The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical feast day honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary’s motherhood in the wake of the birth of the baby Jesus Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the basis for this title for Mary. “Called in the Gospels ‘the mother of Jesus,’ Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her Son, as ‘the mother of my Lord.’ This is also the Octave of Christmas, or the 8th day of Christmas. Even though this feast is usually a holy day of obligation, as it falls on a Monday this year the obligation to attend Mass is dispensed.
