The Church specifically places the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on the first day of the calendar year for a reason: our entire year should be given to the Blessed Mother.
PUBLISHED ON
January 1, 2025
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is January 1st each year. The Church specifically places this commemoration on the first day of the calendar year for a reason: our entire year should be given to the Blessed Mother.
For too many Catholics, Mary is an afterthought. Devotion to her is too often seen as optional and only for the few priests and religious who desire to pray the Rosary. Catholics can view the role of Mary as superficial, unnecessary, or just plain plastic—not real life. She is fine to have in our artwork and portrayed in statues, but that is as far as it goes.
What we get wrong, even those who pray the Rosary regularly or who depend on Mary’s intercession, is that we are meant to have a relationship with Mary as Mother. Our conversations with her shouldn’t be built on formality or hiding behind built up piety. Like any great mom, she desires for us to have real and raw conversations with her.
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My own journey with Mary has intensified this year because my own mother has been struggling in health. In her constant doctors’ visits and especially in her hospitalization, I couldn’t stop talking to and thinking of the Blessed Mother. Ever since my mom has been battling serious illness, I have had a renewed understanding of just how much I love her and need her.
There is nothing like the relationship between a mom and her child. The ability to talk to her about anything and the peace that comes from simply being with her is unparalleled. When we reflect on the relationship of Mary and Jesus, we will find that their intimacy is what we are invited into. The beautiful intensity that I feel in my relationship with my mother during this time is a glimmer of what Mary and Jesus had. It is not an optional part of the spiritual life but a needed aspect for seeing and knowing Christ.
This spiritual application of the mother-child relationship to Mary can be seen in Pope St. John Paul II’s papal motto of “totus tuus.” This meant that John Paul was saying his whole life was “totally yours”—totally Mary’s.
The future pope’s mother died when he was a teenager. Following her death, it is reported that his father took him to a local church, and as they prayed before a shrine of Mary, he told his son, “This is your Mother now.” The pope took this call seriously. He saw that the closer he got to Mary, the more he was able to see, know, and trust her Son. She gives us access to see Jesus through her own eyes.
Our Lady knew what suffering was. So, when we suffer and those around us suffer (like my mom), we have the deep surety that all circumstances will be resurrected. When you suffer in 2025, turn to Mary and see the cross through her eyes. Learn to love Christ more by being more devoted to His Mother.
Our Lady knew what suffering was. So, when we suffer and those around us suffer, we have the deep surety that all circumstances will be resurrected. Tweet This
Our Lady knew what it was like for the future to be known. She also knew, in the midst of everything, that God was powerfully with her. This is the beauty of dedicating our whole year to Mary: she never fails in bringing us to her Son. She exists to reflect the glory of God made man.
The future that is before us is unknown. There might be uncertainties about your own health or financial situation. There might be fears and anxieties about our country or Church. No matter what our concern is over the unknown, we can depend on Mary to guide us through. For she was betrothed and was found pregnant. She had no place for her child to be born. She had to flee to a foreign country because Herod was trying to kill her Son. She was told in the Temple that a sword would pierce her heart.
Through it all, she kept Christ at the center. Through it all, she can aid us in doing the same. For the entire reason for the Christian life is to know, love, and serve the Lord. So, this year, go to the one who knows Him best so that you can meet Him in this life and in the one to come.
As Pope St. John Paul II said in a homily on today’s solemnity in 2002, “If Jesus is Life, Mary is the Mother of Life. If Jesus is Hope, Mary is the Mother of Hope. If Jesus is Peace, Mary is the Mother of Peace, Mother of the Prince of Peace.” Our Lady gave birth to true life, hope, and peace. Our Lady gave birth to God. She bore Christ in her womb, and she will do all in her power so that faith can be born in us.
All we have to do is give her permission to do so.
She’s waiting for you. Give her permission to change your year and your life.
Author
Thomas Griffin is the chair of the religion department at a Catholic high school on Long Island where he lives with his wife and two sons. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Empty Tomb Project: The Magazine.
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