天主之母聖瑪利亞
那時候，牧羊人急忙去了，找到了瑪利亞和若瑟，及那躺在馬槽中的嬰兒。他們看見以後，就把天使對他們所說有關這小孩的事，傳揚開了；凡聽見的人，都驚訝牧羊人向他們所說的事。瑪利亞卻把這一切事，默存在自己心中，反覆思想。
牧羊人回去；為了他們所聽見和看見的一切，正如天使向他們所說的一樣，就光榮讚美天主。
滿了八天，孩子應受割損，於是給他起名叫耶穌；這是他降孕母胎前，由天使所起的。(路2:16-21)
今天的福音描述牧羊人看見瑪利亞、若瑟和在馬槽中的嬰兒以後，光榮讚美天主。
在當時的社會，牧羊人是被排斥的一群。但天主偏偏先派天使給他們傳報喜訊。他們看見眼前的一切和天使所說的一樣，便相信了。我們有他們那份信德嗎？我們會否相信誕生在馬槽中的嬰兒是救主嗎？
耶穌出生後，聖母雖然未明白發生的事有什麼意思，但她把一切默存心中，反覆思量。我們也該效法聖母，在生活中多加反省，領悟天主的啟示。
431年的厄弗所大公會議，為強調耶穌基督是真人真天主(兩性一位)，故此，也稱耶穌的母親為「天主之母」，且定為信理。
羅馬教會於1931年把「天主之母」節定於耶穌聖誕後第八天(一月一日)舉行，取代羅馬Janus神的狂歡節。
集禱經
天主，你使童貞瑪利亞孕育了我們的救主，給人類帶來永恆的救恩。求你使我們體驗聖母的代禱，因為藉著她，我們才得到生命之源—你的聖子、我們的主耶穌基督，他和你及聖神，是唯一天主，永生永王。亞孟。
Mary, the Holy Mother of God
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Lk 2:16-21)
In today’s gospel, the shepherds praised God after having found Mary, Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
Shepherds were considered outcasts by the society at that time. Yet God first sent angels to inform them of the Good News. They believed once they saw this. Do we have the simple faith that they had? Would we believe the infant lying in the manger is the Saviour of the world?
After giving birth to Jesus, even though Mary did not understand the meaning behind all these things, she kept them, reflecting on them in her heart. Like Mary, we should reflect constantly in our daily lives, seek to understand God’s will.
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. Amen.
資料來源 References
中文內容：《平日彌撒經文》，香港教區禮儀委員會
https://fll.cc/inspire/solemnity-of-mary-the-holy-mother-of-god/
English text: Daily Roman Missal, 2011