When you went to church on the weekend of November 27-28, I am sure you noticed the change in vestments, the wreath and the beautiful seasonal hymns. The holy season of Advent has begun and with it the new church year.
Advent prepares us for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered and also reminds us to prepare for Christ’s second coming at the end of time. It is a period of joyful expectation and calls to mind the cry of the early Christians: Maranatha, Come, Lord Jesus!
The official liturgical color for this season is violet and in order to distinguish Advent from the penitential season of Lent, the bluer hues of violet may be used. Blue or light blue vestments are not authorized for use under the new General Instruction for the Roman Missal and this will be a necessary change for some of our parish communities.
We are invited to be watchful through prayer and meditation as we begin this holy season. As Jesus said to his disciples, “Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning, lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch! (Mark 3:33-37)
St. Bernard, addressing his brothers about Advent, said, “Steep yourself in the meaning of these days. And above all, pay heed to him who is approaching; think why he comes, consider his purpose in coming, the ripeness of the times, and the route he may choose for his approach.”
On the four Sundays of Advent we will meet the Prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist, and of course the Blessed Mother. St. Louis De Montfort in his book, “True Devotion to Mary” says, “It was only through Mary that God the Father gave His Only-begotten to the world…the world was unworthy, says St. Augustine, to receive the Son of God directly from the Father’s hands. He gave Him to Mary in order that the world might receive Him through her…God the Holy Spirit formed Jesus Christ in Mary; but is was only after having asked her consent” through the Archangel Gabriel.
The Holy Spirit chose to make use of Mary, though he had no absolute need to do so, by producing in her, and by her, Jesus Christ our Messiah and Lord, the one who is called the Prince of Peace. This is a mystery of God’s grace and blessing, St. Louis De Montfort says, unknown by even the most spiritual of Christians. At the same time it is something each one of us needs to reflect on and pray about during the four weeks of Advent. The Incarnation is one of the great pillars of the church. The other is the Resurrection.
Mary is infinitely below Jesus her son who is God, and St. Louis De Montfort reminds us that she does not command him as a mother here below might command her child. “Mary being altogether transformed into God by grace and by the glory which transforms all the saints into Him, asks nothing, wishes nothing, does nothing contrary to the eternal and immutable will of God.” (True Devotion To Mary, p.16) Mary in her humility is always conformed to God’s will.
The Advent readings, a home Advent wreath, our recitation of the Rosary during the Advent season, Eucharistic Adoration, reception of the Sacrament of
Penance in preparation for Christmas, giving to the poor, prayer and meditation will help us to focus on the religious meaning of the Advent season rather than the material focus of this time of year. Do any of us really need more “stuff”? Again, De Montfort reminds us, “It is Mary alone to whom God has given the keys of the cellars (Cant. 1:3) of divine love and the power to enter into the most sublime and secret ways of perfection, and the power likewise to make others enter in there also.” (True Devotion To Mary, p. 25) She will help each one of us find the way to Jesus. Remember her response to the Archangel, “Be it done onto me according to thy word.”
In a special way we honor Mary on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the solemn proclamation of this dogma of our Catholic faith. St. Andrew of Crete spoke of the feast when he said, “May all creation shout with joy, may heaven rejoice and may justice rain down in torrents from the clouds. Let the mountains exude sweet honey and the hills pour forth jubilation. The Lord has shown mercy on his people. He has raised a powerful Savior from the House of his servant, David. The most pure and Immaculate Virgin Mother arrives for the health and hope of all the peoples of the world.”
Mary is an example for us in her practice of all the virtues. (Lumen Gentium, 65) We not only honor her and look to her as the ideal Christian, we are also invited to emulate her. Coupled with the grace of Christ, her intercessory power is so great that the more devotion to her spreads, the more believers are drawn into closer union with Jesus and God the Father.
She received this “fullness of grace” at the moment of her Immaculate Conception. Through the merits of Christ and an extraordinary special grace, Mary is preserved from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception. “Her life reflects so great a fullness of innocence and sanctity that a more exalted creature cannot be conceived of, except the creator himself.” (Apostolic Letter “Ineffabilis Deus” 12/8/1854)
“Every aspect of the Blessed Mother’s being shone with the
splendor of that harmony with
which God had originally wanted to endow all humanity.” (In Conversation With God, 7, pp. 340-341) She was free from all actual sin and from even the slightest moral imperfection. Mary felt no attraction towards sin or to any of the allurements of the devil.
I encourage families to have a statue of the Blessed Mother, giving her a place of honor in their homes. Perhaps grandma and grandpa could give each grandchild a rosary explaining to them how to use it, and in addition provide a small statue of Mary for each child’s room, sharing with them what Mary means in their lives.
Pastors, what better way to get people to imitate the qualities of the Blessed Mother than to offer Marian devotions? What does your parish have available? The Holy Spirit has taught countless generations of Christians throughout the ages that the truest path to the Heart of Jesus is through Mary. If you don’t believe me, read Pope Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Pope Benedict XV, Pope Pius XI, Pope Pius XII, Blessed John XXIII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.
“Zealously conserve your tender and confident love for the Blessed Virgin - and do not let it grow cold…Be faithful to the Marian practices of piety that are traditional in the church - the ‘Angelus,’ special devotion to Our Lady during the month of May, and in particular the Rosary.” (Pope John Paul II, October 12, 1980)
Have a great and holy Advent.