Advent with Our Lady

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

If anyone subscribes to zenit you may have read the interview with Mother Cecilia, but this part touched me and I wanted to share it:

"ZENIT: Could you share your own experience of living Advent with Our Lady?

Mother Cecilia: There is no better way to spend Advent than with Our Lady. It was she who lived the first one, after all! One has to simply imagine what it was like for Mary, who held within her the very One Whom the heavens cannot contain! She was a contemplative soul, with her attention ever turning toward the baby, her God, within her womb. Her thoughts were always focused on Him, her heart anticipating the moment when she could see His face, hold Him in her arms, kiss His cheek, embrace Him with all the love of a mother’s heart.

How blessed I am, how blessed we all are, when we can enter into these intimate sentiments of Our Lady. Could anyone be closer to Jesus than her? Impossible! So, if we stay close to her, we will certainly be close to her adorable Son. There is no better time to spend with her than Advent, as we await His coming.

ZENIT: Advent is just around the corner, but for many Americans, these days have been focused on Black Friday deals and getting the Christmas tree decorated. What Advent advice do you have from within the cloister, for ordinary Catholics who do not have the peace and tranquility that is part of your vocation?

Mother Cecilia: I would simply like to encourage Americans to remember that the preparation to receive God within our own hearts is far more important than the external preparations that can take up so much time and energy. While the preparation on a material level, that which goes into decorating and shopping for gifts is merely transitory, it is this preparation of the heart that will bear fruit for all eternity. What will we have gained by buying more “stuff” year after year? No amount of material goods can fulfill the deep down desire of the human heart! It is God alone Who can do that.

I pray we will all spend time in silent prayer throughout these blessed days of Advent, taking an inventory of our spiritual lives, and ever striving to become vessels more worthy of the Lord Who will come to us as a humble babe at Christmas."

Blessed Advent to all!

 

[Hmgbrd]

How beautiful. Thank you.

 

[Mark121359]

Very beautiful indeed! And a Blessed Advent to you as well Maria! Love You Mama Mary!!! May Mary’s Fiat penetrate all of our hearts this season!

“My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
And his mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever”

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Mark and hmgbrd,

Thank you both for your replies.

Blessed Advent with Our Lady to you both!