Drumrolls: It’s The Year 2024!!!

Monday, 1st January, 2024

Happy New Year 2024!

I believe it is fitting to share the excitements, the indescribable joy and the happiness radiating the whole world as we begin a new calendar year today. Yes! For so has it been ordained that this unbreakable bond between us and the Creator of the world, Whose Son -Our Lord Jesus Christ- was born for us at Christmas, be strengthened. Then, if you are a Practising Catholic this celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos) today, would make more meaning to you.

This Great Solemnity culminates the Octave (8 Days) of Christmas celebrations on the Holy Mother Church’s Liturgical Calendar. Yes! We spend an entire 8 days celebrating Christmas in the Catholic Church; just as we also do celebrating Easter (Octave of Easter), every year. It was initially the Circumcision of Christ that the Church celebrated every 1st January up until 1973 when St. (Pope) Paul VI changed it to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Are we not so blessed to have so Great a Mother!

In the early 5th Century, there arose a heresy in the Church as to the true nature of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At the forefront of this campaign was Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople; who taught that Mary was only the Mother of Jesus as Man, and not His Mother as God -Christotokos. It was this heresy that led to the Church convening the great Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. It was at the Council that Nestorius and his disciples were silenced with the great pronouncement of Mary being the Mother of both the human and divine Nature of Christ — Theotokos.

The Motherhood of Mary Ever Virgin is an everlasting one which is not subject to human scrutiny, ordained from time immemorial. The Heavenly Father made it so whence in the book of Genesis 3:15, He shamed the devil, letting him realise that his downfall shall happen by the obedience of a Woman -The New Eve- which the first Eve lost in the Garden of Eden. It was to Mary that the vision of John the Beloved Apostle refers to in Revelations 12: 1–6; when Herod thought he could kill the Baby Jesus by ordering the massacre of the Holy Innocents (Mt 2: 13–18).

Indeed, Mary is the Mother of God, the Queen of Peace. Yes, that is why we also celebrate the World Day of Peace alongside the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on every 1st January. It can only be a peaceful year for us as we begin it with the Prince of Peace, honouring His Great Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary -Queen of Peace. Remember, the wisdom of God is not subjected to human scrutiny; however, we are able to understand because in Christ Jesus, God revealed Himself to us and has blessed us with Mary, His Mother.

Therefore, as we go about this year, let us remember that we do not go at it alone; the Holy Mother of God -Queen of Peace- goes with us. When at the foot of the Cross, Christ handed Her over to us (Jn 19: 25–27), He chose Her to be our Mediatrix of His graces to us. It was why the Archangel Gabriel said to Her when God chose Her to be the Mother of His Son: ‘Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with You’ (Lk 1:28). She Who is full of the grace of God is ever ready to assist us in life so as to attain Eternal Kingdom of Her Son -Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 ever abandoned. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to Thee I come, before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate despite not my petitions but in Thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen!

‘Wagbemiga Mary-Peter Ònífáde

Chairman/CEO,

Wagbemiga Media Services (7150468)

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