Mary Mother of God　(January 1st)

Today's solemnity is the oldest feast of Mary in the Church, honoring her under her most ancient title - "Theotokos, Bearer of God" or "Mother of God." Mary, the mother of the Child of Bethlehem, is the perfect symbol of our own salvation, and a perfect symbol of our journey into the new century, the new millennium.
In accepting her role as mother of the Messiah, she becomes the first disciple of her Son, the first to embrace his Gospel of hope, compassion and reconciliation. She is the promise of what the Church is called to be and will be and seeks to become. She is the hope and comfort of a pilgrim people walking the road of faith. Mary, the "bearer of God," is a genuine and fitting example for us of what it means to be a faithful disciple of the Servant Redeemer - "bearers of God" in our own time and place.

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Feast of the Epiphany　 (January 7th)

In Matthew's Gospel, it is the "Gentile" astrologers who discover the new-born "king of the Jews," while the people of the covenant (Herod, the chief priests and scribes) remain oblivious to his presence in their midst. The prophet Isaiah describes the Messiah as a "light for all nations" (first reading). In Christ, God is present in all of human history -God is not the exclusive property of one nation or people. No religious group holds title to the wonderful things God has done. Epiphany calls us to a new vision of the world that sees beyond walls and borders we have created. We are to walk by the light which has dawned for all of humankind, a light by which we are able to recognize all men and women as our brothers and sisters under the loving providence of God, the Father of all.

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Feast Day of St. Anthony of Egypt (251-356)　(January 17th)

The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, "Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor" (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony's life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.

At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again like Francis, he had great fear of "stately buildings and well-laden tables."

At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. "The mule kicking over the altar" denied the divinity of Christ.

Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for "the book of nature" over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at 105.

Abbot Anthony said: Just as fish die if they remain on dry land so monks, remaining away from their cells, or dwelling with men of the world, lose their determination to persevere in solitary prayer. Therefore, just as the fish should go back to the sea, so we must return to our cells, lest remaining outside we forget to watch over ourselves interiorly.

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Feast of St. Francis de Sales　 (January 24th)

Francis (1567-1662) was destined by his father to be a lawyer so that the young man could eventually take his elder's place as a senator from the province of Savoy in France. For this reason Francis was sent to Padua to study law. After receiving his doctorate, he returned home and, in due time, told his parents he wished to enter the priesthood. His father strongly opposed Francis in this, and only after much patient persuasiveness on the part of the gentle Francis did his father finally consent. Francis was ordained and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a center for the heretical Calvinists. Francis set out to convert them, especially in the district of Chablais. By preaching and distributing the little pamphlets he wrote to explain true Catholic doctrine, he had remarkable success.

At 35 he became bishop of Geneva. While administering his diocese he continued to preach, hear confessions and catechize the children. His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls. He practiced his own axiom, "A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar.

For his writings, he has been named patron of the Catholic Press. His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make them understand that they too are called to be saints.

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Feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus　(January 27th)

Can you imagine what it must have been like in the early years of Christianity? There was much excitement, joy, and love, according to Scripture accounts; yet there was also the very real danger of persecution form the enemies of Christianity.

These two men, Timothy and Titus, were followers of St. Paul and instrumental in the formation of the Church.
Their feast days are both celebrated on January 26.

Timothy
Timothy was living in Lystra (in Asia Minor) when St. Paul visited there around the year 47. He joined Paul for two missionary journeys and is frequently mentioned in both the Acts of the Apostles and Paul's letters.
Paul chose Timothy as his successor, and wrote two letters to him outlining his wishes for the Church. In the first, Paul charges Timothy to use his gifts well, to select his bishops and deacons carefully, to take care of widows, and to preach only sound doctrine. In the second letter to Timothy, the most personal of all his writings, Paul is nearing the end of his life. He gives Timothy further advice on how to conduct his ministry, and tells him to "be strong in the grace which is ours in Christ Jesus."
According to tradition, Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus and was stoned to death there.

Titus
Thus was a Greek who was apparently converted to Christianity by St. Paul. Our knowledge of him comes from Paul's letters to Titus and to the Corinthians.
Titus served as Paul's secretary and as a mediator for him on several missions. Paul sent Titus to Corinth to smooth out the dissension that had arisen there. He was received by the Corinthians with great respect, and interceded with Paul on their behalf. Titus returned to Corinth a second time at Paul's direction to collect alms for the poor.
Paul and Titus traveled to Crete, where Paul consecrated Titus and left him to serve as the first bishop. Paul's letter to Titus, similar to his first letter to Timothy, instructs Titus on how to conduct his mission and summarizes the major qualities that a bishop should have. He tells Titus that a bishop is God's steward and, as such, must be blameless and have a firm grasp of the Word so that he can preach with sound doctrine and answer those who dispute that doctrine.
Titus died in Crete, probably at an advanced age.

Timothy and Titus's message for today:
In his letters to these two people, Paul mentioned many qualities which a bishop should possess. All good Christians should also possess many of these qualities: hospitality, a love of goodness, and prudence among other things.

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