New Year's Day is the 51st World Day of Peace. Here is the message of Pope Francis for the occasion. This year the Holy Father takes as his subject "Migrants and refugees: men and women in search of peace".
The first day of the year is also a feast of Our Lady under her most ancient title, "Mother of God". Let us commend all our intentions for the year to her prayers. You might like to use the oldest known prayer to Mary to start the year:
We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God,
despise not our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
