Fr Ed Homily 12-7-20

Sometimes people talk about a devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. Or perhaps you have not given any thought to Mary. The Church holds a special place for Mary. As the Mother of God, she has received graces and a primacy of place from her Son. This might be the week to consider taking the time to learn more about Mary. We have three feast days in honor of Mary this week.

December 8 is the Immaculate Conception. This is a day that many confuse with the conception of Jesus. The Conception of Jesus is called the Annunciation and its feast day is March 25, nine months before Christmas. I think where many people who get confused with the Immaculate Conception is with the word immaculate. They think of Jesus as immaculate, and so He is. But on December 8 we are speaking of the conception of Mary. Immaculate in her title for this day means she was conceived without the stain of original sin. Can you guess her birthday? It is another feast day.

December 10 is titled Our Lady of Loreto. This feast day is probably not so well known. It refers to house in which Mary was born and where the Annunciation took place. There is an incredibly old statue of our Lady at this location. The tradition is that angels took Mary’s house from Nazareth and carried it and placed it at the site in Loreto. This site is under the protection and direction of the Popes.

December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Blessed Virgin appeared on Saturday December 9, 1531, to Juan Diego. Mary sent Juan to the Bishop to indicate where she wanted a temple to be built. The Bishop did not believe Juan. The Bishop asked for a sign. Juan would come back on the 12^th with roses in his tilma. When he opened the tilma, dropping the roses to the floor, the image of our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the tilma. The tilma is made of plant fiber that should have decayed and turned to dust centuries ago. It is still with us and is one of the greatest pilgrimage sites in the Americas.

I offer you all this little insight to all the wonders that God has worked though the woman that is the Mother of His Son, Jesus. Take a little time this week to explore and get to know more about Mary.

May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen