“Mary, our Mother, the whole world reveres you as the holiest shrine of the living God, for in you the salvation of the world dawned. The Son of God was pleased to take human form from you.
You have broken down the wall of hatred, the barrier between heaven and earth that was set up by humanity’s first disobedience. In you heaven met earth when Divinity and Humanity were joined in one person, the God – Man.
Mother of God, we sing your praises, but we must praise you even more. Our speech is too feeble to honor you as we ought, for no tongue is eloquent enough to express your excellence. Mary, most powerful, most holy, and worthy of all love! Your name brings new life, and the thought of you inspires love in the hearts of all those devoted to you.”
~ St. Benard
Even the saints had trouble putting their love for our Lady into words. Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and sometimes words seem inadequate to express our deepest feelings of love for her. Is there any wonder that throughout the world today, there will be many bouquets of flowers brought to Mary and laid at her feet? Candles will surround her image, or burn brightly beside statues of Mary in churches and adoration chapels throughout the world. Many Catholics will be on bended knees praying the rosary before a statue of Mary, at the same time that you are reading these words.
A lot of people will think of Mary during their commute home from work and will pull their rosary out of their pocket or purse, and pray the rosary during their journey home. And others will stop for a moment, just as you have done, to read the scriptures today that are about Mary, and think of her.
Our feelings of love for Our Lady will well up anew in the hearts of everyone who loves her, throughout the whole world this day. Every living thing on the earth should honor Mary. All of creation should honor her as well, because our Creator did. He created Mary exclusively to bear His son. She is the purest of all vessels, made to be united with the Holy Spirit to bring forth a baby both human and divine. We honor her, for saying yes to God. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Our world craves the goodness, purity and holiness of Mary because we know all too well, the effects of sin in our world. Eve brought sin into the world by disobeying God, but Mary brought a second chance for new life into the world, by saying “yes” to God. Mary overcame sin and selfishness, by her love for God. She simply sought to serve Him. Mary’s entire life, from her conception until her assumption into heaven, was one of service to God and to His son, Jesus.
There is no other human being that has ever loved our heavenly Father, and his Son to the extent Mary has. Her heart was big enough to embrace God Himself. The angel eased her fears, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
The first words the angel Gabriel said to Mary was, “Hail, Mary, full of grace.” Perhaps Mary was able to face the initial disbelief of Joseph, because she was already filled with grace, before baby Jesus was conceived in her womb. Grace surrounded and permeated, Mary’s entire being. She was able to serve God and be a good mother to baby Jesus because of this grace, which became the essence of who she is.
We can never be as pure and undefiled from sin as Mary, but we should still seek to cleanse ourselves from all traces of sin during advent. God’s grace does not come into a soul darkened by sin. Our advent penance services offer a means of cleansing our soul through the sacrament of confession, so that we can be fresh and clean and worthy of baby Jesus this Christmas.
Today, let us contemplate Mary’s purity and grace filled life of service to God and to baby Jesus, contrasted with our own. How can we live lives that are more pure and free from the stains of sin that surround us in our modern world? How can our lives be of service to God and to His son, even more this advent season? Are our hearts open to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, or has the noise and distractions of this holiday season drowned out the still, small voice of God?
Mary listened to what God asked of her and did not hesitate to answer Him. May we acquire the habit of listening for God’s voice in silence and in stillness in the days ahead. He may have a plan for our lives too.
Related post: Where Sin Increased Grace Overflows
