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Our Lady of Loreto

I never knew that much about Our Lady of Loreto, so it was fascinating to learn about this new celebration just recently announced by Pope Francis. Squeezed in between the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12), I’m getting the feeling that this first half of Advent is trying to remind us of the amazing role of Mary in our redemption.

It’s a pretty amazing story.

In the early church, people revered the house in which Mary was raised. It’s believed to be where she gave her fiat to Jesus’ conception, then lived with Joseph.

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Mary’s Assumption

Photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash

Today we remember and celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Mother. Such a powerful and hope-filled doctrine of our faith!

This is when Mary, body and soul, was conveyed into heaven at the conclusion of her earthly journey. Yet it’s never mentioned directly in the Bible.

19 God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple.

1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
5 She gave birth to a son, a male child,
destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the Kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed One.”

Rev 11:19a; 12:1, 5, 10ab
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Mother of God

Photo from pxhere

Today is a new year, and the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. What a perfect way to start afresh!

This very phrase is something to ponder deeply. We don’t believe that Mary existed before God the Father and somehow gave birth to Him. That might be similar to Rhea being the mother of Zeus.

No, we believe that Jesus is God and is with God the Father. Which means that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is mother of God as incarnated in our world.

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Virgin Mary

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Our mother Mary was, herself, born without sin. That’s why this feast day is about Mary’s conception, not that of Jesus.

One explanation that I’ve heard of this is that the Ark of the Covenant must be unblemished. And since Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, Jesus, it is appropriate that she also be unblemished.

So it’s about faith, not scientific proof. And I’m quite fine with that.

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Mary, Mother of The Church

Photo by guille pozzi on Unsplash

We have been given a special gift by our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

On March 3rd 2018, he declared a new feast day, the Memorial of Mary, Mother of The Church. It will be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost, which for the first time is May 21st 2018. This celebration was first granted by Pope Paul VI to a few countries at Vatican II, and has now been shared with the entire Body of Christ.

Perhaps we’ll see Pope Francis’ prayer added to the Rosary at some point? Continue reading “Mary, Mother of The Church”