Mary, Mother of God (Octave of Christmas)

On the 8th and final day of the Christmas octave, we honor Mary as the Mother of God. Mary is the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and our spiritual Mother. Today we celebrate her because of her instrumental role in salvation history. The Church has put this solemnity at the start of the year to symbolize the place Mary holds before all the other saints we celebrate in the liturgical year.

Pope Paul VI instituted this solemnity in 1967. The Church also celebrates today as the World Day of Peace and encourages the faithful to pray for peace in the world.