«The full of grace lived a beautiful life. What was her secret? […]. The Word of God was her secret: close to her heart, it then took flesh in her womb. By remaining with God and speaking with Him in every circumstance, Mary made her life beautiful. Not appearances, not what passes away, but a heart focused on God makes life beautiful. Today let us joyfully look to the full of grace. Let us ask her to help us remain young, saying “no” to sin, and to live a beautiful life, saying “yes” to God».
In this week, made special by the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, let us meditate on these words of Pope Francis.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The feast of the Immaculate Conception reminds humanity that there is only one thing that truly defiles people, and that is sin. This is an especially urgent message to proclaim again. But the dogma of the Immaculate Conception also tells us something supremely positive: that God is stronger than sin and that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (cf. Rom 5:20). Mary is the sign and guarantee of this.
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX, but as early as that time the Fathers of the Eastern Church had exalted the Mother of God with expressions that placed her above original sin. In the West, however, it was objected that if Mary had been immaculate, that is, without original sin, she would not have needed redemption, and redemption therefore could no longer be called universal. Blessed John Duns Scotus managed to overcome this doctrinal obstacle with a subtle but convincing distinction: Our Lady too had been redeemed by Jesus, but through a preventive redemption, before and outside time. She was preserved from original sin in anticipation of the merits of her Son.
To learn more:
• Litany of the Virgin Mary
• Prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
• The Glories of Mary
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto
On this day when we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto, let us address this fervent prayer of Benedict XVI to her:
«Mary, Mother of yes, you listened to Jesus
and know the timbre of his voice and the beating of his heart.
Morning Star, tell us about Him
and tell us about your journey of following him on the path of faith.
Mary, who lived with Jesus in Nazareth,
impress your sentiments upon our lives,
your docility, your listening silence
and make the Word blossom in choices of true freedom.
Mary, tell us about Jesus, so that the freshness of our faith
shine in our eyes and warm the hearts of those who meet us,
as You did when visiting Elizabeth
who in her old age rejoiced with you at the gift of life.
Mary, Virgin of the Magnificat,
help us bring joy to the world and, as at Cana,
inspire every young person engaged in serving their brothers and sisters,
to do only what Jesus will say.
[…] Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, gate of heaven,
help us lift our gaze on high.
We want to see Jesus. To speak with Him.
Announce His love to everyone.”
To learn more:
• “On Your Word” missal, November-December 2022
• Litany of Loreto
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe
On December 9, 1531, the Indigenous man Juan Diego had a vision of a Woman. She called him by name and told him that she was “the ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of the truest and only God.” Then she ordered him to go to the Bishop and report that she desired a temple to be built at the foot of the hill. The Indigenous man ran to the Bishop, but he was not believed. On his way home, he met Mary again, who asked him to return to the Bishop the following day. The Bishop asked him for a sign. The Virgin promised to give it to him the next day. But the following day, Juan Diego could not return: an uncle of his was dying, so he had to find a priest; thus he decided to change his route to avoid meeting the Lady. But the Lady was there, in front of him: Juan Diego fell at her feet and asked her forgiveness for being unable to carry out the task entrusted to him because of his uncle’s illness. The Lady reassured him: his uncle was healed, and she invited him to climb the hill to gather some flowers. To the Indigenous man’s amazement, he found “Castilian flowers”: it was December 12, and neither the season nor the place were suitable for flowers of that kind to grow. He gathered a bunch and took them to the Bishop as proof of the truth of the apparitions. When he reached the Bishop, he opened his cloak, and at once the image of the Virgin was imprinted on it, still visible today after five centuries. Faced with such a miracle, the Bishop fell to his knees, and everyone present did likewise. The next morning, Juan Diego accompanied him to the place where Our Lady had asked for a sanctuary to be erected in her honor.
To learn more:
• Our Lady of Guadalupe
“On this Advent journey - Pope Francis reminds us - God wants to visit us and awaits our yes. Let us think: today, what yes must I say to God? Let us think about it; it will do us good. And we will find the voice of the Lord within us, asking something of us, a step forward. ‘I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You; may Your will for good be fulfilled in me.’ This is the yes. With generosity and trust, like Mary, let each of us say this personal yes to God today.”
Have a good journey!
