Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

52nd World Day of Peace

Readings of the Day
RB: Prologue 1-7
Mass: Nb 6:22-27; Resp Ps 67; Ga 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King who rules heaven and earth forever.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2019!

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!

(Nb 6:24-26)

Mary, Virgin and Mother,

you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,

welcomed the word of life

in the depths of your humble faith:

as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,

help us to say our own 'yes'

to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,

to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ's presence,

you brought joy to John the Baptist,

making him exult in the womb of his mother.

Brimming with joy,

you sang of the great things done by God.

Standing at the foot of the cross

with unyielding faith,

you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection,

and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit

so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection,

that we may bring to all the Gospel of life

which triumphs over death.

Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,

that the gift of unfading beauty

may reach every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation,

Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,

pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are,

that she may never be closed in on herself

or lose her passion for establishing God's kingdom.

Star of the new evangelization,

help us to bear radiant witness to communion,

service, ardent and generous faith,

justice and love of the poor,

that the joy of the Gospel

may reach to the ends of the earth,

illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,

wellspring of happiness for God's little ones,

pray for us.

Amen. Alleluia!

(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium The Joy of the Gospel, 288)

TODAY MORE THAN EVER, OUR SOCIETIES NEED 'ARTISANS OF PEACE', MESSENGERS AND WITNESSES OF GOD THE FATHER, WHO WILLS THE GOOD AND THE HAPPINESS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY

(Pope Francis, Twitter, January 1, 2019)

NB. Today's photo is of a card I received, The Sistene Madonna, 1513, Rafael.