This is the Liturgy of the Hours for December 31. Your local date is .
January 1
Solemnity
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them” (Num 6:22-27). [1]
Today is the Octave of Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary – the Holy Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. As we remember the ancient blessing God gave the Israelites, may we be reminded of the Incarnation. For through the Incarnation of the Son of God through Mary His Mother, the peace that the world cannot give begins to be among us. Mary’s “sorrowing heart was enlarged to make room for all men and women, whether good or bad,” she offers “her maternal affection to each and every person… a source of hope and true joy.” [2][3]
Written by Sarah Ciotti
Reviewed by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, STD
[1] Revised Standard Version s.v., “Numbers, The Fourth Book of Moses Commonly Called.”
[2] Benedict XVI, Homily, January 1, 2009.
[3] Francis, Vatican Radio, January 1, 2014.
The Faith Journey of our Community
A.Michael Salvatorelli on January 1st, 2023 at 15:49
Mother Mary is God's continuing gift to us.