Just a reminder that the New Year’s Day (Octave of Christmas and Feast of the Holy Mother of God) is a Holy Day of Obligation binding on all Catholics.

Formerly January 1st was the “Circumcision of our Lord” but this was changed by His Holiness John XXIII. I like the old title, since Christ would have been circumcised on the eighth day after his nativity–January 1 is the eighth day after Christmas. For this reason, the Gospel lesson tells of the Circumcision. Mystically speaking, the circumcision of Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Law and the “down payment” of His passion and death.

Click here for an explanation of Catholic Holy Days of Obligation: Holy Days of Obligation (Explained).