The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Authority level: Authoritative doctrine
Disciplinary status: Church discipline
Theological status: Theological synthesis
GuideThe entry combines Catholic doctrine about worship with approved liturgical discipline and theological explanation; the labels do not make every ceremonial norm irreformable.
Contents

The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord: Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a solemnity in the Roman Rite on which the Church honors Mary as truly Mother of God because the Son born of her is one divine Person, true God and true man.[1]

Mystery celebrated

The Church honors Mary as truly Mother of God because the Son born of her is one divine Person, true God and true man.

The celebration belongs to the Church's objective liturgical worship; its doctrine is expressed in the proper prayers, readings, chants, and ritual observance appointed by the liturgical books.[2]

Date and calendar

It is celebrated on 1 January, the eighth day of Christmas.

Its actual observance in a given year follows the universal table of liturgical days, including the rules for concurrence, occurrence, omission, and transfer.[3]

Celebration

The Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours use the propers assigned to the day. The rank determines whether the celebration begins with First Vespers, includes the Gloria or Creed, and supersedes another observance.

References

  1. 1.General Instruction of the Roman Missal — Universal norms for celebrating Mass in the Roman Rite
  2. 2.Lectionary for Mass — The Roman Rite cycle of readings for Sundays, solemnities, feasts, and weekdays
  3. 3.Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar — Universal norms governing seasons, Sundays, ranks, precedence, and the calendar