Wednesday January 1, 2025
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Office-proper, Te Deum
Mass prop. Gloria. Creed.
Preface 1 of B.V.M.; in Eucharistic prayer I
Communicantes of Christmas is used.
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
Vespers II of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025
On behalf of His Grace, Most Revd Dr Augustine Obiora Akubeze, priests, prayer intercessors and members of the 365 Readings Team of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, we wish you a delightful, productive and prosperous New Year 2025 in Jesus name. Peace be with you.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King, who rules heaven and earth for ever.
Or
Cf. Is 9: 1, 5; Lk 1: 33
Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us; and he will be called Wondrous God, Prince of peace, Father of future ages: and his reign will be without end.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
COLLECT
O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
FIRST READING
“They shall put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
A reading from the Book of Numbers (Numbers 6:22-27)
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron and his sons, thus you shall bless the sons of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.”
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6 and 8
R/. O God, be gracious and bless us.
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth and
all nations learn your salvation. R/.
Let the nations be glad and shout for joy,
with uprightness you rule the peoples;
you guide the nations on earth. R/.
R/. O God, be gracious and bless us.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
that all the ends of the earth may revere him. R/.
SECOND READING
“God sent forth his Son, born of a woman.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (Galatians 4: 4-7)
Brethren: When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Hebrews 1:1-2
Alleluia. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby. . And at the end of eight days, he was called Jesus.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2: 16-21)
At that time: The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Creed (I Believe)
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
Through the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Let us pray for the grace to be agents through whom God is encountered in our contemporary world.
FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH: that, through their ministry, they may bring God’s compassion and love to all persons, especially the poor, the lonely, the suffering, and the voiceless in society. We pray to the Lord.
FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD: that leaders of government leaders may see themselves as instruments of God in promoting peace, reconciliation and justice in every part of the world. We pray to the Lord.
FOR MOTHERS, FATHERS AND ALL WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO RAISE CHILDREN: that they may better respond to the vocation to raise their children and those entrusted to their care in a godly way and that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they may find joy in their children. We pray to the Lord.
FOR MEMBERS OF THIS WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY: that by the proclamation of the Gospel and the witness of our lives, we may, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, bring Christ to those who do not yet know him. We pray to the Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD: especially the members of our parish community and families that they may find peace in the kingdom of Our Father. We pray to the Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
A big amen to the blessings given to us by God through Moses as we begin the New Year, 2025. We celebrate this day in the Octave of Christmas with gratitude to God for the gift of the New Year and dedicate the year to Mary, Mother of God, whose solemnity we also observe today. As her adopted children in Christ, we celebrate her today even as she assures us and our families of her motherly intercession throughout the year. As her children, we must allow the virtues that endeared her to God inspire our lives, words and actions, throughout this year. Through her intercession, may Moses’ blessing be our special gift for the New Year. And so, may the Lord, indeed, bless us and keep us. May the Lord let his face shine on us and be gracious to us. May the Lord uncover his face to us and bring us peace. Amen.
BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR
I declare that 2025 shall be a year of gratitude and praise for us. When we pray, the Lord will answer us and we shall have cause to return and give him praise as Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:128
May God take care of you in this New Year for me and may your plans, effort and work be blessed with favour and fruitfulness.
Do not be afraid, even though a lot of things appear uncertain, enter into the year with optimism and positive mind-set. Put in your best in what you do and your testimonies must surely come at the appointed time in Jesus name.
Thank you for all your support throughout last year. Let us work together more this year to achieve greater things in Jesus name.
Happy and prosperous New Year 2025.
NEW YEAR 21 DAY NOVENA WITH FASTING
Please, kindly join us, as we begin the year with a 21DAY NOVENA WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS for Ourselves, Family, and the Restoration of our Country in this New Year 2025 starting from tomorrow, Thursday 2nd January – Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
The presence of righteous individuals and families makes a nation strong, but wickedness in individuals and families degrades a nation and weakens it. (Proverbs 14:34)
We do not know what lies ahead of us and our Country Nigeria this year and beyond. Just pray to God to restore all things. Pray very hard for yourself, your family and your country.
FASTING GUIDELINE: (i) Fast on the first day of the prayers, (ii) Every Fridays throughout the period and (iii) The last day of the prayers from 6am – 6pm (You can fast from 6am-12noon or 6am-6pm in the 21days of the Novena if you’re disposed).
Kindly Note: the sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the aged are please advised to exercise caution in their fast. Please.
