8 Dec
Tue
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BVM
Gen. 3:9-15,20
Ps. 98(97):1,2-3ab,3bc-4
Eph. 1:3-6,11-12
Lk. 1:26-38
(Psalter proper)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 
 

Mary's Immaculate Conception and her perpetual virginity as the Mother of Jesus are two mysteries of God's gracious love and are so interrelated that quite often even educated Catholics can confuse them. Needless to say non-Catholic writers in various media (newspapers, magazines novels, TV shows) almost inevitably mix them up. However our purpose here is prayer and spirituality and a deeper and more accurate knowledge of the great mysteries of our faith as they guide us in the pathways of truth and holiness.

All that God has done has been done with infinite loving freedom: nothing is ever by mere chance. Thus the good news of our redemption is already proclaimed in Genesis 3:15 when God speaks of the enmity between a woman and the devil. When she was conceived as any normal child God preserved Mary from all taint of sin - a promise to us that in the resurrection we shall be set free from all sin for ever, for we have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and spotless for ever.




Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, help us to live free from sin and die a holy and blessed death to be with Jesus for ever.




DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2015. All rights reserved.