On this first day of the year, the Church invites us to begin anew under the loving gaze of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. The Gospel (Luke 2:16–21) tells us that the shepherds “went in haste” to Bethlehem, where they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. They were simple people, yet they were the first to witness the glory of God made visible in the child Jesus. And Mary, the Gospel says, “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

This simple line reveals the profound interior life of Mary. She is not only the Mother who gives birth to the Savior; she is also the first disciple who listens, ponders, and believes. Her heart becomes the dwelling place of divine peace. As she gazes upon the Child, she holds within her both the mystery of God and the suffering of the world. She shows us that peace begins in the heart that listens and trusts in God’s promise.

Today is also the World Day of Peace, established by St. Paul VI and continued faithfully by the Popes. This year, Pope Leo XIV invites us to reflect on the theme: “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.” The Holy Father reminds us that true peace cannot be built upon weapons, fear, or domination. It requires the courage to disarm our hearts—to let go of anger, prejudice, and vengeance—and to allow the Spirit of Christ to fill us with humility and forgiveness.

Mary, as Mother of God, is also Mother of Peace. She carried in her womb the One who is our Peace (Ephesians 2:14). Her way is not one of confrontation, but of quiet strength and trusting surrender. She teaches us that peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the fruit of love, justice, and mercy lived in daily life. Like her, we are called to keep God’s word in our hearts and to bring the tenderness of Christ into our families, our communities, and our world.

As we begin this New Year, let us turn to Mary and ask her to intercede for us and for all nations torn by violence and division. May she help us to live, in the words of Pope Leo XIV, a peace that is both “unarmed and disarming”—a peace that flows from hearts transformed by God’s love.y of Peace theme, commit ourselves to peace that is unarmed and disarming: in our families, in our communities, in our world.