Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, when we profess our belief that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin on her soul. This is a holy day of obligation for all Catholics.
Scripture for meditation: Luke 1:39-47
Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby stirred in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby stirred in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.” Then Mary said, “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior,”
Christ says: 2:46-50
Not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of Him. On the third day they came upon Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard Him were amazed at His intelligence and His answers. When His parents saw Him they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.” He said to them, “Why did you search for me? Did you not know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
We learn from St. Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555): “For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the other apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spirit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The outline of her life: that Jesus was born of her is enough to tell her whole story. What more do you seek for in the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I ask you, what virtue, what perfection, what grace, what glory does not belong to the Mother of God? Truly, Mary, He who is powerful did great things for you; truly because He made you His own mother, all generations will call you blessed. (Sermon on the birth of Mary, II, as it appears in Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1988. Compiled and edited by John E. Rotelle, O.S.A.).
Prayer: Prayer to Mary by St. Thomas of Villanova
Therefore, you our Advocate, Our Lady, our Delight, therefore turn your merciful eyes toward us, and after this our exile, show us Jesus the blessed Fruit of your womb. It is Him we seek, Him we gasp for, hastening toward Him, desiring Him with all the ardor of our hearts. It is you, Virgin, who must direct us, you must lead us to Him, lead us to where He reigns, and show Him to us, crowned with glory and honor, surrounded by angels, seated on the highest throne at the right hand of the Father, reigning with Him, and governing the whole world together with Him.
My thoughts: How truly amazing is Mary! When greeted, and honored by her cousin Elizabeth, she immediately directs the attention to God. When her heart is filled with sorrow at the loss of her son in the temple, she bears the weight of His words in her heart, trusting in God, as she knows no other way to live. St. Thomas the Bishop from Villanova, Spain, explains so well why we do not learn more about Mary in the Bible. What else do we need to know? She is the Mother of God. Enough said! No wonder the Catholic Church professes her immaculate conception. How else could the perfect womb, in the perfect woman, be prepared to hold the King of Kings? What a joyful day for us in our preparation for Christmas to take time to turn our lives over to Mary, our Blessed Mother, and ask her to hasten to bring us to her Son, for whom we are preparing, and for whom our hearts are longing!
Our Prayer to God: We have yet another prayer to add to our collection this week, this time addressed to our Blessed Mother. Why not have your whole family say this prayer tonight when you gather to light the Advent wreath? Or think about saying this prayer just before you fall asleep, and fill your heart with joyful anticipation of Christ’s coming. Falling asleep in Mary’s arms, as Christ often did, is always a good idea!
Don’t forget the Christmas Novena! Fifteen times today for your special intention!
Don’t forget the Christmas Novena! Fifteen times today for your special intention!
Christmas Novena
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here).
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.
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