Many Catholics may forget that January 1st to Traditional Catholics is known as the Feast of the Circumcision. While the feast does recall the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is the Feast of the Motherhood of Mary on October 11th that is actually specifically for the honor of our Lady, the Mother of God.
The dogma of the Divine Motherhood was defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431. In his encyclical proclaiming the present feast, which commemorated the 15th centenary of the council, Pope Pius XI especially requested that we pray to Mary for the return of the separated Churches of the East. For these Churches had united with the Pope and the whole Church at Ephesus in proclaiming her to be Mother of God, and to this day they retain a deep devotion to her. Mary is their Mother, also, for in becoming Mother of our Redeemer she became the spiritual mother of all men.
Let us then on this day pray to our Blessed Mother to bring about an end to the great schism and crush the heresies in this world. May all who are separated from the Church of our Lord be reunited in the Ark of Salvation - the Holy Catholic Church.
Collect:
O God, You willed that Your Word should become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the time of the angel's announcement. We firmly believe that Mary is truly the Mother of God. We pray that her powerful intercession with You may help us. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .
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