The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Our Mass times for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God are at 9am and 12pm on Monday, January 1st. Since this Holy Day of Obligation falls on a Monday this year, the requirement to attend Mass is lifted. However, we still encourage you to come to Mass in honor of Our Lady!

About the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical celebration observed on January 1st.  It is a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning that Mass attendance is required, unless it falls on a Saturday or Monday.

The use of the word “Solemnity” here is not a statement about Mary’s personality.  It is a designation used for certain days within the liturgical (church-based) calendar of the Church.  Solemnities are the highest rank of liturgical celebration, higher than feast days or memorials.   By celebrating a solemnity dedicated to Mary’s motherhood, the Church highlights the significance of her part in the life of Jesus, and emphasizes that he is both human and divine.

Pope Paul VI, in his apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus (1974), called the Solemnity of Mary “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.”