January 1 is a Holy Day of Obligation

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 sort of it 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. Nevertheless, 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.