An octave of days have passed since the feast of the Lord’s Nativity. Most of the world has already left the message of Christmas far behind. Some retail store, I’ve seen, have already begun to sell Valentine’s Day cards and candy. Even some Catholics looked at me quizzically when I wished them a Merry Christmas this weekend.
Yet, the Church in her wisdom realizes that celebrating the birth of the Savior is too great an occasion to be contained in a single, 24-hour day. This eighth day of Christmas is celebrated with particular solemnity, as we adore Christ embraced by the arms of his Mother.
Among the most ancient and important catacombs in Rome are the catacombs of St. Priscilla on the Via Salaria, east-northeast of the Vatican. Painted on the walls of these catacombs are numerous frescoes that throw light on the faith of the early Church. One fresco depicts the Virgin Mary seated, with the infant Jesus at her breast. Next to her stands a man pointing to a star directly above, the star being the ancient Jewish symbol for the Messiah.
This Fresco, dating from the early 200s is the oldest known representation in art of Mary and Child. This fresco evidences that from the very beginning the Church has placed Mary in a place of honor and devotion.
From the cross, Jesus commanded his disciples to “Behold your mother”. And so the church beholds her. The first thing we do every new calendar year, liturgically, is to behold our mother. We behold our mother by meditating upon those passages of scripture in which she is found, we depict her in art, we compose hymns to her, and erect shrines in her honor.
In the holy city of Rome is found the largest basilica dedicated to our Mother, the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Mary Major. St. Mary Major stands atop one of Rome’s seven hills, the Esquiline Hill, mosaics from the 5th century, paintings by numerous master artists from across the century.
The basilica is of particular importance to the Christians of Rome, for it contains the ancient and venerated image of Mary, the Salus Populi Romani, depicting the Blessed Virgin as the help and protectress of the Roman People. She holds the Christ Child with the Greek Words “Mater Theou—Mother of God.”
According to legend, this image was painted by the Apostle Luke. The story goes that after the crucifixion, the pious women of Jerusalem urged St. Luke to visit Mary in the home of John the Apostle to memorialize her image. While he painted, the Mother of Jesus spoke of the life of her son. Which is why St. Luke’s Gospel contains all those marvelous stories from prior to the birth of Jesus. After it’s completion, St. Luke brought the painting back to Jerusalem where it remained until it was discovered by Saint Helen in the 4th century who brought it to Rome.
The Christians of Rome gone to that image for centuries seeking our Mother’s intercession in times of war and plague and for assistance in all life’s trials and the mission of the Gospel.
Also contained in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a shrine visited by pilgrims from all around the world—a shrine which contains the relics of the crib in which the Virgin Mother laid the Christ Child in Bethlehem. I’ve visited that shrine on a number of occasions. When I was there with Bishop Perez and a group of priests from Cleveland 4 years ago, we knelt in front of the shrine and sang “Silent Night” together.
Pope Francis has visited that crib a number of times, seeking the intercession of Mother Mary for himself and the church. On one occasion, after praying the rosary at the holy crib, Pope Francis spoke about Mary’s motherhood. He said, “A mother helps her children to grow and wants them to grow well; Our Lady does the same thing in us, she helps us to grow as human beings and in the faith, to be strong and not to give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way, but to live with responsibility, to aim ever higher.”
She helps us to not give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way. Superficial. It means shallow or surface-level. Our Christian faith is meant to permeate all of our words and works. Our thoughts are to be Christian thoughts, are words are to be Christian words, our works are to be Christian works.
In 2024 we must seek to be Christians of substance—of substantial faith—not mediocre or superficial faith.
And the Holy Father explains, and I agree with him 100% on this, that Mother Mary helps us like no other, nurtures us and teaches us like no other, to live for Christ. She wants us to resemble Christ, she wants the very life of Christ to grow in us, and will help us, if we let her, if we go to her, if we behold her, as Christ himself commanded us from the Cross.
Behold your mother every day this year. Behold her faith, behold her tender love for Christ, behold her tender love for you. Behold her face in art, behold her virtues in poetry and song, behold her nearness with statues and art around your homes, consider wearing her miraculous medal near to your heart as a reminder of her closeness. Behold her by contemplating the mysteries of the rosary and in all those powerful marian devotions passed down to us through the centuries. Bring flowers to her statues and shrines, invoke her powerful intercession in your temptations and trials.
Behold your mother as Jesus commanded that your days may be blessed, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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In this time when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior have appeared, let us, dear brethren, humbly pour forth to him our prayers, trusting not in our own good works, but in his mercy.
That Mary’s maternal care and heavenly intercession will help us all to reach the moral greatness befitting true children of God.
That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, Mother of the Lord and Mother of the Church—blessings of goodness and peace may be upon the world and the Church in this Year of Our Lord 2024.
For blessings on all expectant mothers, newborn infants, and young families.
That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws that permit the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.
That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven.
For all those who have died, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for all who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.
We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.
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