1. Thoughts to Think

a. The Angel Gabriel greeted Mary as “Hail, FULL OF GRACE!” (Lk 1: 28)

>> The word used by the Angel to address Mary in Greek is “Kecharitomene” (kecheri-to-mene) which means “Full of Grace!”

>> Mary is given this new title, a new name – “Full of Grace” – to clearly tell that “that an action has been completed in the past, resulting in the present state of being.”

b. Gen 3:15 – “enmity between you and the woman..” – refers to Mary as the New Eve

>> This verse refers to the enmity between satan and the Woman and Her Offspring Jesus.

>> Mary is the New Eve Who is conceived Immaculate, just as the old Eve had a sinless start. Mary would be instrumental in bringing forth Jesus, the Sinless One Who would crush the head of satan.

c. Lk 1:35-57: Mary is presented as the New Ark of the Covenant

>> The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth is a beautiful retelling of the prototype found in 2 Sam 6:9-16, where the Ark of the Covenant is welcomed by King David into the city.

>> This points to Mary as being the New Ark of the Covenant – holy and sanctified – Who now has a dwelling in heaven (Rev 11:19-12:2)

d. Lk 1:42: Elizabeth refers to Mary as being “most blessed among all women!”

>> Elizabeth recognizes the Holy Presence of Mary and acknowledges the Immaculate nature of Mary by exclaiming: “Blessed are You among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb!”

2. Pointers to Ponder

a. The Immaculate Conception points to the Immaculate nature of Mary

>> Just as Mary was “conceived immaculate”, each of us, at our Baptism were washed off our original sin and called to a life of holiness.

… Do we seek to preserve this “Immaculate nature” to which we are called to live?

b. The Immaculate Conception points to the mighty work of creation and transformation that God can bring about in a person

>> Mary singularly was privileged to be “conceived pure.” We are privileged to be receive this Grace to be Immaculate, every time we turn away from sin, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation

… Are we open to allow God’s Spirit to re-create and transform us into new persons?

3. Connecting to Christmas: The Christmas Stars

a. The stars guided the Magi (the three Kings) to the place of Christ’s Birth and is a reminder of the fulfilment of God’s promises (Num. 24:17, we read, “A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel.”)

b. Stars remind us follow the signs given by God to come closer to Him

c. The Christmas stars invite us “to shine as stars lighting up the sky” (Phil 2:5), to dispel the darkness of sin.

The Christmas Star – symbolic of having high dreams, high aims and high visions – invites us to have a renewal of our minds (Rom 8: 1) and to have our hearts set on heavenly things (Mt 6:33) and thus to always be Immaculate, inspired by our Blessed Mother.

4. Actions to Achieve

a. Every day spend a few minutes (even 5 minutes) to read the Bible and to be sanctified by the Word

b. Be open to see at least “one star of God’s sign” in and around us (Church, people, situations) and make a necessary change towards holiness.

(eg. I may be short-tempered person. But through the advices/observances people around me, I realise that I need to be gentler. So see this star of “being gentle” and make the necessary change)

Let us hold Mamma’s Hands and learn from Her, as we pray:

“Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus…

… Be born in me, this Christmas!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

1. Thoughts to Think

a. What is the Dogma of Immaculate Conception of Mary?

This Dogma was promulgated in 1854 by Pope Pius IX’s solemn declaration, “Ineffabilis Deus.”

The Dogma states:

“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of Her Conception, by a singular Grace and privilege of Almighty God and by Virtue of the Merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

In simple words:

All human beings are born with original sin.

>> Because of this, there is a tendency towards sin from the first moment of our conception.

Mary was however granted an extraordinary privilege to be “conceived without sin”…

… because of Her unique role in history as the Mother of Jesus, True God and True Man

2. Pointers to Ponder

a. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a pointer to God’s Beautiful Plan of Salvation

>> God’s Plans in our lives are always beautiful, though they appear mysterious and weird at times…

… Do we still trust that “God’s Plans in life are the always the best?”

b. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a pointer to the Infinite Power and Wisdom of God

>> God has complete control over everything – our past, our present, our future…

… Are we ready to entrust our lives – completely – to the Infinite Power of God?

3. Connecting to Christmas: The Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath is usually, made of various evergreens, with four candles – 3 purple and 1 pink- representing the passage of the Four Weeks of Advent, and often a Fifth Candle, white in colour.

>> The Evergreens – symbolize life and freshness while the Prickly leaves remind us of the thorns of Christ

>> The Circle of the Wreath shows the infinity of God and the purple Candles signify the cardinal virtues of faith, love and hope.

>> The Pink Candle – lit on the Third Sunday of Advent called as the Gaudate Sunday – symbolizes joy while the White Candle represents Christ, who is to be the Light of our life.

The Advent Wreath is a reminder that even in the midst of “prickly leaves of sin”…

… we are called forth to trust in the Infinite Power of God and allow our lives to shine forth as candles with Jesus at the centre of our life!

4. Actions to Achieve – Enumerating two or three practical points for life

a. Spend at least 5 minutes every day, to thank God for His numerous blessings in our life

b. At the start of every day, offer all the plans and activities to the Infinite Power of God and seek for His Guidance!

Let us hold Mamma’s Hands and learn from Her, as we pray:

“Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus…

… Be born in me, this Christmas!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The festive season is on…

… the cool air – reminding of the Spirit that hovered at Genesis – blows fast…

… the end of the year – reminding of the need to count blessings – is near at sight…

… the Advent season – reminding of the Desire of the Lord to dwell in us – is already here…

Yes! It is Christmas Time!

Every Christmas is a time for us to celebrate the magnanimity of God’s Love for each one of us…

… revealed in Jesus Christ, the Babe “Who was born for us!” (Lk 2:11)

And perhaps one of the best ways to celebrate Christmas would be to travel with Mother Mary, the One “Who was Highly Favoured” (Lk 1:28).

Yes, let us celebrate, “CHRISTMAS WITH MAMMA MARY!”

This Season of Advent, we hold the Hands of our Blessed Mamma through the Four Marian Dogmas that have been proclaimed by the Church.

(Marian Dogma is a definitive article of faith in relation to Mother Mary, that has been solemnly promulgated as a doctrine as necessary for the belief of all Catholic faithful)

There are Four Marian Dogmas that the Church has promulgated:

a. The Immaculate Conception of Mary

b. The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

c. The Assumption of Mary

d. Mary, the Mother of God

And as we seek to know and understand Mother Mary more, through these Four Dogmas…

1. We will grow in the Love for the Lord…

… because She always tells: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5)

2. We will begin to experience the Joy of the Lord’s Presence…

… because Her presence will make us like Baby John the Baptist “to leap for joy” (Lk 1:44)

3. We will have greater meaning and understanding of our Life…

… because She is always with us in our struggles just as “She was at the foot of the Cross of Jesus” (Jn 19:25)

This “CHRISTMAS WITH MAMMA MARY” will have the following structure:

1. Thoughts to Think – Describing the content

2. Pointers to Ponder – Musing on some questions of reflection

3. Connecting to Christmas – Mentioning about a Christmas entity and connect them to the content that is described

4. Actions to Achieve – Enumerating two or three practical points for life.

So let’s begin our journey of “Christmas with Mamma Mary,” being inspired by the beautiful quote of Venerable Fulton Sheen:

“There is, actually, only One Person in all humanity of whom God has one picture and in whom there is a perfect conformity between what He wanted Her to be and what She is…

… and that is His Own Mother.

>> Mary was thought, conceived, and planned as the equal sign between ideal and history, thought and reality, hope and realization!”

Let us hold Mamma’s Hands and learn from Her, as we pray:

“Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus…

… Be born in me, this Christmas!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!