I had so much trouble trying to think of something amazing to offer as a reflection today on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is the perfect feast day to pray the Angelus. I do not feel holy enough for the occasion.
So I would like to turn to Saint John Paul II, who spoke truly on December 8, 2002 during his Sunday Angelus address:
Every day when we pray the Angelus, we repeat three times:“And the Word was made flesh.” During the season of Advent, these evangelical words assume a more intense meaning because the liturgy makes us relive the atmosphere of the expectation of the Incarnation of the Word.
For this reason, Advent is the ideal season for the Solemnity of Mary Immaculate. The humble young woman of Nazareth, who with her “yes’ to the angel changed the course of history, was preserved from every stain of sin from the moment of her conception.
John Paul II
Second Sunday of Advent
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2002
Indeed, Advent is the ideal season for the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. It is the ideal season to pray the Angelus.
I invite you, today, to reflect with me on one other comment during that Angelus address in 2002:
So today, we turn to Mary, conscious of our weakness, but sure of her constant help as our Mother.
John Paul II
Turn to Mary today.
Her “yes” to the angel is a model for us. She invited the Holy Spirit to come into her life.
She proclaimed that she is God’s humble handmaid. May we have the courage to serve God too.
She shows us how to be accept the Divine will in every circumstance no matter what the situation.
So, we turn to her in prayer today. We as the holy Mother of God, who was the first to experience the benefits of salvation, to pray for us. We are sinners. We are weak. We are in such desperate need of her prayers.
May the Virgin Mary inspire us all today to move closer to God during this Advent season.
