Blessed Virgin Mary: January 2013 Archives

Peace with God firmly linked with faith, Pope preaches on Jan. 1

By
Paul Zalonski
 on January 1, 2013 8:16 PM | | Comments (0)

Do you ever ask what peace really is? What are the horizons of peace? Why is the name of Jesus held holy, revered, not to be easily used in common speech? What brings every man, woman and child peace? Who is Mary, and why is she important? Pope Benedict answers these questions in a homily at a Mass he celebrated today to mark the New Year, the World Day of Peace, the solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

The Theotokos of Vladimir, one of the most ven...

The Theotokos of Vladimir.

"May God bless us and make his face to shine upon us." We proclaimed these words from Psalm 66 after hearing in the first reading the ancient priestly blessing upon the people of the covenant. It is especially significant that at the start of every new year God sheds upon us, his people, the light of his Holy Name, the Name pronounced three times in the solemn form of biblical blessing. Nor is it less significant that to the Word of God - who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn 1:14) as "the true light that enlightens every man" (1:9) - is given, as today's Gospel tells us, the Name of Jesus eight days after his birth (cf. Lk 2:21).

It is in this Name that we are gathered here today. I cordially greet all present, beginning with the Ambassadors of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. I greet with affection Cardinal Bertone, my Secretary of State, and Cardinal Turkson, with all the officials of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; I am particularly grateful to them for their effort to spread the Message for the World Day of Peace, which this year has as its theme "Blessed are the Peacemakers".

Enhanced by Zemanta
Continue reading Peace with God firmly linked with faith, Pope preaches on Jan. 1.

Mary, the Holy Mother of God

By
Paul Zalonski
 on January 1, 2013 9:30 AM | | Comments (0)
Mother of God Greco.jpg

No better way to begin a new year of the Lord, on this beautiful 8th day of Christmastide, than to pray the Mass. The 8th day observance is the traditional Jewish practice of naming the child. Today, the Gospel recalls the babe receiving the name, Jesus. We might also call this day the "giving of the holy name." A liturgical observance is held on January 2. Keeping our lives close to Mary, the holy Mother of God is essential. With the Church we pray,

O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.


May Mary intercede before her Son for  our families, friends, clergy and religious and civil leaders. Oh, for ourselves, too.
« Blessed Virgin Mary: December 2012 | Main Index | Archives | Blessed Virgin Mary: March 2013 »

About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement and an Oblate of Saint Benedict. Contact Paul at paulzalonski[at]yahoo.com.

May 2013: Monthly Archives

Categories

Archives

stblogs.org

Humanities Blog Directory

Search

About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the Blessed Virgin Mary category from January 2013.

Blessed Virgin Mary: December 2012 is the previous archive.

Blessed Virgin Mary: March 2013 is the next archive.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.