Today, as we celebrate the first day of 2026 and Mary Mother of God, we also celebrate the world day of peace with Pope Leo XIV. This annual new year’s message of peace dates back to Pope Paul VI in the year 1967. Pope Leo’s message this year for the world day of peace is “Peace be with all of you: towards an unarmed and disarming peace.” The Dicastery for Promoting Human Development in the Vatican explained that this theme invites all humanity to reject the logic of violence and war, and to embrace an authentic peace based on love and justice.” Pope Leo XIV has used the phrase “unarmed and disarming” to describe the type of peace he hopes for the world. The Dicastery goes on to say: “This peace must be unarmed, that is, not based on fear, threats, or weapons. And it must be disarming, capable of resolving conflicts, opening hearts, and generating mutual trust, empathy, and hope.” For the first time that Leo XIV is celebrating this world day of peace as pope, it is very helpful to hear his vision and to hear what he means by the words he uses.
We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God each year on January 1 to mark the beginning of the new year. Pope Paul VI instituted this Solemnity in 1970 when he wrote the following in his encyclical on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “This celebration, assigned to January 1 in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the ‘holy Mother … through whom we were found worthy … to receive the Author of life.”
Today’s celebration emphasizes the relationship of Jesus to Mary, by ascribing to Mary the title Mother of God. Today’s celebration is an example of how we should venerate and honor Mary under all of her titles. Today’s celebration is also a good foundation for our understanding of Mary’s place in Christology, in the theology of understanding who Christ is. The Church puts the commemoration of this solemnity on the first day of the New Year to emphasize the importance of Mary’s role in the life of Christ, in the life of the Church, and in the history of salvation.
At Jesus' birth, the shepherds visited him in the manger and told Mary and Joseph of the message proclaimed to them by the angels. Mary takes in what she hears and experiences and ponders these things in her heart. Mary, the first disciple, is not only Jesus’ mother, our mother, and the mother of the Church, but she is a great example of faith for us to follow. It is important for us to take in our experiences in our journey of faith into our hearts and to ponder them and reflect upon them.
As we honor Mary today in a special way, let us all pray together a Hail Mary: 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.
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