The Immaculate Conception

"Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you."

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." 

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."

~ Luke 1:26-38

December 8th

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feastday of the United States of America

Long before the angel Gabriel spoke those words to Mary, she was preserved from original sin.   While Mary was in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, she was kept sinless by the virtue of the foreseen life and death of Christ.  This was the Immaculate Conception.  Mary was concieved without original sin.

What better vessel to house the Son of God.  Thank you, Mary.  Thank you for your fiat.  Thank you for your motherly love.

~ The Fiat of Mary ~

Mary, you are the New Arc of the Covenant; the New Tabernacle.  Thank you for your fiat...your, Yes!

Her simple words, "I am the hand-maid of the Lord, let it be done to me, according to thy word." would allow for the dual nature of Christ to be fulfilled...He was to become true man and true God.

And so, here in our hand-maid house-hold, we humbly celebrate this most wonderful day.

An extremely easy celebratory meal that is pleasing to the palate, with a dessert that is sweet and simple.

We arranged some fresh flowers so that we can show honor & love to the Mother of God...

It was a beautiful day.  It even rained...a very much needed rain.

Deo gratias!

Luke 1: 26 - 38
26	In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27	to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28	And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
29	But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30	And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31	And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32	He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33	and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34	And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35	And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36	And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing will be impossible."
38	And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Credit

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Family Journal

~ March ~

~ Communions... ~

Speaking of First Holy Communion Anniversaries...Little Lamb celebrates her 1 yr. Anniversary .   And, our parish will be celebrating the new Communicants, 2012, this Sunday...

Today we held the Rehearsal & Confessions for the children in my First Communion Class…

Before Confessions Father led them in prayer in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine – where, traditionally, pictures of the First Communicants are placed, at her feet, for her intercession:

To Jesus; Through Mary!

Consecration to Our Blessed Mother -

O my Queen, O my Mother,

I give myself to you.

And to show you that I love you,

I offer to you this day

My eyes,  my ears,  my mouth,  my heart.

Therefore, dear Mother,

Since I am your own,

Keep me and guard me.

Help me to love your Son, Jesus, more each day.

I ask her to prepare my heart to receive her Son Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time…

Conductor made these pure white Holy Communion lollipops

10 Boys, 2 girls...or twelve little faithful disciples...

This year I have 12 little dear children in my class.  They have such pure souls; so anxious to receive Him with such FAITH. 
May God bless them all the days of their lives.

I made, or rather, Conductor made these wonderful white chocolate Holy Communion lollipops for them. 

They will also receive a basil (also known as Holy Communion Plant) grow kit…accompanied by an explanation of the aromatic herb and a Blessing prayer.

Ocimum basilicum...has long been associated with the Holy Cross...

Yet another blessed day!

May ~ Mary's Month

~ May Crowning ~

I teach the First Communion CCD class at our parish.  The First Communion children lead the procession and crown all the statues of Mary at our church - starting in the courtyard with Our Lady of Lourdes...then Our Lady of Fatima....and Our Lady of Grace.  This is a wonderful and lovely Catholic tradition.  We invite all to bring flowers from their gardens.  "O Mary!  We crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May."

Fresh roses at the feet of Mary, Our Mother,
 as she holds the child Jesus