Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God
Massimo Palombella
Today’s feast is closely related to the title of Theotokos given to Mary by the Council of Ephesus in 431.
In 1931, Pope Pius XI included this feast in the Roman Calendar to commemorate the Council of Ephesus by setting the date on 11 October.
The liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council transferred this feast to the last day of the Octave of Christmas with the degree of solemnity.
In the Ambrosian Rite today is celebrated the Solemnity of the Circumcision of the Lord. The Maternity of Mary is celebrated on the last Sunday of Advent, the sixth.
The antiphon to the Magnificat of the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy Mother of God, in mode II a, has the following text
“Magnum hereditatis mysterium:
templum dei factus est uterus nesciens virum:
non est pollutus ex ea carnem assumens.
Omnes gentes venient dicentes: Gloria tibi Domine.”
(Ineffable mystery!
The intact womb of a virgin becomes the temple of God;
he who takes flesh from her remains uncontaminated.
All peoples will come and say: Glory to you, Lord!).
The antiphon is followed by the Magnificat II Toni by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina published in Rome in 1591 (IO. PETRO ALOYSIO PRAENESTINO, Magnificat octo tonum [Romae, Apud Alexandrum Gardanum, 1591]). The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Antiphonale Romanum II published in Solesmes in 2009. The interpretation is by the ‘PontificalMusical “Sistina” Chapel at Vespers on 31 December 2018.
A blessed Solemnity, happy 2023 and heartfelt greetings.
