I love the Church and her celebration of Marian Feast Days! Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Tomorrow we celebrate the unique privilege given to Mary that, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, made "her worthy of the divine motherhood to which she would be called at the appointed time" (Homily on the Immaculate Conception, 2, December 8,1978).
I find this Feast to be a beautiful and merciful feast within the Church. It's beautiful and merciful because God, in His infinite love, chose a woman, poor - human - and graced her with the precious gift of Immaculate Conception to bear His Song for the salvation of all mankind. It seriously blows my mind! He didn't have to save us this way. He could have simply spoken the word 'salvation' or merely thought it and it could have happened. And yet, He chose to come to us in the flesh so that we could witness, first hand, our salvation and take part in the story. I could get lost in the contemplation of it all day!
What a wonderful way to prepare our hearts during this Advent season for the birth of Christ! As we continue this journey in Advent, let us turn and confide in Our Holy Mother, who "bears witness to [her Son]" and "announce[s] the final victory of love" (Homily, 3). Let us have recourse to the handmaid who faithfully lived the first Advent and Christmas, that she may lead us by the hand to adore the Christ Child found in a manger.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Written by Alycia
