Imitating Mary’s Virtues for True Devotion – Jan 01 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 01, 2026, exploring Mary's natural roles as daughter, virgin, spouse, mother, and queen, elevated by supernatural graces, emphasizing her title as Mother of God and ways to honor her through imitating her virtues.

Father begins by noting that the Church honors Mary on this octave day of Christmas, detailing her natural glories: daughter of Joachim and Anne, virgin pure in mind, soul, and body, spouse of St. Joseph fulfilling God's design, mother who bore Jesus at a young age, and queen as mother of the Davidic heir, akin to Bathsheba with Solomon. These are crowned supernaturally, as grace builds on nature. Mary is Daughter of the Heavenly Father, first in His plan for creation and redemption, conceived without sin uniquely. As Ever-Virgin, she vowed perpetual virginity early, honored by God; Jesus was conceived and born miraculously, preserving her integrity, a truth from the second century and defined in 649. Virginity fosters rightly ordered love, paradoxically enabling broader charity. She is Virgin Spouse of the Holy Spirit, overshadowed to conceive Jesus without human seed, bringing forth spiritual children like us at the cross. As Queen of heaven and earth, her compassion aided redemption; she reigns with mercy, commanding angels, interceding so powerfully that God obeys her. Uniquely, she is Mother of God (Theotokos), bearing the divine Person Jesus with His human nature from her, as professed in the Creeds. Jesus is true God, eternally begotten, and true man, begotten in time (Galatians 4:4). Mary is the perfect human, nearer to us than any mother save God. Her presence spans Scripture from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 12, even every page for those who see. Honoring her elevates Jesus, per St. Anselm's logic. To honor her: obey Jesus (John 2:5), keep commandments for peace, imitate her trust, gratitude, humility, service, mercy, and prayer. Thus, become true children of Mary, our spiritual mother, especially in the new year (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 22:29).

Genesis 3:15 - Protoevangelium promise of redemption - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?15
John 1:1 - Word was God eternally - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?1
John 1:14 - Word became flesh - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?14
John 2:5 - Do whatever He tells - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?5
Galatians 4:4 - Born of a woman - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/4?4
Revelation 12 - Woman clothed with sun - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/12
Matthew 22:29 - Err not knowing Scriptures - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22?29
CCC 495 - Mary Mother of God Theotokos - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p2.htm#495
CCC 963 - Mary Mother of the Church - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm
Vatican document on Devotion to Mary - https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus.html
Catholic Answers - Explaining Theotokos - https://www.catholic.com/tract/mary-mother-of-god

Ave Maria!

Mass: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Solemnity - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4967
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010126.cfm
1st: num 6:22-27
Resp: psa 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
2nd: gal 4:4-7
Gsp: luk 2:16-21

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1009

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JZNJr7ceT/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/GEEqN51XBXM