Solemnity of MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD - Saturday 1 January 2022 (EPISODE: 342)

Solemnity of MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

Saturday 1 January 2022    (Liturgical colour - White and Gold)
(EPISODE: 342)

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: ID: 1740958460  - Icon of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Canvas, oil. Contributor: Gouache7

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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Mary Mother of God. Year B - January 1, 2022 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-solemnity-of-mary-the-holy-mother-of-god-1st-january-2022-episode-342?si=f66746e6e8f64619a34f6322d1287eae&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing  

 (EPISODE: 342)
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Homily – Fr Paul Kelly 2022.

At the start of a new calendar year...  (with 2021 now freshly behind us)...    Our minds turn to our Lord's words to us from Scripture-  ........  
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Rev 22:13)

Since Our Lord is the beginning and end of everything...   and;   The Lord is truly "The One who was, who is and Who always will be."       

We are on the surest possible ground when we dedicate this new year, and all our words and actions,  to the  Lord who brings all good things to perfection and completion.  

We dedicate this new year to the intercession and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God;  the mother of the church; and our heavenly mother too..    

At the start of a new year - we echo the perfect words that were first on the lips of Mary....  who said yes to Our Lord at the annunciation...

Here I am ...   here I stand, the servant of the Lord...   let it be done to me according to your word...   
with Mary, let us stand ready with the new possibilities of  this brand new year...  to be of service to the Lord.

and our prayers are full of the inspiration we find from the scriptures, and the words of the Saints....    

such as Psalm 20:v 4-5
'4 May God  give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests."

Good heavenly advice at the start of a new year can also be readily found in St Paul:

Philippians 3:13 -14 13 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

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(https://catholicreview.org/solemnity-of-mary-mother-of-god-ushers-in-new-year/)
In the octave of Christmas, we're still focused on the Prince of Peace, but also Mary, the Queen of Peace," ......... "We begin a new calendar year praying for peace in the world, in our homes and in our nation."

..... Pope Francis said that "a new year is a chance for a new start, a time to remember that all people are brothers and sisters and a time to nurture amazement that God became human to save all people.  The feast of Mary, Mother of God is also is a time to remember how strong maternal love and care are, and how they are the secret to making life more livable.

 "Through the intercession of the virgin Mary, may the Lord grant us to be artisans of peace — and this begins at home, in the family — every day of the new year."

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(https://www.newyearwiki.com/new-year-religious-quotes)

"Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labours."
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897)- Doctor of the Church

cf (similar)

New Year's Day is a good time to fix one's eyes on the only One who knows what the year is to hold.

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but fewer of us  who are willing to do the little things. (Dwight L. Moody)

(paraphrase)
God is our strength.
Let Him be the strong foundation of our life
so that we will be truly uplifted when things go well,
and so that we will not stumble when things go badly.
Happy New Year!

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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 2022.}

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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HOMILY:

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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly

Image Credit: ID: Image Credit: ID: 1740958460  - Icon of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Canvas, oil. Contributor: Gouache7

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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.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: Bartholomaus Gesius (d.1613). #376 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/

[ Production - KER - 2022]

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.