We now move towards our celebration of Christmas when we will come to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He who is not just some man, but rather He who comes without sin in order to take away the sin which are present within the world. This loving Savior is God made Flesh who comes to dwell among us.
Our celebration of Christmas is dependent upon today’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is closely linked to our salvation history. Thus God chose Mary to be the pure and spotless vessel which would bring forth our Savior into this world. God acted upon her behalf and thus she was spared from the effects of original sin. Thus when she was conceived within the womb of her mother, Anne, sin was not present upon her soul.
When Mary was greeted by the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation she was told: “hail, full of grace.” This salutation made by Gabriel is pointing not to who Mary will be, but to who Mary is. This is a statement that from her conception moving forward she was found without the blemish of sin. Luke’s Gospel in instructing us that Mary was full of grace for her whole life not just during this interaction with Gabriel.
One title given to Mary is that of “Ark of the New Covenant.” The Ark of the Old Covenant contained the presence of God and the Ark of the New Covenant, being Mary, contained within her womb God in the second person of the Holy Trinity. Mary thus had to be spared from the stain of sin in order that the one who she carried within her womb would never be touched by its reality.
Thus as we continue to prepare ourself for Christmas during this season of Advent may we come do so through the intercession of Mary. As we celebrate the Immaculate Conception may we come to more closely orient ourself to her in order that we may allow her to bring us into closer relation with her Son. The closer we draw to her Son the more that we move towards detaching ourself from sin and placing our trust in Him.
Devotion to Mary is thus important in the life of the faithful. This devotion should be fostered within the family. Fostering such devotion will lead us towards living out the virtues because within her we find all the virtues perfectly displayed. Our Blessed Mother is truly found to be “full of grace.” Let us take up for ourself her rosary and allow the Angelic Salutation to always be found on our lips: “Hail Mary, full of grace.”
