is any feast of Mary ever intended to “take away” anything from, but rather to “add” more praise to the Lord – as Mary herself says in Luke’s Gospel: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…” (cf Luke 1:46)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church helps explain further:

The reason I chose to list some December Feasts of Our Lady is because in our time, I find a certain decline among many Catholics in their Devotion to God’s Mother. Words from Pope St. John Paul II in 1982, are important for us to ponder:

Thanks again for your reply. Mary needs to be seen in her relationship with Christ, and ultimately in her relationship with the Trinity. The more we behold Mary our Mother in union with God, through Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit, the better we may see our own call to holiness.

I am of the belief that major historical events in the life of Christ, which BTW coincide with traditional norms of faith practice which show how He followed God the Father’s commands as we all should, should not be replaced or perhaps made secondary to anything or anyone else. Mary is important and her motherhood of Christ is important, but to suggest that supplanting the recognition of a major event in the life of Christ in favor of another Marian day of commemoration for her motherhood (see Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity of Christ, etc) makes me simply want to ask why it is necessary?

I am not asking about Giving Glory to God through Mary, I am asking why those within the Church felt compelled to drop the Circumcision of the Lord in favor of the Motherhood of Mary? Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord, some within the Church seem to want to magnify Mary instead of the Lord… capiche?

 

[patricius79]

I am of the belief that major historical events in the life of Christ, which BTW coincide with traditional norms of faith practice which show how He followed God the Father’s commands as we all should, should not be replaced or perhaps made secondary to anything or anyone else. Mary is important and her motherhood of Christ is important, but to suggest that supplanting the recognition of a major event in the life of Christ in favor of another Marian day of commemoration for her motherhood (see Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity of Christ, etc) makes me simply want to ask why it is necessary?

I am not asking about Giving Glory to God through Mary, I am asking why those within the Church felt compelled to drop the Circumcision of the Lord in favor of the Motherhood of Mary? Mary’s soul magnifies the Lord, some within the Church seem to want to magnify Mary instead of the Lord… capiche?

I don’t know the history or reasoning behind the changes in feast days. But I know that the more we glorify the Mother of God, the more Jesus, our God, is glorified.

 

[patricius79]

The reason I chose to list some December Feasts of Our Lady is because in our time, I find a certain decline among many Catholics in their Devotion to God’s Mother. Words from Pope St. John Paul II in 1982, are important for us to ponder:

“.Where the Mother is, there too is the Son. When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well. It is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularised society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…”
.

Yes, my sister, there is no hope for the Church or the world apart from a renewed devotion to Jesus through Mary.

As St. Maximillian says: when we seek Jesus through Mary, our works acquire perfect purity. And Jesus then, being God, enriches them with an infinite value before God.

Thus the Father is infinitely glorified through our meager works!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Kenny,

I hoped the link I gave you in my first reply would help you understand the historical background. If you didn’t have a chance to read it, I’m posting part of the article now, for you, and others who may be interested in knowing more about this feast:

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Feast: January 1
Historico-Liturgical Note

The solemnity of the Mother of God, which now coincides with the octave-day of Christmas and the beginning of the new year, was probably assigned this day because of the influence of the Byzantine Church, which celebrates the synapsis of the most holy Theotokos on December 26. This is in accordance with the Eastern practice of honoring secondary persons on the day after the feast of the principal personage (in this case, the birth of Christ). The Coptic Church celebrates this feast on January 16, but in the West, as early as the fifth century, the feast was celebrated on the Sunday before Christmas, although in France it was celebrated on January 18 and in Spain on December 18. Even before Pope Sergius introduced four Marian feasts in the seventh century (the Birth of Mary, the Annunciation, the Purification and the Assumption), the octave day of Christmas was celebrated in Rome in honor of the Maternity of Mary. Later, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the feast of the Circumcision was added, although it had been introduced into Spain and France at the end of the sixth century and was later included in the Missal of Pope St. Pius V. The recent liturgical reform has restored the original Roman practice, which replaced the pagan feast of the New Year, dedicated to the god Janus, with this feast honoring the Mother of God…( Full article can be read HERE)

The Feast was intended not to “replace” a Feast of the Lord but rather to further honor the Feast of His Birth. I underlined that sentence to draw attention to this fact.

The Eastern Church has always held Mary “the most holy Theotokos” in such reverence because of her relationship with Christ. This Feast was instituted to give honor to Christ as the “principle personage” and to Mary only as the “secondary personage.” Mary is Mother of God but never held as “equal” to God in any way. The Church honors Mary because God so highly honored her in choosing her to be His Mother.

In his Treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”, St. Louis de Montfort’s wrote:

1. … If devotion to our Lady distracted us from our Lord, we would have to reject it as an illusion of the devil. But this is far from being the case. As I have already shown and will show again later on, this devotion is necessary, simply and solely because it is a way of reaching Jesus perfectly, loving him tenderly, and serving him faithfully.

Many non-Catholics accuse the Catholic Church of “worshiping Mary” but Catholics understand our devotion to Mary is not the same as worship due to God Alone. Jesus gave Mary to us from His Cross. Mary is His special gift to us and we honor Him in honoring her.

 

[patricius79]

Dear Kenny,

I hoped the link I gave you in my first reply would help you understand the historical background. If you didn’t have a chance to read it, I’m posting part of the article now, for you, and others who may be interested in knowing more about this feast:

“The solemnity of the Mother of God, which now coincides with the octave-day of Christmas and the beginning of the new year, was probably assigned this day because of the influence of the Byzantine Church, which celebrates the synapsis of the most holy Theotokos on December 26.”
.

Dear sister, MariaChrist,

Could you explain what is the “synapsis” of the Mother of God? I’ve never heard that term before.

 

[Kenny_Kamel]

The Feast was intended not to “replace” a Feast of the Lord but rather to further honor the Feast of His Birth. I underlined that sentence to draw attention to this fact.

I think you proved my point for me, this is about His Birth and that which follows according to the Law/Covenant God gave to us to follow. I did read what you linked to earlier but it does not explain the necessity of celebrating the Motherhood of Mary on the Roman/Latin Church calendar without regard to this major event in the life of Jesus.

This is just one of those things that I as a Roman Rite Catholic take issue with insofar as how the Roman Rite has or currently does go about doing things. Furthermore this is one among many things that is exclusive to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church specifically, it seems many if not most other Catholics and non-Catholic Christians adhere to the Circumcision of Jesus as an event in the Life of Christ to recognize and commemorate.

 

[patricius79]

I think you proved my point for me, this is about His Birth and that which follows according to the Law/Covenant God gave to us to follow. I did read what you linked to earlier but it does not explain the necessity of celebrating the Motherhood of Mary on the Roman/Latin Church calendar without regard to this major event in the life of Jesus.

This is just one of those things that I as a Roman Rite Catholic take issue with insofar as how the Roman Rite has or currently does go about doing things. Furthermore this is one among many things that is exclusive to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church specifically, it seems many if not most other Catholics and non-Catholic Christians adhere to the Circumcision of Jesus as an event in the Life of Christ to recognize and commemorate.

Dear Kenny,

The article posted by MariaChristi refers to the influence of the Byzantine Church on celebrating the feast of the Mother of God in order to further the celebration of Our Lord and Savior’s birth.

I think we should celebrate both the feast of the Most-Holy Mother of God and the feast of Christ’s Circumcision. I’m not sure why we don’t celebrate it. But I’m going to celebrate the feasts as the Church prescribes and try to reflect on the Lord’s Circumcision as well, as you suggest. Thank you.

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!

 

[Vico]

I think you proved my point for me, this is about His Birth and that which follows according to the Law/Covenant God gave to us to follow. I did read what you linked to earlier but it does not explain the necessity of celebrating the Motherhood of Mary on the Roman/Latin Church calendar without regard to this major event in the life of Jesus.

This is just one of those things that I as a Roman Rite Catholic take issue with insofar as how the Roman Rite has or currently does go about doing things. Furthermore this is one among many things that is exclusive to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church specifically, it seems many if not most other Catholics and non-Catholic Christians adhere to the Circumcision of Jesus as an event in the Life of Christ to recognize and commemorate.

This is from 1908, Catholic Encylopedia

The feast celebrated at Rome in the seventh century was not the Circumcision as such, but the octave of Christmas. The Gelasian Sacramentary gives the title “In Octabas Domini”, and prohibits the faithful from idolatry and the profanities of the season (P.L., LXXIV, 1061). The earliest Byzantine calendars (eighth and ninth centuries) give for the first of January both the Circumcision and the anniversary of St. Basil. The Feast of the Circumcision was observed in Spain before the death of St. Isidore (636), for the “Regula Monachorum”, X, reads: “For it hath pleased the Fathers to appoint a holy season from the day of the Lord’s birth to the day of His Circumcision” (P.L., LXXXIII, 880). It seems, therefore, that the octave was more prominent in the early centuries, and the Circumcision later.

It is to be noted also that the Blessed Virgin Mary was not forgotten in the festivities of the holy season, and the Mass in her honour was sometimes said on this day. Today, also, while in both Missal and Breviary the feast bears the title “In Circumcisione Domini et Octav Nativitatis”, the prayers have special reference to the Blessed Virgin, and in the Office, the responses and antiphons set forth her privileges and extol her wonderful prerogatives.
Tierney, J. (1908). Feast of the Circumcision. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. newadvent.org/cathen/03779a.htm

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear sister, MariaChrist,

Could you explain what is the “synapsis” of the Mother of God? I’ve never heard that term before.

As I understand it, the word “synapsis” means “connection” or “junction” – in the context of the explanation given concerning the two Feasts – the article seeks to explain that the Feast of the Circumcision and the Feast of the Solemnity of the Mother of God are “connected” in their history and in the liturgy.

Your suggestion to celebrate both is a beautiful way for us all to celebrate the unique and beautiful relationship of Jesus to His Mother, while we are here on earth. Theirs is a union of love we can only begin to contemplate now, but one day, please God, we will know far more in our experience of the Beatific Vision.

Thanks for your love of Jesus and Mary, dear brother Pat.

 

[patricius79]

As I understand it, the word “synapsis” means “connection” or “junction” – in the context of the explanation given concerning the two Feasts – the article seeks to explain that the Feast of the Circumcision and the Feast of the Solemnity of the Mother of God are “connected” in their history and in the liturgy.

Your suggestion to celebrate both is a beautiful way for us all to celebrate the unique and beautiful relationship of Jesus to His Mother, while we are here on earth. Theirs is a union of love we can only begin to contemplate now, but one day, please God, we will know far more in our experience of the Beatific Vision.

Thanks for your love of Jesus and Mary, dear brother Pat.

Dear MariaChristi,

Thank you. That makes sense.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe everyone.

Here is a link to the oldest written account about our Lady of Guadalupe (the Nican Mopohua).

It is very beautiful.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe be with us during this Advent and give us Jesus in all her personal love this Christmas!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear MariaChristi,

Thank you. That makes sense.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe everyone.

Here is a link to the oldest written account about our Lady of Guadalupe (the Nican Mopohua).

It is very beautiful.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe be with us during this Advent and give us Jesus in all her personal love this Christmas!

Dear Pat,

I think you may have forgotten to include the Link. This may be the one you intended to include in your post – see HERE. It is my favorite of all the accounts of the Apparitions at Guadalupe. Blessings to you and to all on this beautiful Feast!

 

[patricius79]

Dear Pat,

I think you may have forgotten to include the Link. This may be the one you intended to include in your post – see HERE. It is my favorite of all the accounts of the Apparitions at Guadalupe. Blessings to you and to all on this beautiful Feast!

Yes, thank you my sister.

That looks like a beautiful account.

The link I intended to leave is here:
ndclmurray.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/6/2/3162790/nican_mopohua_english.pdf

This is so beautiful

Thank you, MariaChristi

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, thank you my sister.

That looks like a beautiful account.

The link I intended to leave is here:
ndclmurray.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/6/2/3162790/nican_mopohua_english.pdf

This is so beautiful

Thank you, MariaChristi

Thanks so much for this link, Pat! It is the translation that uses Mary’s words: “Are you not in the crossing of my arms?” – I knew I had read it somewhere!!! I think that is the most tender phrase and picture for me of Mary’s Love. Just as she held Jesus “in the crossing of her arms” so now she holds all His little ones who are united to Him in His Mystical Body.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks so much for this link, Pat! It is the translation that uses Mary’s words: “Are you not in the crossing of my arms?” – I knew I had read it somewhere!!! I think that is the most tender phrase and picture for me of Mary’s Love. Just as she held Jesus “in the crossing of her arms” so now she holds all His little ones who are united to Him in His Mystical Body.

amen, my sister… Yes, and there are many very childlike and poetic phrases in the account. I also like how she says:

“I will give Him to the people in all my personal love, in my compassionate gaze…Because I am truly your compassionate mother”.

She says she is the mother of all those who cry to her, seek her, trust in her.

It is comforting. She is so wonderful!

 

[MariaChristi]

amen, my sister… Yes, and there are many very childlike and poetic phrases in the account. I also like how she says:

“I will give Him to the people in all my personal love, in my compassionate gaze…Because I am truly your compassionate mother”.

She says she is the mother of all those who cry to her, seek her, trust in her.

It is comforting. She is so wonderful!

Thanks again, Pat!

Mary is Mother and Model for the Church – we too are called by our Baptism to "give Him to the people in all our personal love through Mary and with Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit! She is the Mother of those who cry to her, for she is the Mother of God Who always hears the cries of the poor. She teaches us to trust in His Word as she dd on this earth.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us to go, with haste as you did, carrying Jesus to others in compassion.

 

[patricius79]

Thanks again, Pat!

Mary is Mother and Model for the Church – we too are called by our Baptism to "give Him to the people in all our personal love through Mary and with Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit! She is the Mother of those who cry to her, for she is the Mother of God Who always hears the cries of the poor. She teaches us to trust in His Word as she dd on this earth.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us to go, with haste as you did, carrying Jesus to others in compassion.

Yes, dear sister, I think that Mary can help us very well, especially if we invoke her. St. Peter Chrysologus says that the name of Mary contains the sacrifice agreeable to God. And the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin (St. Bonaventure, a doctor of the Church", says:

“behold, how good, how pleasant it is to love thy name/ Thy name is as oil poured out, and as an aromatic fragrance to those who love it”

St. Alphonsus Liguori (another Doctor) explains that this is because oil nourishes flames (of love).

How much Child Jesus wants us, also, to invoke his mother, and to depend on Our Lady of Guadalupe!

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, dear sister, I think that Mary can help us very well, especially if we invoke her. St. Peter Chrysologus says that the name of Mary contains the sacrifice agreeable to God. And the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin (St. Bonaventure, a doctor of the Church", says:

“behold, how good, how pleasant it is to love thy name/ Thy name is as oil poured out, and as an aromatic fragrance to those who love it”

St. Alphonsus Liguori (another Doctor) explains that this is because oil nourishes flames (of love).

How much Child Jesus wants us, also, to invoke his mother, and to depend on Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Dear Pat,

Thanks again for your reply and for sharing also the wisdom of our saints: St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Bonaventure and St Alphonsus Ligouri. How we need to remember Jesus’ words: “Behold your Mother”! He appeared as a Child, with our Mother Mary to Sr. Lucia of Fatima:

…Lucia was a postulant in the Convent of St. Dorothy in Pontevedra, Spain when she had the apparition of our Blessed Mother. She was standing over a cloud of light with the Child Jesus at her side. The Blessed Virgin put one hand on Lucia’s shoulder, while her other hand sustained her Immaculate Heart that was surrounded with thorns. The Child Jesus said: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Blessed Mother. It is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce each moment, and there is no one that is willing to offer an act of reparation to take the thorns away.”… (underlining is mine)

In every apparition of Mary, she comes as our Mother to help us, but especially at Guadalupe, it seems to me, her message is primarily in her question: “Am I not here, Who am your Mother?” God has given us to Mary at the Cross, and she takes her Universal Motherhood very seriously. She loves us with the Love God has given her. How we need to grow in our knowledge and love of her, to honor her, and have compassion on her!

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Jesus, help us to honor your Mother and especially to have compassion on her Immaculate Heart.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.

 

[patricius79]

In every apparition of Mary, she comes as our Mother to help us, but especially at Guadalupe, it seems to me, her message is primarily in her question: “Am I not here, Who am your Mother?” God has given us to Mary at the Cross, and she takes her Universal Motherhood very seriously. She loves us with the Love God has given her. How we need to grow in our knowledge and love of her, to honor her, and have compassion on her!

Yes, my dear sister MariaChrist, Mary loves us so much, and sacrificed her own Divine Son for our salvation.

We must pray to her constantly!

It is so good to read from True Devotion to Mary and other books about Mary to understand how much Jesus wants us to love her.

She is mercy itself. Through her, our Mother , we find Jesus. We must call out to her.

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, my dear sister MariaChrist, Mary loves us so much, and sacrificed her own Divine Son for our salvation.

We must pray to her constantly!

It is so good to read from True Devotion to Mary and other books about Mary to understand how much Jesus wants us to love her.

She is mercy itself. Through her, our Mother , we find Jesus. We must call out to her.

Thanks, Patricius, for your love and devotion to our Mother Mary and through her your love for Jesus!

 

[patricius79]

Thanks, Patricius, for your love and devotion to our Mother Mary and through her your love for Jesus!

Thanks, MariaChristi. The book True Devotion to Mary has been such a gift to me. St. Louis De Montfort helps me so much to love the feasts of our Lady.

Mary is pregnant with the Word of God. The birth of Jesus is so close!