Solemnity of MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
1 January 2026 (Liturgical colour - White and Gold)
First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm: Ps 66:2-3. 5. 6. 8. "May God bless us in his mercy."
Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7
Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2. Alleluia, alleluia! In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; now he speaks to us through his Son. Alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
Image Credit: Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Mary Star of the Sea. https://creator.nightcafe.studio/my-creations - Paul-Evangelion
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass (readings, prayers and reflections) for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. [YEAR ABC] - January 1, 2026, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-565
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Faith, hope and love, Mass for the First of January –
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
Homily – Fr Paul Kelly 2026.
Another calendar year has begun!
How these years seem to fly!
Nevertheless, it is really good at the start of a new year to give thanks for what has been and all that is to come…. We dedicate ourselves and this new year (first and foremost) to God and God's blessed Kingdom.
May this new year be filled with countless blessings and graces.
We give thanks today to our Lord for so many gifts we receive each and every day, the gift of life, the gift of family, friends, parishioners and our community. We have so much to thank and praise our Lord as we begin a new year of opportunities.
We dedicate this new year to the Lord, which is truly, in every sense of the word, the Year of the Lord 2026.
May our thoughts, words and efforts all be directed to the Lord's vision of the world and the Kingdom of God. At the very start of a new calendar year, we say to the Lord, all things we've done pleasing to you in the last year, we offer to you in love and gratitude.
All things we're about to do that are pleasing to you, we offer it humbly and with love. Anytime we've acted contrary to your will in the past, we are truly sorry, Lord, and ask your mercy and pardon. May we redirect our efforts in your gracious guidance to build up your Kingdom of love and mercy, justice and care.
This new year, O Lord, we accept from you as a pure gift. We desire not to waste this precious time, nor take it for granted, but to savour it and make use of it for all that you desire, loving God. We offer you our work and our efforts, recognising this to be a time filled with graced opportunities to praise you and love you and show our love for you by how we treat one another, especially those most in need.
An anonymous college student composed a poem that reads: "Today I saw a water lily growing in a pond, (the waterlily was entirely) unconcerned about whether anyone noticed its astounding beauty. As I sat there, watching it unfold its petals noiselessly, I thought of Mary pregnant with Jesus. She, too, was unconcerned about whether anyone noticed her astounding spiritual beauty. But to those who did, she shared a secret. That beauty came not from herself, but from Jesus' life unfolding its noiseless petals within her."
Mary allowed the astounding grace and beauty of God to shine through her to such a perfect extent that God became flesh and dwelled among us through her cooperation….
The student's poem invites us to ask: "What is one way I might allow more fully and deeply for Jesus life to unfold within me this year?
Another quote comes to mind at the start of this new year…. "Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some person ever reads." W. J. TOMS
Mary is the perfect example of perfect discipleship and a being an utterly superb model of faith, joy, humility, a love of justice, a concern for the poor, and complete trust in God. Her life is a perfect living bible – attesting to the glory and Kingship of Christ in all things. What a perfect lady to ask for her intercession to her beloved Son, our Lord Jesus, as we begin this new year. I think of two things particularly that strike me from the readings today.
One is the reference which is mentioned a few key times in the Gospel of Luke. Our Lady treasured these things in her heart. She pondered these things.
May we treasure everything that happens to us too. Our Lady pondered and treasured everything. When something wonderful happened, she treasured it in her heart.
When something confusing or upsetting happened, she pondered it in her heart. When something unexpected or sad occurred, she stored it in her heart also. SO, in everything, meditating on God's Word and reflecting on the mystery of God's faithful plan for the world and for her. Even if it was beyond her understanding, she continued to treasure it and meditate on it.
Because Mary, the Mother of God, is our intercessor ands inspiration… let us meditate as we travel through these coming months….
"What would our Blessed Mother do in difficult situations? How would she speak both lovingly, honestly, challengingly, constructively and wisely, but always with love and faith? The saints of the Church and the esteemed teachers within the Church throughout history have reflected upon the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Saint Francis de Sales writes, let us run to Mary and as her little children cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence. Saint Jerome says, even while living in this world, the heart of Mary was so filled with motherly tenderness and compassion for men that no one ever suffered so much for their own pains as Mary suffered for the pains of her children. That's beautiful.
Saint Thomas Aquinas says, just as seafarers are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.
The beautiful Saint Therese of Lisieux writes, in trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.
The world, even more so over recent years has been suffering dreadful violence, war and injustice, and our hearts break when we think of this. We also think of tragic disasters, natural as well as human-made, and we ask the Blessed Mother of God to pray to her Son on behalf of us for the gift of peace in the world and in the hearts and minds and decisions of people everywhere, including its leaders.
As that wonderful Hymn says so beautifully - "Lord, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me"
Have a blessed and grace-filled year, and we also pray now and throughout this year, ………..
Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Mark Link SJ. – Vision – Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way.
Image Credit: ID: Image Credit: ID: 1740958460 - Icon of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Canvas, oil. Contributor: Gouache7
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
{{God's kindness, peace and grace to everyone!!}}
On this special Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God,, trusting in God's timeless faithfulness, mercy, and love, let us first call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, your beloved and Mother is thereby the Mother of God. Lord have mercy
Your beloved mother is Help of Christians. Christ have mercy
Your beloved Mother is the Queen of Heaven. Lord have mercy
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Blessed Virgin MARY I
Euch .Prayer: 2
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{Thanks everyone, and THROUGH God's grace and mercy, and the faithful intercession of Mary the holy mother of God, may this be for you all a blessed, healthy and grace-filled year of the lord 2026.}
The Lord be with you……
(let's bow our heads to receive God's blessing)
May God, the source and origin of all blessing,
grant you grace,
pour out his blessing in abundance,
and keep you safe from harm throughout the year. Amen.
May he give you integrity in the faith,
endurance in hope,
and perseverance in charity
with holy patience to the end. Amen.
May he order your days and your deeds in his peace,
grant your prayers in this and in every place,
and lead you happily to eternal life.
Amen.
And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son,+ and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you forever.
Amen.
Dismissal:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the Liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins Publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers (1993). (Sydney, Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria. Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
Christmas Hymn - "Word Made Flesh" by Paul W. Kelly. Based upon: John's Gospel 1:14, 1 John 4:9, & Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7.
(Written on 8/5/20; 10/9/20). Arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk, with adjusted lyrics. 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk
Marian Hymn - "Salve Regina Mater Misericordiae." (Traditional 11th Century). Melody: Mainz (1712), Hymn #783 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/
Marian Hymn – "Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera." ("Whom Earth and Sea and Sky Proclaim"). Traditional 6th Century Hymn. Melody: Bartholomäus Gesius (d.1613). #376 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/
[ Production - KER - 2026]
May God bless and keep you.
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First Reading
Numbers 6:22-27 (NRSV)
A reading from the book of Numbers.
The Lord spoke to Moses:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
'Thus you shall bless the Israelites:
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 they shall put my name on the Israelites,
and I will bless them."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 66:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (JB)
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help. R.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples.
you guide the nations on earth. R.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him. R.
Second Reading
Galatians 4:4-7 (NRSV)
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians.
When the fullness of time had come,
God sent his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law,
in order to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as children.
And because you are children,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
"Abba! Father!"
So you are no longer a slave but a child,
and if a child then also an heir, through God.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Hebrews 1:1-2 (JB)
Alleluia, alleluia!
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
now he speaks to us through his Son.
Alleluia!
Gospel
Luke 2:16-21 (NRSV)
A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke.
When the angels had left them
the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go now to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph,
and the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child;
and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them.
After eight days had passed,
it was time to circumcise the child;
and he was called Jesus,
the name given by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
