Today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1st. As Catholics, we believe life begins at the moment of conception and, therefore, Mary’s motherhood began at the moment Jesus was conceived in her womb. Her motherhood is exemplified when Jesus is born on Christmas Day. It is very fitting that we celebrate Mary, Mother of God, during the Christmas season because it was her yes, her fiat, which allowed her to be the Mother of God. As the Mother of God, she also partakes in the salvation of souls.
As we start fresh on a new calendar year, on this Solemnity of Mary, let’s honor our Blessed Mother by getting to know her better. As Saint Louis De Montfort says, “To Jesus through Mary.” By getting to know Mary better and honoring her, she can help us to deepen our relationship with Her Son. Here are ten ways to honor and learn about Our Lady, The Mother of God in the new year.
Pray The Hail Mary
The simplest way to honor Our Lady is to say a Hail Mary. If you aren’t praying already, I highly encourage you to start saying a Hail Mary every day. When praying the Hail Mary, we ask for her intercession to help us be closer to her Son.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Pray The Rosary
Many of the Saints will say praying the Rosary is a powerful prayer, because it is. Saint Padre Pio says, “Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.” Praying the Rosary incorporates other prayers such as the Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be, and the Hail Holy Queen. Here is a link to an article I wrote on how to pray the Rosary. When praying the Rosary, you are meditating on the mysteries of Jesus’ and Mary’s lives. This helps to deepen our relationship with God and Mary.
Pray Marian Prayers
In addition to the Rosary, which also includes the Hail Mary and Hail Holy Queen, there are additional Marian prayers, chaplets, and novenas. Some of the more common ones are the The Memorare, The Magnificat, and The Angelus.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
The Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Angelus
(To Be said at 6am, Noon, and 6pm)
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary…
Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary…
And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Add Marian Décor
You can add Marian décor to your home and car. In the car you can hang chaplets or rosaries in your rearview mirror, put decals on your bumper, or Marian prayer cards on your dashboard. You can also add Marian décor to your home. These can be candles, Nativities, statues, pictures, prayer cards, Rosary hanger, etc. Here are some links to my favorite things:
- Our Lady of the Annunciation Candle
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle
- Mary of the Immaculate Conception Candle
- Mary, Stella Maris Candle
- Holy Family Heart Set
- Madonna of the Meadows Stationary
- Madonna and Child Statue
Fostering Mary With Everyday Items
In addition to adding Marian décor, we can continue to foster Mary in our Domestic Church by what we wear and use. Below are some items for adults and children.
- Accept Like Mary T-Shirt and Sweatshirt
- Silicone Rosary for Babies
- Marian Doll
- Rosary Rattle
- To Jesus Through Mary T-Shirt
Read Marian Books
There are several books that are written about Mary, Mother of God. I highly recommend these to start your journey with Our Lady.
- The Life of Mary As Seen By the Mystics by Raphel Brown
- Cause of Our Joy: Walking Day By Day With Our Lady by Mother Mary Francis
- Lenten Journey with Mother Mary by Fr. Edward Looney
Do A Marian Consecration
A Marian Consecration is a way to serve Our Lady and commit yourself to doing the Will of her Son. While you can read the original works by Saint Louis De Montfort, I find the 33 Days to Moring Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration by Fr. Michael Gaitley to be easier for most people. It only does take 33 days. But you want to end on a Marian Feast Day. You can do it anytime of the year, since they are quite a few Marian feast days you can end on. All the details are in the book. This is quite attainable because you are only reading a few pages a day. The link to the book is here.
Take a Marian Pilgrimage
There are Marian Churches, Shrines, and Apparitions all around the world. If you live in the United States, like I do, you don’t have to travel far. Here are some places I have been that are worth visiting.
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin
- This is the only approved Marian Apparition in the United States.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Cross, Wisconsin
- Cardinal Burke founded this Shrine.
- Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah, Arizona
- Literally in the middle of the dessert, but it is the most peaceful place!
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.
- Beautiful statues and depictions of Our Lady.
- Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Hubertus, Wisconsin
- Beautiful grounds and architecture with a large Catholic gift shop.
Join Marian Apostolates
The purpose of an Apostolate is to serve and evangelize the world through prayer and service. Currently my husband and I are part of Teams of Our Lady and in the past served with The Legion of Mary.
- Teams Of Our Lady
- Teams of Our Lady is an international lay movement in the Catholic Church, designed to enrich marriage. The Blessed Mother is the Patroness of the movement as married couple strive to follow Mary’s example. Couples pray the Magnificat daily.
- Legion of Mary
- Legion of Mary is a lay Catholic organization in which the members who pray and volunteer to build up God’s Kingdom in union with Mary.
First Saturday Devotion
The First Saturday Devotion is from the message Sister Lucia received from Our Lady of Fatima. In order to do the First Saturday Devotion, you need to do the following every first Saturday of the month for 5 consecutive months:
- Go to Confession
- Receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion
- Saying five decades of the Rosary
- Meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary.
In doing this devotion you are offering reparation for the sins of blasphemy committed against The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We have many opportunities to honor and love Our Lady, The Mother of God, in the new year. Not only is Mary the Mother of God, but she is our mother too. As Jesus said to John, “ ‘Behold your Mother’ ” (Luke 19:27). Jesus want us to love Mary too. As Saint Therese of Lisieux said, “Do not be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her enough. And Jesus will be very happy, because the Blessed Virgin is His Mother.”