Saints + Scripture: Mary, the Holy Mother of God

The Popish Plot
"The Pope's Prayer Intention for January 2020"

'Tis the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, Madonna-link trēs, Wikipedia-link Madonna, & Wikipedia-link Mater Dei.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Jesus is the son of Mary. Jesus is God. Therefore, Mary is the Mother of God. On this holy feast day, we take a moment as we start our new year to honor our Blessed Mother, who in her 'yes' to God brought our Savior into the world to redeem us.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God
The Book of Numbers, chapter six, verses twenty-two thru twenty-seven;
Psalm Sixty-seven (R/. two[a]), verses two & three, five, & six & eight;
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter four, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses sixteen thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of God.

St. Irenaeus says that, throughout the history of salvation, God was trying on humanity, gradually suiting divinity and humanity to one another—preparing for the Incarnation. All of that preparation was a prelude to the Israelite girl who would say yes to the invitation to be the Mother of God.

To say that Mary is the Mother of God is to insist on the density of the claim that God truly became human. As Fulton J. Sheen commented, Mary is like the moon, for her light is always the reflection of a higher light.

Catholic theology has drawn a further implication from Mary’s status as Mother of God—her role as Mother of the Church. If she is the one through whom Christ was born, and if the Church is indeed Christ’s Mystical Body, then she must be, in a very real sense, the Mother of the Church. She is the one through whom Jesus continues to be born in the hearts of those who believe. This is not to confuse her with the Savior, but it is to insist on her mission as mediator and intercessor.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

'Tis the Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

'Tis also the World Day of Peace (established 1967): Pax-link & Wikipedia-link Pax.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Time is a gift from God; it is a question posed by God's love to our free & fateful answer. We must be sparing of time in order to use it well in the intense activity of our life of work, love, & suffering. Idleness or boredom has no place in the life of a Christian."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Every mother, when she picks up the young life that has been born to her, looks up to the heavens to thank God for the gift which made the world young again. But here was a Mother, a Madonna, who did not look up. She looked down to Heaven, for this was heaven in her arms."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)"
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Mass Matters
2019 marks the first year since '16 in which I heard fewer Masses than in the preceding year, but given the essentially nominal distinction 'twixt three hundred seventy & three hundred seventy-two methinks it too early for concern. The question that remains is not how often I'm hearing Mass, but how much I'm growing from hearing so many Masses.

2008: 32
2009: 33
2010: 32
2011: 37
2012: 45
2013: 63
2014: 130
2015: 293
2016: 261
2017: 351
2018: 372
2019: 370
2020: 1…