M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This morning as my husband and I prayed together the “Liturgy of the Hours – Morning Prayer”, the first antiphon for Monday of this second week in the psalter reminded me of Mary:
Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a “sign” of our Baptism, for she received from the first moment of her conception that purity and freedom from all sin, that was her unique privilege, won for her by her Son. We, on the other hand, are either brought to the Baptismal font by our parents or have gone as adults to ask for Baptism. We were made “immaculate” in the sense that the original sin passed on to the human race by Adam and Eve was removed – we were as the Church Fathers expressed it "taken out of Adam’ and brought into Christ. We were “born again” by water and the Holy Spirit – by God’s Mercy. Sanctifying Grace, that participation of God’s Life, the indwelling of the Holy Trinity was poured into our souls and we began to shine!
Mary is our Mother and our Model. God created her to be the perfect Mother for His Son and also our perfect Mother and our Model as disciples, as baptized persons, members of His Body. Just as she shines with the Light given to her, so Jesus told all His disciples:
This morning as my husband and I prayed together the “Liturgy of the Hours – Morning Prayer”, the first antiphon for Monday of this second week in the psalter reminded me of Mary:
Mary our mother came to mind, since she is called by the Church, Mother of Mercy, and she shines only by the Light of Christ given her by God. I also thought of the coming Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis to begin on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. How appropriate for us to pray: “Lord show us the radiance of your Mercy.” Show us how we can live as Mary did, docile to the Holy Spirit, as true disciples of Jesus!!!
Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a “sign” of our Baptism, for she received from the first moment of her conception that purity and freedom from all sin, that was her unique privilege, won for her by her Son. We, on the other hand, are either brought to the Baptismal font by our parents or have gone as adults to ask for Baptism. We were made “immaculate” in the sense that the original sin passed on to the human race by Adam and Eve was removed – we were as the Church Fathers expressed it "taken out of Adam’ and brought into Christ. We were “born again” by water and the Holy Spirit – by God’s Mercy. Sanctifying Grace, that participation of God’s Life, the indwelling of the Holy Trinity was poured into our souls and we began to shine!
Mary is our Mother and our Model. God created her to be the perfect Mother for His Son and also our perfect Mother and our Model as disciples, as baptized persons, members of His Body. Just as she shines with the Light given to her, so Jesus told all His disciples:
May we, like Mary, let Christ’s Life shine through us today! By God’s Grace, may we be, with Mary, “the radiance of His Mercy”!