A Contemplation on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Without Whom We'd Have No Christmas

 

Amici,

Merry Christmas to all, of course. Herein is a small Christmas gift, remembering that in every birth, TWO are involved.

    Behold then the joy of the whole universe.
    Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary
    fill us with awe and adoration.
    Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity
    as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary,
    the holy temple of God,
    and of God himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom.
    To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

– Cyril of Alexandria (c. 382-444)

From a sermon by St. Thomas of Villanova, bishop
(Sermon on the birth of Mary II,7-9)

Mother of her own Creator!

"What a marvelous woman, to be the mother of her own Creator! What an amazing distinction for a woman, to have a Son in common with God. The Father loves his Son; the Mother rejoices in her Son. The Father tells his Son: from the womb, before the morning star, I begot you; the Mother says to her same Son: From the womb, I, a virgin, brought you into the world.

"She is amazed at her own glory, nor can she herself understand her elevation, for by the very fact of being made mother of the Creator she became with the best right mistress and queen of all creation. Truly, Mary, He that is mighty, has done great things for you; truly because He made you his own mother, all generations of the ages will call you blessed."

From a Friday Morning Prayer Found at: https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/god_whom_earth_and_sea_and_s.htm See this site for sheet music, etc.)

1. ^a The God Whom earth, and sea, and sky,
Adore, and laud, and magnify;
^b Who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,
^c The Virgin's spotless womb contains.

2. ^d The God, Whose will by moon and sun
^e And all things in due course is done,
^f Is borne upon a Maiden's breast,
^g By fullest heavenly grace possess'd.

3. ^h How blest that Mother, in whose shrine
ⁱ The great Artificer Divine,
^k Whose hand contains the earth and sky,
^l Vouchsafed, as in His ark, to lie !

4. ^m Blest, in the message Gabriel brought ;
ⁿ Blest, by the work the Spirit wrought ;
^o From whom the Great Desire of earth
^p Took human flesh and human birth. ^q

5. All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee !
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

As it appears in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

For Friday morning prayer.

 

The God Whom earth, and sea, and sky
Adore, and laud, and magnify,
Whose might they own, whose praise they tell,
In Mary’s body deigned to dwell.

O Mother blest! The chosen shrine
Wherein the Architect divine,
Whose hand contains the earth and sky,
Vouchsafed in hidden guise to lie.

Blest in the message Gabriel brought;
Blest in the work the Spirit wrought;
Most blest, to bring to human birth

The long desired of all the earth.

O Lord, the Virgin-born, to Thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Ghost for ever more.

 

Text: Venantius Fortunatus 530-609

 

Reflection

"While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth.

"So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform on to a great holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith.

"It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice.

"Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves.

"Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters."

– Saint Lawrence Justinian, bishop (Lorenzo Giustiniani, 1 July 1381 to 8 January 1456)

Merry Christmas to all, and a New Year far better than the last! Whatever the future holds, we must prayerfully hold onto the "Boundless Now" the Faith opens for us.

An Préachán