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December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Mary Immaculate “Pure as the snow,” we say. Ah! never flake Fell through the air One-tenth as fair As Mary’s soul was made for Christ’s dear sake. Virgin Immaculate, The whitest whiteness of the Alpine snows, Beside thy stainless spirit, dusky grows.

“Pure as the stars.” Ah! never lovely night Wore in its diadem So pure a gem As that which fills the ages with its light. Virgin Immaculate, The peerless splendors of they soul by far Outshine the glow of heaven’s serenest star.

-Eleanor C. Donnelly

For Reflection

Dear Mother, You were kept free from the stain of original sin so the Word of God could make His abode in you. Today, on this feast which celebrates your Immaculate Conception, I ask you to obtain for me the grace I need to resist sin and to live for Christ alone (NAME THE SIN MOST DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO RESIST AND ANY OTHER FAILING OF WHICH YOU ARE AWARE). Be the mother of my soul, Mary. Nurture me in your tender heart. Take my hand and lead me to your Son. Amen.

December 7

“Within the sphere of humanity and in the natural world, there had to be a pure and spotless being capable of receiving the divine element, a feminine principle enlightened by grace.”

-Nicholas Berdyaev

For Reflection

Meditate on this quote in light of the Blessed Mother. Think about it with regard to God’s initiative in her life and her capacity to surrender to His Holy Will. Consider the words “pure” and “spotless.” Why do you think these qualities would be essential to receive the “divine element?” Read paragraphs 490-493 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. How does this increase your understanding of Mary as woman, as disciple, as who she is in the plan of God?

December 6

“God the Father communicated to Mary His fruitfulness, inasmuch as a mere creature was capable of it, in order that He might give her the power to produce His Son and all the members of His Mystical Body.”

-St. Louis Grignion de Montfort

For Reflection

How does this quote illustrate the efficacy of Mary’s surrender? What aspect of His own power has God entrusted to her? What does this say to me about the potential efficacy of my surrender to God and my call to spiritual maternity?

December 5

“Surrender to God is the only absolute power with which creature is endowed.”

-Gertrud von le Fort

For Reflection

Why do you think surrender to God is “the only absolute power” we have? In another place, Gertrud von le Fort says that when we surrender to God, we share in His own power. In my own life, how have I experienced the power that comes through surrender to God?

December 4

“Mary is the attentive Virgin, who receives the word of God with faith, that faith which in her case was the gateway and path to divine motherhood, for, as St. Augustine realized, “Blessed Mary by believing conceived Him [Jesus] whom believing she brought forth.”

-Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus

For Reflection

Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. How do you see both of these attitudes of heart implicit in the statement, “Mary is the attentive Virgin?" What virtue underscores Mary’s reception of the word of God – from the moment of the angelic message to her impregnation? What do you make of St. Augustine’s words as given in the quote? Journal your insights and reflections, and consider your receptivity in light of Mary’s attentiveness, her faith, and her trust.

December 2

“Evangelical surrender is directed towards receiving God’s word. It is like the ploughing which enables the soil to be ‘good soil’ capable of receiving the divine seed, the seed of life.”

-Father Marie-Dominque Philippe, O.P.

For Reflection

According to Father Philippe, what is the relationship between surrender and reception of the “divine seed, the seed of life?” How does Mary demonstrate evangelical surrender to God after Angel Gabriel’s announcement? On a scale of 1-10, how do I rank my evangelical surrender with 1 being “unyielding” and 10 being “Marian?” How can I work to move myself forward this Advent season? (Tomorrow’s GraceLine may give you “Mary-like” insights).

December 1

“… [Mary] was predestined first of all to be Mother of God. And the precise reason why the fullness of glory and grace was given her was to make her of it to be the mother of Christ, as St. Thomas expresses it.”

-Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.

For Reflection

When in Sacred Scripture do we first learn of Mary’s predestination to be the Mother of God? (Hint: It is in the Old Testament in the first book.) What does this suggest about God’s own preparation for the coming of Jesus? What aspect of this preparation does the quote detail? Consider this in light of Angel Gabriel’s salutation to Mary, “Hail, full of grace… (Lk. 1:28). What sacrament was both my preparation for Christ as well as my initial reception of Him? As a chosen daughter of the Most High God, I, too, have been called to be a Christ-bearer. How can I cooperate with grace to prepare for Jesus and to receive Him anew this Christmas?