9781644135945

The Christmas Cycle
more gloriously should the life of grace flourish in our souls! Our dedication to God, our
self-denial, and our obedience must become still more perfect. Our charity must increase.
How acutely we feel this need during Advent! The fresher and more vigorous spiritual life
that we need, Advent will awaken in us.
“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall live also together with Christ; knowing
that Christ, rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over
Him. For in that he died to sin, he died once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. So do you
also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God, in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:8–11).
We are to share Christ’s life with Him. He is the vine, and we are the branches. The life of the vine
and of the branches is one and the same life. It is incumbent upon us to open our life to Him, to stir
up in our hearts a longing for Him. We are bound to remove all obstacles that might hinder Him
when He seeks to enter our hearts with His grace at Christmas time and at Holy Communion.
“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away” (Lk 1:53).
Prayer
Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life, and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee. Show us, O
Lord, Thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation. (Offertory.)
We beseech Thee, O Lord, spare us through our humble works and prayers; and since
of ourselves we deserve nothing, grant us Thy protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Secreta.)
The Immaculate Conception
Vigil of the Immaculate Conception
“Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible
as an army set in array?” (Communion.) The dawn of redemption now appears in the person
of Mary Immaculate. We greet her with joy. “I will put enmities between thee and the woman
and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head” (Gn 3:15).
“Wisdom hath built herself a house” in Mary Immaculate. “She hath hewn her out seven pillars”
(Gradual). They are the seven pillars of virtue and grace — the three theological virtues of faith,
hope, and charity, and the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, fortitude, and prudence. “The
foundations thereof are in the holy mountains.” Our Lord’s whole human existence, work, and
suffering were established by Him on a holy mountain in the person of Mary Immaculate, since He
chose her as His mother and condescended to take His human nature through her. Mary is the holy
mountain which towers immeasurably over all the other mountains and hills, men and the angels.
Indeed, “The Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob” (Gradual). He has
greater love for Mary and does more for her than for anyone else, be it angel or man. Mary is to be
His mother. We rejoice because of the greatness that God has bestowed upon our beloved mother.
“As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odor, and my flowers are the fruit of honor
and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In
me is all grace of the way and of the truth; in me is all hope of life and virtue. Come over to
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