To non-Catholic Xians - Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary

[kalt]

Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st?

 

[Zenas]

Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st?

No, not on January 1st or any other date. Most of the non-Catholic Christians I know never heard of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God , but if they had, they would probably denounce it as another Catholic way to worship Mary.

 

[kalt]

No, not on January 1st or any other date. Most of the non-Catholic Christians I know never heard of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God , but if they had, they would probably denounce it as another Catholic way to worship Mary.

Probably. There are some denominations that aren’t too far from Catholic theology, and I wonder about them. Orthodox. Lutheran. Episcopalian esp.

 

[Will_B]

Interesting question, with good timing for me.

I was raised in the Methodist Church and in high school dated a Catholic girl. She asked me to attend mass on New Years day with her, and I asked “Why attend mass on New Years?” Her answer was " It’s the 8th day and you do know what happens to Jewish baby boys on the 8th day?" Yes, I did… “Well” she said, “We celebrate the Lord’s circumcision” >> This was in 1963 and 1964.

I married another girl who was raised Lutheran… After some time we entered into the Episcopal Church where the tradition of celebration of the Circumcision of our Lord and the giving of His name “Jesus” was celebrated.

We transferred from the Episcopal Church to an Anglo Catholic Church where the tradition of celebration of the Circumcision and the Holy Name were celebrated.

In September 1009 my wife and I were received into the Roman Catholic Church… I was a bit surprised to find that New Years Day now included the honoring of Mary, Mother of God… As I listened to yesterday’s sermon, Father emphasised the incarnation, which is what Christmas is all about… The creator of the universe coming into the world as a little baby and being born of a virgin.

 

[kalt]

Interesting question, with good timing for me.

I was raised in the Methodist Church and in high school dated a Catholic girl. She asked me to attend mass on New Years day with her, and I asked “Why attend mass on New Years?” Her answer was " It’s the 8th day and you do know what happens to Jewish baby boys on the 8th day?" Yes, I did… “Well” she said, “We celebrate the Lord’s circumcision” >> This was in 1963 and 1964.

I married another girl who was raised Lutheran… After some time we entered into the Episcopal Church where the tradition of celebration of the Circumcision of our Lord and the giving of His name “Jesus” was celebrated.

We transferred from the Episcopal Church to an Anglo Catholic Church where the tradition of celebration of the Circumcision and the Holy Name were celebrated.

In September 1009 my wife and I were received into the Roman Catholic Church… I was a bit surprised to find that New Years Day now included the honoring of Mary, Mother of God… As I listened to yesterday’s sermon, Father emphasised the incarnation, which is what Christmas is all about… The creator of the universe coming into the world as a little baby and being born of a virgin.

You must have been a little worried about what the celebration of Christ’s circumcision included.

Welcome home.

 

[Justy90]

Probably. There are some denominations that aren’t too far from Catholic theology, and I wonder about them. Orthodox. Lutheran. Episcopalian esp.

As an Anglican, there are many things that we RECOGNIZE about Mary in honor and respect as opposed to CELEBRATING which is mainly associated with Christ. His birth, passion, resurrection etc.

 

[kalt]

As an Anglican, there are many things that we RECOGNIZE about Mary in honor and respect as opposed to CELEBRATING which is mainly associated with Christ. His birth, passion, resurrection etc.

This seems like a semantics issue. We normally say that we celebrate births and birthdays, promotions, graduations, sports victories, etc. Many invitations say something like, “Join us as we celebrate our parents’ golden anniversary”.

What is the difference between recognize and celebrate?

You didn’t really answer. Do you celebrate (or recognize) the solemnity of Mary?

 

[Justy90]

This seems like a semantics issue. We normally say that we celebrate births and birthdays, promotions, graduations, sports victories, etc. Many invitations say something like, “Join us as we celebrate our parents’ golden anniversary”.

What is the difference between recognize and celebrate?

You didn’t really answer. Do you celebrate (or recognize) the solemnity of Mary?

To celebrate is to acknowledge and be joyful of the deep meaning of something very significant in our Christian living such as the birth of our Savior or his Ressurection giving us the hope of everlasting life. Mary on the other hand isn’t in that same category of significance as Christ. That however doesn’t take away from the honor and respect she is due for her being obedient to God and for being foremost of the saints in Heaven. This deserves recognition, but celebrating it would seem misaligned and not really appropriate.

 

[JonNC]

Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st?

Kalt,
The LCMS still observes the Circumcision and Name of Jesus on Jan 1. Isn’t the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God a rather new celebration, dating to the Vatican II ?

I’d be interested in the nature of the observance, if you don’t mind sharing.
Jon

 

[agent_grey]

No, not on January 1st or any other date. Most of the non-Catholic Christians I know never heard of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God , but if they had, they would probably denounce it as another Catholic way to worship Mary.

And I would pray that God Forgive them for the offense of false witness.

 

[kalt]

To celebrate is to acknowledge and be joyful of the deep meaning of something very significant in our Christian living such as the birth of our Savior or his Ressurection giving us the hope of everlasting life. Mary on the other hand isn’t in that same category of significance as Christ. That however doesn’t take away from the honor and respect she is due for her being obedient to God and for being foremost of the saints in Heaven. This deserves recognition, but celebrating it would seem misaligned and not really appropriate.

Is this your own interpretation of “celebrate” or does your denomination teach this?

It seems that you’re saying we can only celebrate the things of the one we worship. I’m not sure why you would think like that. Is that from the teaching of your denomination? If it is, can you post a link (or the text) to that teaching?

Does this mean that you don’t celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and things like that with your family members?

 

[kalt]

Kalt,
The LCMS still observes the Circumcision and Name of Jesus on Jan 1. Isn’t the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God a rather new celebration, dating to the Vatican II ?

I’d be interested in the nature of the observance, if you don’t mind sharing.
Jon

Here’s a link. It’s long, so I didn’t want to copy the text here.

churchyear.net/motherofgod.html

 

[Anna_Scott]

Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st?

Kalt,

I am sorry to say I did not know anything about the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, until KathleenGee posted the prayer this week. Very interesting.

Having grown up in Baptist Churches; I really never heard anything about Mary, other than the reading of Scriptures that contain her name.

Anna

. . . .As today is the Solemnity of Mary, here is the prayer by Sr. Faustina of Divine Mercy to the Mother of God…and it also reveals the need for everyone to never put their trust in religious people!!!..

I mean, it is good not to wear too much religion on your sleeve because then people have that much higher expectation of you than you can carry through… Sr Faustina was sick alot in the convent. She used to get flack. One time she said there is more grace coming from God into the world in convents through the sick than the healthy ones!

"O Mary, my mother and my Lady, I offer you my soul, my body, my life and my death, and all that will come after it. I place everything in your hands. O my Mother, cover my soul with Your virginal mantle and grant me the grace of purity of heart, soul and body. Defend me with Your power against all enemies, and especially those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue…Fortify my soul that pain may not break it. Mother of grace, teach me to live by God’s power.

O Mary, a terrible soul has pierced Your holy soul. Except for God, no one knows of your suffering. Your soul does not break ; it is brave, because it is with Jesus. Sweet Mother, unite my soul to Jesus, because it is only then that i will be able to endure all trials and tribulations, and only in union with Jesus will my little sacrifices be pleasing to God. Sweetest Mother, continue to teach me about the interior life. May the sword of suffering never break me. O pure Virgin, pour courage into my heart and guide it.’

Mary responded with the greatest answer to dialogue, disputes and — what have you:

“Yes!, thy will be done.”

YES. YES.

YES to every moment of our lives in imitation of Mary, yes to God’s will to the situation we deal with at the moment…subject all to Christ! and bring forth His kingdom as Mary did to us.

Kathleen

 

[Bbigam]

When I was non-denominational and then Free Methodist, we’d never heard of this Solemnity (or the word “solemnity” for that matter). Some years we would have a worship service, potluck, or youth group activity for New Year’s Day or Eve, but it was never considered to have anything to do with the church year. Until my last couple of years as a Free Methodist, we didn’t follow any sort of lectionary either.

It was also unthinkable to have any devotion to Mary or the Saints. Mary was someone who might be mentioned as an obedient young girl in a Christmas sermon, who was a virgin until after giving birth to Christ. We thought of her as a good person who was blessed to give birth to our Savior, but nothing much more than that.

When I told my dad about converting to Catholicism, he immediately asked about “Maryolatry.”

 

[Justy90]

Is this your own interpretation of “celebrate” or does your denomination teach this?

It seems that you’re saying we can only celebrate the things of the one we worship. I’m not sure why you would think like that. Is that from the teaching of your denomination? If it is, can you post a link (or the text) to that teaching?

Does this mean that you don’t celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and things like that with your family members?

What is wrong with us using our own God given sense and reasoning on subjects such as these? Celebrating something is much more intimate than just merely recognizing it. Do you celebrate President’s Day if you are off from work that day or are you recognizing it by not working on that particular day? I recognize ember days and saint days on our kalender, but I don’t particularly celebrate them as I would Easter which is the highest day on our kalender for obvious reasons.

 

[Justy90]

And I would pray that God Forgive them for the offense of false witness.

How does it constitute being offensive if one chooses to merely not recognize it? This gets us off into an all too common argument of how Catholics accuse Protestants of being hateful toward Mary for not recognizing or believing every single thing that Catholics attach to Mary.

 

[kalt]

What is wrong with us using our own God given sense and reasoning on subjects such as these? Celebrating something is much more intimate than just merely recognizing it. Do you celebrate President’s Day if you are off from work that day or are you recognizing it by not working on that particular day? I recognize ember days and saint days on our kalender, but I don’t particularly celebrate them as I would Easter which is the highest day on our kalender for obvious reasons.

Well, there’s only something wrong with using your own reasoning if it’s wrong.
I asked if this is your own interpretation or if it’s a teaching of your church. Your interpretation is interesting, but I’m more interested in what your church actually teaches. I’m guessing that it doesn’t teach that you can’t celebrate anything but Christmas and Easter (and perhaps a few other things associtated with Christ).

I celebrate a lot of things. 4th of July. Family birthdays and anniversaries. Graduations. Thanksgiving. I really don’t do anything for President’s Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I’m sure there are more, and I’m sure you don’t really want a full list.

I can’t say I celebrate Christmas and Easter in the same way. Christmas is joyful, and Easter is more somber and reflective for me.

Where did you get your idea that we shouldn’t celebrate things?

 

[KathleenGee]

The celebration changed from the Circumcision of Our Lord to the Solemnity of Mary…

Afterall, it was decided a long time ago males did not need to become circumcised to become a Christian.

It is from the flesh and blood of Mary that gave Christ His humanity that we honor her…rather than a Jewish practice Our Lord did partake of, but the Epistles already claimed for the Gentiles it was no longer a necessary practice.

(As a mother, I did so in veneration of ancient times and the practice of my Catholic family, and also because I read it is also facilitates hygiene.)

 

[kalt]

The celebration changed from the Circumcision of Our Lord to the Solemnity of Mary…

Afterall, it was decided a long time ago males did not need to become circumcised to become a Christian.

It is from the flesh and blood of Mary that gave Christ His humanity that we honor her…rather than a Jewish practice Our Lord did partake of, but the Epistles already claimed for the Gentiles it was no longer a necessary practice.

(As a mother, I did so in veneration of ancient times and the practice of my Catholic family, and also because I read it is also facilitates hygiene.)

According to the site I found on it, honoring Mary before or after Christmas predates the circumcision thing. It’s something that’s actually older.

 

[jpk1313]

Do you celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1st?

Just for your information. The term xians is a word of contempt used coined by levayian satanists, its like calling a jew a kike or a heb which is insulting.