What is the Solemnity of Mary?
What is the Solemnity of Mary?
The Solemnity of Mary… what is this exactly? You may have heard this at church or from a friend and are curious as to what it means. What is it and why do we celebrate it? It’s my hope today that by helping you answer this question, you’ll grow stronger in your faith and have a deeper understanding of where you fit into the world and who you have looking out for you.
The solemnity of Mary Mother of God is Highly Debated
The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God is a highly debated doctrine. There is so much to unpack with this very important and critical doctrine of our Christian faith it will be difficult to cover it all in this simple blog post.
The Solemnity of Mary has caused much controversy throughout the years of Church history and continues to be a hot topic of debate between Protestant and Catholic believers today.
The truth of the matter is that when you get this doctrine about Mary wrong, you not only misunderstand who Mary is but you also lose the true identity of Jesus Christ, Himself!
Why is it called the Solemnity of Mary?
First, let’s begin by covering what exactly a “solemnity” is. A solemnity is a celebration of the highest rank.
The Solemnity of Mary, also known as the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is referred to as a “solemnity” because it is a particularly noteworthy feast day in the Catholic Church.
“The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ, whom she had circumcised on the eighth day after his birth according to Levitical Law. Christians see him as the Lord and Son of God.” – Wikipedia
The English word “solemnity” derives from the Latin word “solemnitas,” which connotes “seriousness” or “grandeur.” The name of this feast day reflects its significance and importance to Catholics.
Why Celebrate the Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God?
It’s customary to recognize Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and express gratefulness for her donation to humanity’s redemption on January 1st by observing the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
Mary is regarded as the Mother of God and is greatly admired in the Catholic Church since she gave birth to Jesus, who is completely man and completely God.
In previous councils, such as the Council of Ephesus, believers debated back and forth if Jesus was truly man. This is essential to our Christian faith because His humanity and divinity qualify Him to be the propitiation for us on the cross and the one to defeat sin and death once and for all for our sakes.
Catholics recognize Mary’s faith and her amenability to accept the plan that God had chosen for her to be the mother of Jesus and help in the manifestation of Jesus (the Word becoming flesh) by celebrating the Solemnity of Mary. Also, it’s a moment for Catholics to consider Mary’s love and fidelity to her son.
“One of the earliest titles given by Christians to the Blessed Virgin was Theotokos—“God-bearer.” We celebrate her as the Mother of God because, in bearing Christ, she bore the fullness of the Godhead within her.” – AnaStPaul.com
There are so many words to describe the emotions, theology, and wisdom behind Mary. Take a moment and contemplate that for a second… she is the “Theotokos” or “God-bearer”.
Did you know that Mary is not only Jesus’s mother but she is your mother as well? Jesus tells us this in Scripture when he says in Matthew 12:46-50…
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Then on the cross, he gave Mary to us as our mother.
After recalling the presence of Mary and the other women at the Lord’s cross, St John relates:
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’. Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” (Jn 19:26-27).
These particularly moving words are a “revelation scene”: they reveal the deep sentiments of the dying Christ and contain a great wealth of meaning for us as Christians. At the end of Jesus’ earthly life, as he addressed his Mother and the disciple he loved, the crucified Messiah establishes a new relationship of love between Mary and the rest of us. – EWTN
Therefore on this very special feast day of the solemnity of Mary, it’s not just celebrating Mary as Jesus’s mother, which is super important. This feast day of the highest order is also a celebration of recognizing that Mary is our mother and that we are grafted into the family of God.
Is the Solemnity of Mary a Holy Day of Obligation
Yes, the Catholic Church considers the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, to be a Holy Day of Obligation. It follows that Catholics must go to Mass on this day. Holy Days of Obligation are days that are marked with the festivity of Mass and are of particular significance in the Church’s liturgical timetable. In the Catholic Church, the Solemnity of Mary is one of the ten Holy Days of Obligation that are now observed.
Celebrating the Feast of the Virgin Mary
What are three feasts that recognize Mary?
The Catholic Church celebrates Mary, Jesus’ mother, on several feast days. Then are three illustrations.
- The Solemnity of Mary is celebrated on January 1
- The Immaculate Conception This feast highlights the idea that Mary was conceived without original sin and is observed on December 8.
- The Assumption of Mary is a feast day commemorating the idea that at the end of her fleshly actuality, Mary was lifted into heaven, body, and soul. It is observed on August 15.
- Mary’s Nativity This feast remembers Mary’s geniture and is observed on September 8.
- The Annunciation, the donation of Mary, and the Queenship of Mary are just many of the other feasts that celebrate Mary.
How to Celebrate the Solemnity of Mary
The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, as a liturgical feast day on January 1st. You can observe this day in a variety of ways.
- Attend Mass Attending Mass and take part in the Eucharistic feast. These are two of the most profound ways to recognize the Solemnity of Mary. This is a unique chance to praise Mary and express gratefulness for her donation to the Church’s life.
- Supplicate the Rosary. This well-liked spiritual prayer celebrates Mary and contemplates the life of Jesus. You can recite the Rosary audibly or in private with your family or a near prayer group.
- Consider Mary’s attributes. Mary is famed for her biddable nature, modesty, and devotion to God. Spend some time considering how you may live out these characteristics in your own life.
- Respect Mary in your home. Another way to recognize Mary in your home is to devote a particular area to her, similar to a little balcony or sanctum. Use this area as a place for prayer and reflection and embellish it with a statue or image of Mary.
Reflection on the solemnity of mary, mama of god
On this feast day of the Solemnity of Mary, we have the chance to consider the significant part Mary played in the deliverance of humanity and the life of the Church.
Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and an essential element of His fleshly charge. Mary was a crucial player in the world’s redemption because of her faith and readiness to accept God’s will. Because of this, she is called the “co-redeemer”.
It can be salutary to consider Mary’s merits on this day and how they can motivate us in our own lives. Mary has a character that is modest, biddable, and devoted to God. She demonstrates the value of placing our faith in God and submitting to His plan.
Celebrating the Solemnity of Mary January 1
Because January 1st is the launch of the Roman Catholic Church’s liturgical time, the Solemnity of Mary, the mother of God, is observed on that day every year. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is celebrated on this feast day as a means to thank her for her benefactions to church life.
The Catholic Church has a long history of commemorating Mary, the mother of God, on her solemnity. The Western Church embraced it in the fifth century after it was first observed in the Eastern Church fourth century.
The commemoration of the Solemnity of Mary, the mother of God, not only ushers in the liturgical time but also serves as a memorial of the significance of Mary in church life. As the mother of Jesus and given to us by Him, Mary is also our mother too.
In Conclusion: The Solemnity of Mary
I hope this helped you learn about the Solemnity of Mary and fall more in love with Mary as Jesus’ mother and also your mother as well.
Are you inspired by what you’ve learned today about The Massacre of Innocents? Does it make your heart ignited knowing that Jesus had to escape death even from the very beginning of His life so that he could grow into a man and die on the cross for you?
Are You Inspired?
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Well, that’s all for today.
I’ll see you back tomorrow with another Saint of the Day to inspire you!
Toodles,
-Priscilla
