Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
December 31, 2011
Whenever Christmas and the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God (New Year's Day on the secular calendar) both fall on Sundays, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, usually celebrated on the weekend between these two feasts, is celebrated on Friday.
The Feast of the Holy Family was never a holyday of obligation. The importance of prayer for our families and the need for an inspiring model has never been greater, so while we honor Mary as the Holy Mother of God on Sunday, perhaps we can spend a few moments thanking her for her role as Mother of her family and now as Mother of the Church.