Two themes pervade the readings and prayers of this feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: joy and light. The liturgy tells us: “Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” Joy and Light.
Christians are a joyful people—a joy-filled people because Joy is the result of allowing the light of faith to flood our minds and hearts. Joy comes from recognizing the importance, meaning, and weight of what God has done for us—and Christians are the most joy-filled of the people of the earth, Christianity is the most joy-filled religion because we alone acknowledge the fullness of what God has done for our salvation.
Scripture commands God’s people to joyfully proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations, and today the Church joyfully sings what God has done in the Blessed virgin Mary. “With delight we rejoice in what the Lord has done” – we proclaimed in the Psalm.
What is particularly joyful about this day? Saint Andrew of Crete said “all creation sings with joy, exults, and participates in the joy of this day....for this is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple; today is the day on which by a stupendous project a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator"
It took Solomon seven years to build the Jerusalem Temple, and when it was completed and dedicated, King Solomon and the priests sang and danced and fell prostrate before the Temple which shone with the light of the Glory of God..
Exactly 9 months ago, today, we celebrated the conception of Our Lady, and today we celebrate her birth. Mary is the New Temple, who would be filled with the fullest manifestation of God’s glory on earth—the incarnation of Christ. And at the moment of her own birth—inside her tiny body was the egg, the ovum, which would become Christ years later when she would conceive miraculously through the Holy Spirit’s power.
Whenever we celebrate the great things God has done through, with, and in Mother Mary, we are filled with light. There are a lot of things in this world that take away our joy, but celebrating Our Lady is not one of them.
If we want joy we need to turn to her devoutly for joy, if we want light we need to turn to her earnestly for light, for help in increasing the light of faith in this darkened world; if we want to be with God forever in heaven, we need to turn to Mary fervently for help in following Christ faithfully for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
- - - - - -
To Our Lady’s most powerful intercession, we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.
That Our Lady may bring constant guidance and assistance to the Holy Father and the Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.
That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death.
That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world.
That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment