During the Twelve Days of Christmas, the Catholic Church celebrates many important feasts, including the feasts of Saint Stephen, the first martyr (December 26), whose martyrdom is recorded in Acts 6-7; Saint John the Apostle (December 27), who wrote the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation, as well as three epistles; the Holy Innocents (December 29), the children who were slaughtered at the order of King Herod, when he was trying to kill the Christ Child; and the Holy Family (normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas, and on December 30, when Christmas falls on a Sunday).
None, however, is as important as the feast celebrated on the octave (eighth day) of Christmas, January 1: the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. In fact, the Church regards this feast as so important that it is a Holy Day of Obligation. (See Is January 1 a Holy Day of Obligation? for more details.) On this day, we are reminded of the role that the Blessed Virgin played in the plan of our salvation. Christ's Birth was made possible by Mary's fiat: "Be it done unto me according to Thy word."
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.
As we begin another year, we draw inspiration from the selfless love of the Theotokos, who never hesitated to do the will of God. And we trust in her prayers to God for us, that we might, as the years pass, become more like her.
O Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!
(An icon of the Theotokos, the Mother of God. Egg tempera on wood, Central Russia, mid-1800's. Photo © Slava Gallery, LLC; used with permission.)
I fully understand the importance of Mary in our quest for salvantion and a Holy Day in her honor is most appropriate. But what happened to the Feast of the Circumcision that we used to celebrate on 1 Jan?
why is Mary Called the Mother of God? and why do we celebrate the birth of christ on 25 December?
Didn’t we call January 1st something other than, ” The Soleminity of Mary ” ? I thought it was some other words in order to honor Mary.
Can’t remember . . .
But WHY do we celebrate it on Jan. 1? Why not june 12?
Our bulletin states Jan 1 is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. Should be clarified. Know it certainly was at one time & it was in honor of The Circumcision which made little sense to me. Supposedly what we think of as a circumcision was something else in the old days.
Lee, January 1 is a Holy Day of Obligation; however, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated on January 1, 2011, because it falls on a Saturday. You can read more about that here:
Is January 1 a Holy Day of Obligation?
Yes, January 1 was also a Holy Day of Obligation back when the Feast of the Circumcision was celebrated on that day. And no, a circumcision was exactly what we think it to be today. The Feast of the Circumcision commemorated the first shedding of Christ’s Blood on behalf of mankind.
In The Orthodox Church, we continue to celebrate “The Feast of The Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on January 1st.
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=363
As Scott mentions, it is to commemorate Our Lord’s submission and shedding of blood.
However, there is another reason to commemorate this feast, as it is the eighth day from Nativity, and is the day that Christ The Lord was NAMED “Jesus”.
In fact, we will often refer to it as “Christ’s Name Day”, the greatest name day of all.
Michael,
It’s good to read your message about Mary and The Celebration of Mary The Mother of God. Thanks for sharing hersharing her faith with us on the first day of the New Year 2011.you might note “faith” is misspelled “fiat” in you post. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Andrew Caubarreaux,
No, he meant “fiat” which is Latin for “let it be done.”
What happened to the January 1st Holy Day of Obligation, The Feast of the Circumcision?
Since this was the one accepted January 1st Holyday in the pre-Vatican II Holy Roman Catholic Church as well as the Orthodox churches, its disappearance in the Latin Rite must relate to actions and proclamations of The Second Vatican Council, a/k/a the Great 20th Century Reformation.
January 1 is the Octave day of Christmas, so it is always celebrated festively. Whether the emphasis is on the circumcision, on the naming of Jesus, or on the maternity of Mary, it doesn’t matter much– what is in a name? These are all aspects of Christmas.
Was wondering if attending mass on Saturday evening satisfies this Holy day of obligation, or if one would be required to attend both days. Thank you.
Attending Mass on Sataurday would fulfill the Obligation providing the Mass was 3:00pm (e.s.t.) or later.
I went to Catholic schools. When I graduated from HS in 1964 – after Vatican II, it was still the Feast of the Circumcision. We were taught it celebrated submission to Hebrew law.
it’s a wonderful thing that all of these “things”-I.e., issues, don’t affect our salvation.
It is a good thing to start the first day of the year in celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May we be reminded of Her obedience to follow the will of God without hesitation and her unyielding faith.
Magnificent. I agree.