The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady | Friday 8 December 2023

Today is Friday the 8th of December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

The Gaudete Ensemble conducted by Eamon Dougann sing 'Ave Generosa' by Margaret Rizza:
'Hail, high-born, glorious, inviolate Maid!'

Ave generosa, gloriosa et intacta puella Tu pupilla castitatis, tu materia sanctitatis, que Deo placuit.
Nam hec superna infusio in te fuit,
Quod supernum Verbum in te carnem induit
Tu candidum lilium quod Deus ante omnem creaturam inspexit.
O pulcherrima et dulcissima, quam valde Deus
in te delectabatur,
cum amplexionem caloris sui in te posuit, ita quod Filius eius de te lactatus est.
Venter enim tuus gaudium habuit cum omnis celestis symphonia de te sonuit,
quia virgo filium Dei portasti,
ubi castitas tua in Deo claruit.
Viscera tua gaudium habuerunt sicut gramen super quod ros cadit, cum ei viriditatem infundit, ut et in te factum est,
O mater omnis gaudii.
Nunc omnis ecclesia in gaudio rutilet
ac in symphonia sonet
propter dulcissimam Virginem et laudabilem Mariam, Dei Genitricem. Amen.
Hail, high-born, glorious, inviolate Maid!
You are the pupil of chastity, the matrix of sanctity, pleasing to God.
For this supernal flood was within you, As the supernal word put on flesh in you.
You are the shining lily on which God before all creation gazed.
O fairest and sweetest one, how greatly God delighted in you,
when he set within you the embrace of his warmth so that his son took milk from you.
For your womb held joy when all the harmony of heaven resounded from you;
for as a virgin you bore Godʻs own son
when your chastity shone bright in God.
Your flesh held joy like the grass when the dew falls, and floods it with living green. So it was in you also, O Mother of all joy.
Now let the whole church flush with gladness
and resound in harmony
for the sake of the Virgin, sweetest Mary, deserving all praise, Mother of God. Amen.

Today’s reading is from the Book of Genesis.

Genesis 3:9-15,20

But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ The Lord God said to the serpent,
‘Because you have done this,
 cursed are you among all animals
 and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
 and dust you shall eat
 all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
 and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
 and you will strike his heel.’
The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all who live.

Today is the feast day of The Immaculate Conception, a feast that commemorates the belief that Mary was conceived without sin. As we continue towards Advent, we consider how Mary, named ‘full of grace’ by the Angel Gabriel, can inspire our faith.

How might this account from Genesis speak to you of Mary’s place in faith?

God seeks out Adam and Eve and, despite their disobedience, offers unwavering love and mercy, a love that recognises our weakness. The conversation is one that seeks to understand, to find a way of redemption.

Does this speak to your experience of God’s grace?

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.”

Here is prophecy, the promise of a Saviour. During Advent, we await the fulfilment of this promise in the birth of Jesus Christ. And notice that the woman is no longer a sinner or a victim, but also stands against the serpent with her children, with her Son.

How does this image speak to you at this time?

As you listen to the passage again consider how God has always sought us out to heal us and to give us the opportunity, not only to begin again, but to be part of God’s plan.

Eve means "mother of all the living." Eve is Mary’s mother just as she is ours. Consider the sense of hope and new beginnings that this represents.

In a time of prayer share with God whatever stands in the way of your desire to say ‘Yes’.

O Wisdom,
Lord and Ruler,
Root of Jesse,
Key of David,
Rising Sun,
King of the Nations,
Emmanuel.
Come, Lord Jesus.