Theme: Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Savior. Mary, the Mother of God, waits patiently for the birth of her Son and Savior, Jesus Christ to Whom she has given her life.

Grace: I pray for the grace of Marian surrender and anticipation of the Savior during this holy Advent and Christmas season.

Advent is the start of the liturgical year, a time of preparation.  Mary, our spiritual mother, is our exemplar and tutor.  By the witness of her life she instructs us in the way we should go.

Prayerfully contemplate the the ten evangelical virtues of Mary below and consider the ways in which she leads us into fuller union with her Son, Jesus.  Her never-failing “yes” to God in all situations, circumstances, trials and joysencourages us to give our “fiat” in the ordinary and not-so-ordinary events of our lives.  She has trod the path before us, and her footsteps always lead us to life on high in Christ Jesus.  

 

Most Pure (Mt 1:18, 20, 23; Lk 1:24,34)
Most Prudent (Lk 2:19; 51)
Most Humble (Lk 1:48)
Most Faithful ( Lk 1:45; Jn 2:5)
Most Devout (Lk 1:46-47; Acts 1:14)
Most Obedient (Lk 1:38; 2:21-22; 27)
Most Poor (Lk 2:7)
Most Patient (Jn 19:25)
Most Merciful (Lk 1:39, 56)
Most Sorrowful (Lk 2:35)

For Reflection:

How did Mary exhibit these virtues?  How do you manifest them in your daily life? Which virtues do you see most often in yourself?  Which ones do you rarely practice? Take an inventory of your “stock” of virtues and bring it to Mary in prayer, asking her to teach you, as she once taught Jesus, the perfect way to respond in all of the circumstances of life.

 

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