December 8, we Filipinos will celebrate the feast of Immaculate Concepcion of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is set like a jewel in the observance of Advent. This feast in Advent celebrates our belief that a woman named Mary, like no other human person, has been spared of our human sin from the moment of her own concepcion because of her singular union with God as the mother of Jesus Christ. The feast encourages us to say YES to God.
We heard in the Gospel that Mary accepted this role by responding to the angel: “Behold the servant of the Lord.” The title, Immaculate Conception, denotes that Mary is unique among all persons in that she was conceived without original sin. It is a very lofty title. But note how Mary responded to the angel, “Behold the Servant of the Lord.” The title, Immaculate Conception, is lofty and grand. Mary’s humility in the scene with the angel is profound.
Because she believed all things are possible with God, Mary could say an obedient yes to his invitation for her to represent all humanity in salvation history. This feast of the Immaculate Conception is a striking witness of the purifying force of God’s will in our life of faith as well. Her example motivates us to seek God’s will with confident faith.
This is why this feast is so important in the Church year. God chose to begin the Christian story through Mary saying, “Yes, I am God’s servant.”
It is appropriate that, through Mary’s intercession, we ask that the miracle of God’s grace might strengthen us to be men and women of courageous faith as we say YES to the part God asks us to carry as salvation continues to unfold. Our role in the story of salvation will not be as awesome as that of the Mother of God, but in our respective vocations we are instruments of God’s grace, too.
As we honor Blessed Virgin Mary on its feast on Immaculate Concepcion, let us pray for a peaceful election in our country in 2010, swift justice to the departed victims of Maguindanao massacre and peaceful ways to heal the wounds of our country. Gratefully, we say "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Amen."
Yes, i am a servant of GOD!
ReplyDeleteMay her humbleness motivates us...
God Bless!
may we always be inspired by the life Mary had offered to God.
ReplyDeleteHumility and Faith.
Amen! Her humility, obedience and faithfulness are some of her virtues that we should follow.
ReplyDeleteAlam Pope marami sa ating katoliko ang hindi alam tungkol sa Immaculate Conception. Akala nila ito ay ang pagdadalang tao ni Maria kay Jesus.Pero ang totoo nyan ay ito ay pagdadalang tao ni Santa Ana sa anak nyang si Maria. Na kung saan pagpapakita pa lang ng dakilang plano ng Dyos.
ReplyDeleteAng araw na ito ay isang Pistang Pangilin,kaya kailangan nating magsimba.
Sana mas maunawaan pa ng lahat ang tungkol sa Immaculate Conception dahil ito pagpupugay sa ating mahal na ina.
Ingat lagi Pope!God Bless
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this thoughtful post, Pope. Indeed, we should always be Marians in our thoughts and actions.
ReplyDelete@ Bhing
ReplyDeleteGod bless you too Bhing, Life is Beautiful, thank you for being so kind and humble in life.
@ Deth
May the "ten evangelical virtues" of Mother Mary inspire all of us, both believers and non-believers of the BVM.
@ Life Moto
Thank you for believing, there are actually 'ten evangelical virtues' in the bible that present us with a program of virtuous life, which is that of Mary as she appears to us in the Bible.
The "Ten Evangelical Virtues" are as follows:
Most Pure (Mt 1:18, 20, 23; Lk 1:24,34)
Most Prudent (Lk 2:19; 51)
Most Humble (Lk 1:48)
Most Faithful ( Lk 1:45; Jn 2:5)
Most Devout (Lk 1:46-47; Acts 1:14)
Most Obedient (Lk 1:38; 2:21-22; 27)
Most Poor (Lk 2:7)
Most Patient (Jn 19:25)
Most Merciful (Lk 1:39, 56)
Most Sorrowful (Lk 2:35)
@ Drake
Amen I say to you my friend, you are absolutely correct. Ang faest of Immaculate Concepcion ay tungkol sa purity of soul ng Blessed Virgin Mary since her conception mula ng siya ay ipinanganak ng mga magulang na sina St. Anne and St. Joachim kaya siya kinalugdan ng Panginoon Maykapal ay wala siyang bahid ng anumang uri ng pagkakasala na tinatawag nating Original Sin, isang uri ng biyaya mula sa Panginoon at napanatili ni Mother Many ang kanyang kalinisan ng kaluluwa upang maging karapat dapat na maging ina ni Kristo.
@ Dennis Villegas
Thank you so much for sharing your belief too in celebration of our Marian devotion and keeping faith in our Church's teachings on Mary's cooperation in the redemption of mankind.
God bless you.
may we live by Mama Mary's example lalo na when it comes to purity. i guess, it's being taken for granted na nowadays e. ayun lang po.
ReplyDeleteNatuwa ako sa post mo (and most especially sa replies mo sa mga comments). I even took note of the ten evangelical virtues.
ReplyDeleteMy admiration of Mother Mary is high.
Favorite ko ang Joyful Mystery dahil nanduon lahat ang mga virtues na ipinagdadasal kong matutunan sa buhay. Whenever I pray it, I always ask God that He makes as humble and as obedient as Mother Mary.
@ Pamela
ReplyDeleteIt is really sad, as we live in a life of a fast changing world, it seems that people are so engrossed with the acquiring material things in life than enriching their hearts and souls by following Mother Mary's virtues and applying it in their daily lives.
The same reason so many people have lost their morality and others are consumed by greed.
@ isladenebz
Just like you Nebz, I am a Marian devotee, and is a member of Children of Mary (CoM) Assn. in our Church community.
A blessed evening to you Nebz.