Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, 51st World Peace Day marked today

The Roman Catholic Church marks the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and World Day of Peace on the first day of every year.

The Holy Father Pope Francis traditionally celebrates a Holy Mass in commemoration of the two significant religious events at 10 a.m. (4 p.m. Manila time) at the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.

Church leaders encourage the faithful to offer novena prayers, special devotions, and to recite the Holy Rosary in honor and in celebration of the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Also known as the “Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the title Mary, Mother of God was accorded the Blessed Mother during the Council of Ephesus in the year 431 to celebrate the fact that Mary, being the mother of Jesus, who is God, was to be called Mother of God. In memory of the event, Pope Sixtus III built in Rome the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas of the Catholic faith.

The observance of World Day of Peace is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in the mystery of salvation. “It is meant to exalt the singular divinity which this mystery brings to the Holy Mother, through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of Life,” said Blessed Pope Paul VI who instituted the event in 1967. CBCP to faithful:

Pray in the NY The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged Filipinos to pray for everyone as they welcome the New Year.

“Let us pray for all and each one, so that when we welcome the New Year even with darkness and so much suffering, we will keep our faith in the mercy and compassion of the Lord,” CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

He asked the faithful to particularly pray for those who are “suffering” such as those who perished from the recent storms.

“Pray for our people especially to those who are suffering and those who died in the recent storms,” said Valles.

The prelate also sought the prayers for the nearly 40 people who died in the fire at the New City Commercial Center Mall in Davao City recently.

He also urged everyone to include in their prayers the “homeless, the elderly and children.”

Earlier, the CBCP head also called on the faithful to offer prayers and assistance to the victims of Tropical Storm Urduja. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)