ALL ENDINGS ARE ALSO BEGINNINGS…

 
 
          What is the beginning of a new calendar year for Catholics?  Liturgically, it is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  Devotionally, it is a World Day of Prayer for Peace.  Both of these deserve attention.
 
          We pray “Holy Mary, Mother of God…” in every Hail, Mary, but we probably don’t consider the stress and struggle it took the early Church to come to this conclusion.  The problem wasn’t lack of respect for the Blessed Mother; it had to do with the understanding of the nature(s) of her Son.  The Council of Nicaea (stay with me!) in 325 declared that Jesus was “of the same substance— “stuff” as the Father (‘omoousion tô Patri in Greek; consubstantialem Patri in Latin, giving us the word “consubstantial” in our current translation of the Creed).  This declaration was disputed hotly for the next 100+ years, for fear that Christianity was turning into a religion of multiple gods.  Some Scripture passages supported the teaching of Nicaea; others could be used to support those who disputed it.  
 
          But now enter popular piety—folks loved referring to Mary as “Mother of God” in their prayer lives.  One leader of the opposition, named Nestorius, argued that the only proper title the BVM should have is “Mother of Christ.”  He argued that Jesus’ human nature was born of Mary, but His divine nature was not.  This didn’t fly well with the folks.  And it didn’t fly well with Nestorius’ enemies.  They couldn’t reconcile dividing Jesus up into two beings, so to speak.   And Nestorius’ view was condemned in at the Council of Ephesus in 431, when Mary was formally granted the title Theotokos (Mother of God).  It was left to the Council of Chalcedon (451) to reconcile the two opposing theologies, and Pope St Leo the Great was instrumental in accomplishing this.
          
          Now tell me that knowing all this doesn’t make you a better person and a better Catholic???!!!
 
          As for praying for peace, you may have noticed that our world is somewhat lacking in this condition.  This Catholic custom was begun in 1968 with Pope St Paul VI, inspired (as he said) by Pope St John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in Terris.  Popes since then have written messages especially dedicated to aspects of the need for peace in our world.  This coming year’s message is entitled “Forgive us our trespasses; grant us your peace.”  It’s a reminder that the gift of peace is something that leads us to examine how we also have contributed, in various ways, to the lack of peace in our world.   We all want to be peace-receivers; how can we also be peace-makers?  The answer is the word that our world seemingly detests more than any other: forgive.
 
          What can we do this new year to be people of forgiveness and mercy?  In this light, I want to suggest two things as a beginning:  get and read the book by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, The Gift of Peace, talking about his journey to forgiveness for a false accusation; and pray over the words of Psalm 122, with its cry for peace.
 
          Happy New Year to everyone!