ADAPTED FROM FR. MICK’S 2017 COLUMN

This weekend again brings some scheduling challenges. Similar to last week, Holy Family Sunday is followed by the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God on Monday, January 1. This year, the U.S. bishops have determined this feast is not observed as a holy day of obligation.

For Holy Family, the Lectionary offers multiple options. You may use the readings from Cycle A or the alternate ones for Cycle B. Among those, there are also several long and short forms that may be chosen. While it’s often best to use the long forms, this might be a time to opt for the shorter forms since people will be at worship so often these two weekends. This would also avoid the difficulties with the reading from Colossians, whose long form includes language about wives being submissive to their husbands. (If you use the long form of that reading, the preacher should certainly address what it really means.) Make sure that lectors and musicians (and preachers) know which readings are being used at each Mass. Getting that information out early is more important than usual in light of people’s holiday schedules.

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God does not have options for readings (unless your bishops allows use of the Mass for Peace), but you still need to decide which of the themes of the day you will emphasize. It is the octave day of Christmas, the first day of a new year, the World Day of Prayer for Peace, and the oldest Marian feast. You might combine a few of these but not all in one celebration.

Prayers for peace are certainly appropriate in the intercessions; prayers for a blessed new year also fit there. A blessing of calendars could be done at the end of Mass. Such a blessing can be found in Prayers for the Domestic Church by Fr. Ed Hays, or you could adapt the “Prayer for the New Year” in Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, page 85-87 in the second edition. Or just end the Mass with the blessing for the beginning of the year in the Missal.