Today my mom and I went out to deliver her sugar plum loaf. On the way home, we stopped by St. Gabriel Church to see the new statue they erected. It was the archangel Gabriel visiting Mary. It tied in nicely to what I heard today. Even though it is Christmas Eve, the Catholic Church celebrated the fourth Sunday of Advent before it started the Christmas Masses. The Gospel reading was the account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and offering her the opportunity to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Of course, we know she said yes. Her life was not without difficulty or stress, but she was steadfast in her faith to live out her God given mission. I may not be visited by an angel, or have a historical mission. But I can be in tuned with the Holy Spirit by practicing prayer. I can do my best to live out the plan God has for my life. And I can pray for Mary’s intercession to keep me on track. At noon, mom and I prayed the Angelus. It is a tradition that my mom practiced when she was a child in school. I realized that this prayer really sums up our faith – my faith – and the incredible event of love that we celebrate at Christmas.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary…

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

I Found God today in all His reminders of the miracle of Him becoming human.