Preparing for Advent, with Mary

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What better way to begin our new Liturgical Year, this First Sunday of Advent than with Mary? God Himself chose her to be the one to carry His Son into the world at His First Coming as the Word Made Flesh in her womb. Jesus, born of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave her to us from His cross to be our Mother.

When Jesus told John on Calvary, “Behold your Mother”, He spoke not only to John, but through John to all the generations of disciples to come. May we be as obedient to Jesus as was John and take Mary into our homes and into our lives.

Let us “Behold” in Mary, how the Holy Spirit worked so silently, so miraculously, in forming the Body of Christ within her. There is so much to ponder…

Come Holy Spirit, in new ways this Advent! Fill us with Your Love as you filled Mary. Transform us that we may grow in Christ’s Life and bring Him spiritually to others, as Mary brought Him physically into this world.
Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I am so looking forward to Advent. I think it’s my favourite part of the liturgical year. Mary’s role is definitely something to meditate upon. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[MariaChristi]

I am so looking forward to Advent. I think it’s my favourite part of the liturgical year. Mary’s role is definitely something to meditate upon. Thank you for the reminder.

Yes, dear Contra Mundum, Advent is such a gift – a beautiful opportunity to experience by God’s grace the immense wonder of the Incarnation, especially in regard to Mary’s role. A friend sent me this icon of “Our Lady of the New Advent”:
http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/images/advent.gif
It reminded me of lines from the poem, “The Blessed Virgin compared to the Air We Breathe” by Gerard Manley Hopkins:

…Of her flesh he took flesh:
He does take fresh and fresh,
Though much the mystery how,
Not flesh but spirit now
And makes, O marvellous!
New Nazareths in us,
Where she shall yet conceive
Him, morning, noon, and eve;
New Bethlems, and He born
There, evening, noon, and morn—
Bethlem or Nazareth,
Men here may draw like breath
More Christ and baffle death;
Who, born so, comes to be
New self and nobler me
In each one and each one
More makes, when all is done,
Both God’s and Mary’s Son…