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The Christmas Cycle
“Behold a virgin shall conceive.” The virgin soul lives united to God and Christ. The door
of our hearts should be wide open to receive the King of Glory. Such a soul the Gradual calls
the “innocent in hands and clean of heart.” Such a soul has only one answer to the message of
the angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” Each
time we approach Holy Communion we should receive Christ with the sentiments which Mary
had when she conceived Him at Nazareth.
“Behold a virgin shall conceive.” With the liturgy we recognize here a reference to the
Church. In her bosom the Church bears Christ, the author of grace and salvation. Only in the
Church will mankind be able to find Christ. “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord.” There in His holy temple, in the Church, He will teach us His ways.
Prayer
O God, who didst will that Thy Word should be conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, be
attentive to our prayers and assist us through her intercession, whom we believe truly to be the
Mother of God. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thursday
“At that time the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a
virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name
was Mary” (Lk 1:26 f.; Gospel of Ember Wednesday).
“To a virgin.” Nowhere else in the Gospels is there given such a detailed and solemn account
of the sending of an angel to men. Why such an account on this occasion? The angel was sent
to a virgin, and “the virgin’s name was Mary.” Here lies the superiority of our religion over
every other religion both before and after it. Christianity differs from the other religions of the
world in the heavenly purity of its first hour of life. A pure angel of God approaches the purest
of virgins. Here victory is achieved over the flesh and over the spirit of impurity so common
among men. This victory is assured by the announcement which the angel makes to the virgin.
The designs of the pure God depend on the will of the pure virgin. God assumes humanity by
way of purity and virginity.
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. . . . Behold thou
shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son” (Lk 1:28, 31). “Hail, full of grace.” Mary
does not answer. She considers well what the message of the angel may mean. The Virgin’s peace
of mind is disturbed by the word of the angel. The honor and the dignity offered here seem
almost too great. However, the angel has more to say to her. First she receives the assurance,
“Fear not”; then she is told, “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son.”
Finally the wonderful plan of redemption is revealed to her. “He shall be great and shall be
called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David,
His Father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be
no end” (Lk 1:32 f.). Not only does Mary learn that she is to be the Mother of God, but the
whole marvelous plan of redemption is laid before her. How greatly God has honored Mary!
And how greatly in her has He honored the state of virginity! How generous He is with her, for
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