21 December 2012 Novena for Christmas: Day 6 When did our Savior appear on earth? Four-thousand years after He was promised to our first parents after forty centuries of preparation, waiting, and desires for Him from the just men of the Old Testament. Why did He delay His coming for so long a time? The Fathers answer, “If the satisfaction and restoration had closely followed the offence, man would never have learned the full extent of the moral degradation caused by sin, nor the impossiblity of raising himself out of it; thus, the greatness of the benefit of the redemption”. It is God’s will that we should have a deep conviction of our misery and helplessness before He visits us and bestows His gifts, that we may appreciate them better, be more grateful, and derive greater profits from them. Thus also does God deign to condescend to our weakness. He helps us to believe, by multiplying when necessary, motives for our faith just as He helps us to practise virtue and to obey Him in difficult matters by multiplying the succors of His grace. The Savior of the world appeared on earth on the fortieth year of the reign of the Emperor Augustus, when nearly all the people of the known world submitted to the Roman empire and ruled by the same laws. The whole world was at peace. This immense extent of the Roman empire, the fourth of the monarchies foretold by Daniel, was visibly arranged by Providence to facilitate propagation of the Gospel, which was to form out of all nations one family in Jesus Christ. If we follow with the eyes of faith the events which the course of ages displays on the world’s stage, we shall see in our own days the working of Divine Providence, which so wonderfully causes everything to carry out His eternal designs and salvation of His elect. Let us take care not to reason about public events as the result of chance, of prudence or imprudence on the part of statesmen. But we, better enlightened, should reason as men of faith. Let us see and bless the hand of God in everything which happens, and behold Him directing the course of events towards ends often far from our thoughts. In this way we shall please God, edify others, and do good to ourselves. We shall grow in faith, hope and love of God. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp804-5 Mary’s generosity and a spirit of service In Mary we confirm the truth that generosity is a virtue of great souls, who find their reward in the act of giving. A generous person knows how to be loving and understanding; and how to give material help without demanding love or help in return. He gives and forgets. He has understood that “it is better to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). To love is “essentially to give oneself to others. Far from being an instinctive inclination, love is a conscious decision to draw close to other people. To be able to love truly, it is important to be detached from everything especially, the self, to give gratuitously. This detachment from self is source of a balanced personality; the secret of happiness.” (John Paul II, “Address”, 1 June 1980) Throughout her life on earth Our Lady showed limitless generosity. Among the few episodes of the Gospel about her, two speak directly of her concern for the needs of others. She generously gave of her time to serve her cousin St Elizabeth until the birth of her son, John. (Lk 1:31) She was solicitous for the young couple and their guests at the wedding in Cana at Galilee. Such attitudes were natural to Mary. Her neighbors in Nazareth would have much to tell about her innumerable little services to them in their daily lives. Of Our Lady, too, she “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). It ought to be possible to say the same about each one of us. Today let us ask the Blessed Virgin to teach us to be generous, first of all with God and then with people we live or work with, and those we meet in all circumstances of our lives. She will show us how to give ourselves in serving our fellowmen in the ordinary course of each day. Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:191-6 ‘Singular vessel of devotion. Pray for us.’ Devotion to the Most Blessed Mary We love Mary, therefore, we are devoted to her. What are the other reasons for this devotion? 1) God has a special love for Mary, because she is the most beautiful creature, both in the natural and supernatural order. “God loves the Virgin alone more than all the other Saints together”, wrote Father Suarez. [cf Pius IX, “Ineffabilis Deus”. In “Documentation Service”, 1989, p392] 2) We are devoted to Mary because of her ‘dignity’ as the Mother of God, and because of her ‘sanctity’. 3) We are devoted to Mary because ‘the Church honored her’ through all the centuries; because all the Saints honored and prayed to her. 4) We love Mary because ‘she loves us’ and she showered us with so many graces and benefits, materially and supernaturally speaking. 5) Being devoted to Mary means ‘being predestined’ to heaven. Whoever avoids Mary encounters death; whoever finds Mary finds life. Ref: Cf Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p36 · “Whoever is enamoured of Mary attaches his soul to a steadfast anchor that will draw him to the port of happiness.” -- St John Damascene (Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p36) Victory 647 “Offer your prayer, your atonement, and your action for this end: -- that all of us Christians may share one will, one heart, one spirit. This is, so that we may all go to Jesus, closely united to the Pope, through Mary.” 661 “If you look for Mary you will necessarily find Jesus; and you will learn, in greater and greater depth, what there is in the heart of God.” 670 “Jesus says: ‘He who hears you hears me’. Do you still think it is your words that convince people? Don’t forget either that the Holy Spirit can carry out his plans with the most useless instrument.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge” • Foundation of St. Acheul, near Amiens, under the title of Our Lady, by St. Firmin, first bishop of that city. — Archives of St. Acheul. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of St. Acheul, Amiens, France, founded by St. Firmin, Bishop (4th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • “Notre Dame de Saint-Acheul”. Amiens, France. Cathedral. ["Foundation of St Acheul, near Amiens, under the title of Our Lady by St. Firmin, first bishop of that city. (Archives of St Acheul.)"] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)