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As we walk through Advent, a season steeped in expectation and holy longing, we find no better companion than Mary, the Mother of God. She who carried the Light of the World beneath her heart understands better than anyone the profound meaning of Advent waiting. During December, the Church gives us two significant Marian feasts - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - that enrich our understanding of how to prepare for Christ's coming.
A Heart Prepared from the Beginning
The season of Advent barely begins before we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. This feast reveals God's remarkable preparation for the coming of His Son. From the first moment of her existence, Mary was preserved from original sin, making her the perfect vessel to carry the Word made flesh. As the angel would later proclaim, she was "full of grace" - not by her own merit, but by God's anticipatory action.
This profound mystery teaches us something essential about Advent preparation: God always takes the initiative. Just as He prepared Mary from the beginning for her unique role, He continues to prepare our hearts to receive Christ. The grace we need for our Advent journey is already being offered. Like Mary, our role is to say "yes" to this divine preparation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mary's Advent Message to the Americas
Just a few days later, on December 12th, we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, when Mary appeared to Juan Diego in 1531. The image she left on his tilma shows her pregnant with Christ, making it a perfect Advent image. Here is Mary, carrying the Light of the World to a people walking in darkness. The stars on her mantle and the sun's rays behind her remind us that she brings Christ, the Light no darkness can overcome.
This feast during Advent reminds us that Mary continues to bring Christ to the world. Through her appearance to Juan Diego, she brought hope to a people in need of God's love. She continues this mission today, helping us to recognize Christ's presence in unexpected places and among unexpected people.
Learning to Wait with Mary
Mary's nine-month wait for Jesus' birth was not passive. The Gospels show us a woman actively engaged in God's plan:
- She "went with haste" to serve her cousin Elizabeth
- She pondered God's words and actions in her heart
- She navigated the practical challenges of her unexpected pregnancy
- She journeyed to Bethlehem, trusting God's providence
- She prepared whatever she could for her child's birth
Her example teaches us that Advent waiting should be active and purposeful. Like Mary, we're called to:
- Serve others with joy, carrying Christ to those in need
- Reflect deeply on God's Word and action in our lives
- Trust God when our plans are disrupted
- Journey faithfully, even when the path is unclear
- Prepare our hearts and homes for Christ's coming
The Magnificat: Mary's Advent Song
When Mary visits Elizabeth, she proclaims the Magnificat - a song that perfectly captures the spirit of Advent. She celebrates God's faithfulness, proclaims His mercy, and announces the revolutionary nature of His kingdom. Her words remind us that preparing for Christ's coming isn't just about personal piety; it's about aligning ourselves with God's plan to transform the world.
Walking with Mary Day by Day
How can we make Mary our companion through Advent? Here are some practical ways:
- Pray the Rosary, especially the Joyful Mysteries, which trace Mary's Advent journey
- Reflect daily on Mary's "yes" to God and what it teaches us about trust
- Keep a Mary Corner in your home during Advent, perhaps with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Practice Mary's habit of pondering God's Word in your heart through lectio divina
- Imitate Mary's readiness to serve by reaching out to those in need
Mary and the Sacred Rhythms of Advent
As Advent draws to a close, Mary's waiting reaches its crescendo during the final days before Christmas.
During this sacred time, the Church gives us the O Antiphons (December 17-23), those ancient prayers that echo Mary's own longing for the coming of her Son. Like the gradually increasing light of our Advent wreaths that illuminate our journey through the season, these prayers mark the final steps of our preparation. Mary, who carried Emmanuel - "God with us" - in her womb, shows us how to deepen our longing and preparation during these most grace-filled days.
Our Model of Hope
Perhaps most importantly, Mary teaches us how to wait in hope. She who believed "that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord" (Luke 1:45) shows us that faithful waiting is always rewarded. Her journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from annunciation to birth, from prophecy to fulfillment, guides our own Advent path.
During these December days, as we honor Mary in the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, let us draw close to her as our Advent companion. She who waited for Christ with unparalleled faith and love can teach us how to prepare our own hearts for His coming. Through her intercession and example, may our Advent journey bear the fruit of deeper union with her Son.