As Another New Year Begins...We Remember...Our Mother...

“As the world begins a new year, it is fitting that we invite Mary, the Mother of God, to pray with us and to pray for us.”

(Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at First Vespers, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, December 31, 2006)

Because of Mary's faithfulness to God, she was able to receive the gift of God's Son and accept her role in God's plan for salvation.

Scripture tells us that the Angel Gabriel honors Mary with the greeting “Hail, full of grace” (Luke 1:29). Then, Elizabeth prophesies “blessed are you among women.”

One resolution we ought to make today is to live our life more like Mary. We must remember that nothing is impossible with God and like Mary, we must continue to live in wonder, humility and simple trust; keeping all things and reflecting on them in the quietness of your heart. Ultimately, we must resolve, my fellow travelers, to live in possibility…in hope…in simple FAITH.

This new year, be aware of your soul who knows that God exists and yearns to know more about God.

Mary’s claim to fame was that she simply said yes to God. She believed He could do as He said and would do as He said.

Most of all, Mary surrendered her plan for her own life, and yielded to God’s plan.

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary’s “fiat”, as it is called (Latin for “let it be done”), was a yes to the Unknown as she accepted the impossible message of the angel. Mary's "fiat" echoes that of her Son - "Father, your will be done".

This first day of the year 2011 presents us with an opportunity to begin once more - to cherish more deeply the life we have been gifted and honoring the one God who gave life for our salvation – because of Mary…the Mother of God…our mother also.

"From the cross, Jesus also said to his disciples, “…Behold, your mother."" (John 19: 27)

The symbolic date, "1-1-11" presents us with a unique opportunity to remember, to recall, to appreciate and also to cherish the love of our own mother, the one who brought us into this world.

In the quiet of our heart, we ponder on the words of this simple poem…


"A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
To love us, whatever we do,

With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance
In soothing our small, childish fears,

How tenderly mothers watch over their children
And treasure them all through the years!

 The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness
For any mistake, big or small,

And generous always in helping her family
Whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion
And make all our cares fall away,

She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter
And make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom
And wonderful insight and skill –
In each human heart is that one special corner
Which only a mother can fill!"

- Katherine Nelson Davis

In this New Year 2011, may we, as pilgrims on this earth, come to recognized the value of the Mary’s maternal presence and know that we, her children, always have recourse to her for every kind of grace and needs,

With this confidence, we invite Mary, the Mother of God, to pray with us and to pray for us that…

"The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!"

(Numbers 6: 24-26, NAB)

Hail Mary, full of grace.
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc,
et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen

(Luke 1:28-35, 42-48)

"May God be gracious to us and bless us" in our journey through this life, as we remember and imitate the goodness of our Mother throughout the New Year 2011!

(Psalm 67: 2, NAB)