Let us turn to Mary

My priest back in college very often ends his homily with, "... and now let us turn to Mary..." Indeed, let us turn to Mary in the beginning of the year of our Lord Jesus Christ says the Church as she celebrates the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on the Octave day of Christmas and the beginning of the year.

Why Mary? Surely it was out of practice in the 13th century, where the church changed its practice of commemorating the feast of maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the feast of the circumcision of Christ. Why do we eventually go back to the 5th century practice of honoring Mary in the beginning of our year? It was Pope Paul VI in his apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus in 1974 that says,

In the revised ordering of the Christmas period it seems to us that the attention of all should be directed towards the restored Solemnity of Mary the holy Mother of God. This celebration, placed on January 1 in conformity with the ancient indication of the liturgy of the City of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the "holy Mother...through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of life."(17) It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels (cf. Lk. 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace. It is for this reason that, in the happy concurrence of the Octave of Christmas and the first day of the year, we have instituted the World Day of Peace, an occasion that is gaining increasing support and already bringing forth fruits of peace in the hearts of many.

And now, let us turn to Mary, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ in our midst, every where we go. For each and every person that we shall meet this year, is Jesus in disguise.