Sunday Reflections, Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Years ABC; 2nd Sunday After the Nativity, Years ABC

 

Altar of Our Lady
Jörg Zurn [Web Gallery of Art]

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord

This is a Holyday of Obligation in the Philippines, the USA and some other countries.

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland)

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Luke 2:16-21 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)

The shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


Adoration of the Shepherds
Murillo, painted 1650-55 [Web Gallery of Art]

54th World Day of Peace

1 January 2021

Here is the message of Pope Francis for World Day of Peace 2021, the them of which is A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace.


Extraordinary Form of the Mass

Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) 

Octave Day of the Nativity 

The complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 1-1-2021, if necessary).

Epistle: Titus 2:11-15. Gospel: Luke 2:21.


In this first Angelus of the new year, let us ask Mary Most Holy, the Mother of God, to bless us, just as the mother blesses her children who must leave on a journey. A new year is like a journey: with the light and grace of God, may it be a path of peace for every person and for every family, for every country and for the entire world (Benedict XVI, 1 January 2013).


Second Sunday After the Nativity, Years ABC


The Virgin with the Child Jesus and the Child St John the Baptist 
Francisco de Zurbarán [Web Gallery of Art]
You can learn more about the painting here.

In Ireland the Solemnity of the Epiphany is a Holy Day of Obligation and is celebrated this year on Wednesday 6 January. In many countries the Epiphany is celebrated on this Sunday, 3 January. The readings below are those for the Second Sunday After the Nativity, observed in Ireland.

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Gospel John 1:1-18. Shorter form: John 1:1-5, 9-14 [omitted] (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition )  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.]
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. [(John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.]



Madonna and Child

In The Ascent of Mount Carmel St John of the Cross writes: When [God] gave us, as he did, his Son, who is his one Word, he spoke everything to us, once and for all in that one Word. There is nothing further for him to say . . .

Consequently, anyone who today would want to ask God questions or desire some vision or revelation, would not only be acting foolishly but would commit an offence against God by not fixing his eyes entirely on Christ, without wanting something new or something besides him.

God might give him this answer, '"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." I have already told you all things in my Word. Fix your eyes on him alone, becuse in him I have spoken and revealed all. Moreover, in him you will find more than you ask or desire.'

This passage is used in the Office of Readings, Advent, Week 2, Monday.

Extraordinary Form of the Mass

Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) 

Sunday After th Octave Day of the Nativity

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

The complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 1-1-2021, if necessary).

Lesson: Acts 4:8-12. Gospel: Luke 2:21.


Authentic Beauty

Authentic beauty, however, unlocks the yearning of the human heart, the profound desire to know, to love, to go towards the Other, to reach for the Beyond.

Pope Benedict XVI meeting with artists in the Sistine Chapel, 21 November 2009.


Verbum caro factum est
Composer: Fr Marco Frisina
Sung by Choir of the Diocese of Rome directed Fr Frisina

RefrainVerbum caro factum est. Alleluia.

The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Hodie Christus natus est et laetantur Angeli.
Hodie Christus, Salvator mundi, in terra apparuit.
Today Christ is born and the angesl rejoice.
Today Christ, the Saviour of the world, has appeared on earth.

RefrainVerbum caro factum est. Alleluia.
The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Lux fulgebit hodie, quia Dominus natus est.
Exulta, Filia Sion; lauda, Filia Jerusalem.
Light shines today, because the Lord is born.
Rejoice, Daughter Zion, rejoice Daughter Jerusalem.

RefrainVerbum caro factum est. Alleluia.
The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.

Revelavit iustitiam ante cospectum gentium,
et nos vidimus gloriam eius, gloria quasi Unigeniti.
He has revealed his justice to all peoples
and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son.

RefrainVerbum caro factum est. Alleluia.
The Word was made flesh. Alleluia.


Originally posted on Bangor to Bobbio

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