Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
(JMJ)
Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace
08 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025
The first day of January marks the beginning of a new year and celebrates the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, in the liturgical calendar. This title, Θεοτόκος (Theotokos, Bearer of God), was formally proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus in 431, affirming her vital role in salvation history. Originally, the Roman Rite observed January 1 as the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the Octave of Christmas. However, after the 1969 revision of the liturgical calendar, it became the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Fr. Wolff made Mary one of the patrons of the Congregation of JMJ, acknowledging her central role in the sisters' lives and emphasizing her virtues, which he frequently reflected upon in his writings. He wrote:
“The strength of the Virgin Mary is shown by the help she gladly gives to all those who invoke and venerate her with devotion. She is therefore compared by the Holy Fathers to the neck through which all food enters the body. Similarly, in the Holy Church, whose head is Jesus Christ, all graces and favors are communicated through Mary. A person, who does not honor Mary, can then be compared to a member, who separates himself from the body. How much will not this blessed Virgin do for me, since I am in the Society that especially honors her. She is my Mother, and I am her child. I will then always approach this so good and so powerful Mother with childlike confidence; in all dangers, in all temptations, in all difficulties that appear to me, I will take refuge in Mary and try to behave like a daughter of such an exalted Mother.”
Mary’s role in the divine plan goes beyond her title as Mother of God. Through Mary, “Jesus—the Prince of Peace—entered the world to reconcile humanity with God through His incarnation, suffering, and death.” In this way, Mary is not only the Mother of God but also the Queen of Peace, as she plays a pivotal role in God’s divine plan of salvation.
This connection can also be found in Paul VI’s Marialis Cultus: “The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, placed on January 1, commemorates her role in salvation and exalts her dignity as the one through whom we received the Author of life. It is also an occasion to renew adoration of the Prince of Peace and to implore the gift of peace from God through the Queen of Peace.”
As we begin this new year and jubilee year, let us take inspiration from Mary. Let us seek her intercession for peace in our world and work to bring peace wherever we are, following her example as faithful disciples of Christ. Together, as soldiers of the Prince of Peace, we can carry forward the message of love and reconciliation that began with Mary’s humble “yes.”
https://ourladyofpeace.caedm.ca/our-lady-of-peace/ (Image Source)