On January 1, the Catholic Church celebrates a holiday dedicated to the Virgin Mary — Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (lat. In Sollemnitate Sanctae Dei Genetricis Mariae) or Feast of Mary — Queen of the World. It concludes the Octave of Christmas and is among the festivities when attendance at Mass is compulsory. Known since the 4th century.
Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, in the Christian tradition — Theotokos (Mother of God), and the greatest of Christian saints. Various etymologies of the name «Maria» (Heb.) were proposed. Mariam): «beautiful», «bitter», «Madam» and «god-beloved». Scholars favor the latter meaning, which dates back to ancient Egyptian and can be explained by the four-century presence of Jews in Egypt.
In the Catholic tradition, the virgin birth of the Virgin Mary herself (by her parents) is seen as a natural condition that prepared her for the role of the Savior's mother. Her freedom from sin was a special grace, an exception to the general rule, a privilege which Catholic theology (as opposed to Protestant) claims no other created being was bestowed.
The virgin integrity of the Virgin Mary and the alienness to carnal lust were united in her with her insubordination to no personal sin. Her sinlessness is indicated by the definition of «gracious», which is given to her in the Gospel, since moral vice is incompatible with the fullness of divine grace. Augustine believed that the concept of personal sinfulness did not apply to the Blessed Virgin simply because God honored her.
Associated with the role of Mary as the Mother of the Savior is her role as a mediator between Christ and the human race. The theological doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church recognizes that since the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Savior, who is the source of all grace, thanks to her this grace is communicated to humanity.
In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that the « Immaculate Virgin, protected from all filth of original sin, having completed the path of earthly life, was taken body and soul into heavenly glory...». The Catholic doctrine of the ascension of the Virgin Mary is based on a twofold tradition: on the belief established since ancient times and on the fact that the Catholic episcopate with complete unanimity accepted this dogmatic truth as part of the doctrine.