Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

1 January 2017

Today, January 1 in Anno Domini 2017, we rejoice in a three-part celebration: Today is The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  We celebrate the Giving of the Name of Jesus.  And it is the 50th Annual World Day for Peace.  

Each of these commemorations demands attention in prayer and contemplation as the new year begins. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is an ancient celebration with roots that stretch back centuries.  It commemorates the part Mary played in the great mystery of salvation.  We recall her fiat, "may it be done unto me according to your word."  That simple phrase repaired the tear in the fabric of the universe caused by Eve's disobedience.  Eve, the mother of many, brought the first murderer into the world.  Mary, the Mother of us all, brought the Prince of Peace into the world.  On Thursday we heard Luke's telling of Jesus' presentation in the Temple.   Simeon prophesied to Mary,  "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted . . . and thy own soul a sword will pierce. . . "  What did the young mother think as she heard those words?

Stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and John.  Jesus' is nearing death.  You hear him say to John, "Behold your mother."  Jesus did not say, 'Friend, behold your mother.' He did not say,  'John, behold your mother.'  Jesus said, "Behold your mother."  He addressed this command not to one man but to the world.  In this simple statement Jesus confirmed Mary's universal motherhood.  With just three words Jesus confirmed that Mary is now the mother of us all.

Today we renew our adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace.  We share in the shepherds' joy and awe.  We recall the Angel's command two weeks ago in Matthew's Gospel:  “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. . . She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus . . ." 

" . . .  and you are to name him Jesus."

Today we celebrate the fulfillment of that command.

Jesus.  The name above every other name.

Jesus.  The name at which every knee shall bend.

Jesus.  The name that is too often used in blasphemy.

Today is a major feast for Jesuits, men of the Society of Jesus, on two counts.  We celebrate Mary, the Mother of God, whom we revere as Mother of the  Society.  And we celebrate the giving of the name of Jesus, the name that Ignatius chose for The Society.  

January 1, 2017 is also the 50th annual World Day for Peace, an observance instituted by Paul VI in 1967.  During the prayers of the faithful we will pray for our deeply troubled and troubling world.  A world that is overburdened by conflict.  A world of violence.  We yearn for peace.  We pray for peace.  We do not see it on the horizon no matter how hard we squint.

Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is not merely the cessation of armed hostilities.  It includes those of course, but peace is more complex than those simple definitions.  It is unlikely that armed hostility will ever cease.  It is unlikely that war will ever vanish from earth.  Efforts to establish lasting world peace, be they efforts made by governments or the humble efforts of individuals, will never prevent hostility, violence, anger, or threat.  Human violence took root when Cain murdered his brother.  That root is very deep and pervasive. 

We are confronted with a paradox.  We seek peace, we pray for peace, yet we know it is unlikely in our lifetimes.  Thus, we are called to seek peace in the Eucharist.  The peace that is possible even in the midst of chaos and conflict.  The peace that comes with Body and Blood of Christ even on the battlefield.  We pray for peace at every Mass just before we receive Christ's Body and Blood.  Sometimes the peace we seek, the urgency with which we pray for it, cannot be adequately described in words alone because vocabulary is limited and limiting.

Joseph Haydn, a deeply religious man, composed The Mass in Time of War.  The text is the usual Latin text for the Mass.  The music reaches an emotional apex in the "Dona nobis pacem"  the final words of the Agnus Dei, that implore "grant us peace."  The tension in the music lifts. Suddenly, it sounds as if the choir of angels has taken possession of the singers. Trumpet fanfares and timpani almost overwhelm. The soprano voices soar into the skies as this final prayer before communion comes to an end.   In the music and words we hear a hint of the peace we desire, the peace for which we pray.

If we are to know peace in the world we must first know the peace that comes with the Body and Blood of Christ.  We must know the peace of the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God,  to whom we address the words, "Grant us peace."  If we are to know peace in the world we must learn peace within ourselves. That peace comes only through meditation on the word of God, through prayer, and through reception of the Eucharist. 

Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, Dona nobis pacem.

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Went for a very long walk on Christmas Day.  Fairly warm and quite foggy until late in the evening.  Good thing for the walk.  We ate very well.  Usually the community meal is at 1:00 PM.  On Christmas it was at 6:30 PM.  Pix below. 

Was walking down the hill from the Castle when I took this.  Was somewhat higher than the dome of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. 

The Castle was shrouded in fog most of the day.

A tour boat heading toward the Franciscan Church

Leftovers at the Christmas Market.

Christmas ornaments at the Christmas Market.

Fr. Mio asked if I was going to visit the straw creche.  As I had no idea it existed I asked what he meant.  I am grateful that he asked.  These figures are a bit larger than life-sized.  They are spread out in three distinct displays that would cover about half of a small city block.  Impressive workmanship.  

Peter and his dad.  His dad came down from Valenje with much of the food, the two of them cooked it, and we ate.  A lot.  I hadn't eaten all day and had walked several miles including the trip up to the Castle via a different and much steeper route.  No guilt dinner.

This is what a superior SHOULD be doing for his men on Christmas Day.  Cooking.  I did the dishes afterwards while the men talked and then broke into singing.  The men here sing beautifully, generally in spontaneous multi-part harmony.

The ham, klobasa, smoked and fresh, came from a pig slaughtered the day we were up in Valenje for a funeral.  The klobasa closest to the camera is made with kasha.  And pork cutlets.  I have many photos of the pig butchering but will probably not post them as they are kind of gory.  The food was beyond amazing.  the leftovers the next morning were a great treat.  Yes, I had a cold klobasa sandwich with a few heaping spoons of 'hren' (horseradish) for breakfast.  

+Fr. Jack, SJ,MD