Happy New Year: Feast of Mary, Mother of Jesus, our Sister, Friend, Prophet of Justice, Peace and Equality

Mary, sister, friend, and prophet we rejoice that you accompany us in our work for gender equality for women in the church in our international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement.  Like you,  who confronted patriarchal domination in your prayer for justice, the Magnificat, we  are filled with love and hope as we pray for a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

The Virgin and Child (The Madonna of the Book) | Sandro Botticelli.

Elizabeth Johnson affirms Mary, mother of Jesus, as our sister in the communion of saints. "In the creed, the communion of saints, is the belief that all God-seekers, including the living and the dead, are joined into a sacred community by the power of the Spirit.  Since Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of faith, and since she obviously also died, she belongs in this company of grace..Modeled on companionship, it names those who have died as a "great cloud of witnesses" who accompany the living through the encouragement of their remembered lives." (Heb12:1) Within this vast cloud of witnesses, particular persons emerge who witness God's promise in special ways...Yes, a Jewish village woman of faith friend of God and prophet."  (Abounding in Kindness, p.295)

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/mary-mother-of-god/

The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos–God-bearer–it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches to our own day. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times.

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Reflection

Other themes come together at today’s celebration. It is the Octave of Christmas: Our remembrance of Mary’s divine motherhood injects a further note of Christmas joy. It is a day of prayer for world peace: Mary is the mother of the Prince of Peace. It is the first day of a new year: Mary continues to bring new life to her children—who are also God’s children.

Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace Message

Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of welcoming immigrants and refugees in today’s World Day of Peace message.  He reminds us that we are “one family” and that “God does not discriminate.” Therefore, he says we can create peace by “welcoming, promoting, protecting, and integrating” the 250 million people displaced and run out from their homes..

Let us spread this message of peace and love.

Read the full message.