There’s something about Mary

Today is January 1, New Year’s Day. It is a day where those across the globe celebrate new beginnings. A chance to start fresh. We make all sorts of promises to our selves in the form of resolutions. Lose weight. Exercise more. Get out of debt. Change careers. More family time. Go back to church.

In the Catholic Church, January 1 also marks a very special Holy Day. Today is The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. If you are Catholic, does this mean that you are obligated to attend Mass? Well, that depends on the year. But this year of 2025? Well, because it falls on Wednesday, “probably” is the answer.

In accord with the provisions of canon 1246 §2 of the Code of Canon Law, the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) has ruled: “Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.”

However, individual bishops can dispense the obligation of a holy day of obligation for his diocese. That is why in some U.S. dioceses January 1 is celebrated as a holy day of obligation, and in others it is not.

Bottom line, if you want to know if the Solemnity of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation in your individual diocese…check with your parish. Here in Philadelphia we are obligated to attend Mass. I did so this morning serving as a Lector at my church.

Many non-Catholics misunderstand our relationship with Mary. They believe that we worship her and pray to her for answers or direct help. Catholics do not worship Mary. We “venerate” her, which means that we hold her in the highest regard.

We have great respect for Mary. This is due to her role as the mother of Jesus, and thus the mother of the church. We look to her as a model of faith. Her faith was demonstrative of how we should all respond to God’s call.

We also do not actually pray to Mary that she will cure us or solve our problems. Instead, we pray to Mary that she will intercede for us with God. That she will take our issue directly to Him. That she will keep us in her prayers.

But let me play devil’s advocate for a moment. You are not Catholic. Maybe even virulently anti-Catholic. Why should you care about Mary? Why should you consider her to be special?

The historicity of the existence in the first century A.D. of a man by the name of “Jesus” is a fact that very few would argue against. Many writings exist establishing that he was a preacher, considered by many of his day to be a holy man.

Maybe you choose to not believe in this preacher, this Jesus, as God Himself. But you would lose all credibility if you try to say that he never existed at all as a man. And as a man, he certainly had a mother.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both reference the mother of Jesus as being a woman named Mary. Just two examples:

Matthew 1:16 reads “And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah”

Luke 2:4-5 reads “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.“

Even non-believers and agnostics would have to admit that there was a preacher named Jesus with a mother named Mary.

This woman would have raised Jesus and watched him grow into manhood. She would have been present as he began his public ministry. And, as John writes, she was there when he was ultimately crucified.

John: 25-27 reads “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.“

A teenage mother who got pregnant out of wedlock but survived in a judgmental society. A woman who somehow emerged from that shame to raise a pious son. That son turns his life over to the service of God. A mission and ministry that ultimately got him killed. A mother who was there with him through it all. That is a woman worthy of your respect, even as a non-believer or agnostic.

Of course, we as Catholics believe much more is at play with Mary. A teenager who said yes to God. Who trusted Him. Who did indeed raise Jesus into the man he became. A woman who may not have fully understood, but who had faith.

There is an excellent movie out on Netflix right now. “Mary” is the simple title of this film about her life and her relationship with Joseph. He would also say that yes to God, raising a child that he knew was not biologically his own. I highly recommend this film for anyone, believer or non-believer. Anyone who would enjoy an interesting, informed, and believable portrayal of the woman, her life, and her choices.

There is indeed something about Mary. Something very special, however you may view her. For Christians, she is the Mother of God. And for that reason alone we should all take special time to remember her on January 1 each year.

MORE FAITH PIECES

• 2.26.23 – Obedience of the One
• 8.28.22 – Don’t be afraid to humble yourself
• 12.12.21 – Threshing, winnowing and you
• 11.29.20 – Advent, a time for anticipation and patience
• 11.03.19 – On the Second Coming, don’t be fooled or frightened
• 10.06.19 – God didn’t make you a coward
• 9.15.19 – The prodigal son
• 1.28.18 – Jesus Christ is the Church
• 1.07.18 – The Epiphany of the three Magi
• 11.26.17 – In the end we all become one with God
• 11.19.17 – Giving thanks for modern religious
• 2.05.17 – A city set on a hill
• 1.29.17 – Are Catholic schools “better” than Public schools?
• 1.22.17 – Our responsibility in the New Covenant
• 11.16.16 – You don’t have plenty of time
• 4.29.14 – What is a Saint, and who goes to Heaven?
• 1.12.14 – Jesus’ example
• 10.27.13 – The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed
• 10.13.13 – The most powerful prayer