Living Advent Fully, with Mary

Advent is a privileged time to rediscover the immense mystery of the divine motherhood of the Virgin Mary, as well as her role as our own Mother, in the life of each and every one of us. As redeemed souls, we can only be born in the spiritual sense from the same womb in which Jesus was conceived—the Immaculate womb of Mary.

Of course, we wish to enter the wonderful atmosphere of Advent and fully taste the special grace of this liturgical period. And we are invited to follow the path that leads to the Heart of the Mother of the One who is coming, who has already come, and who remains forever with us: hence his name "Emmanuel," "God with us."

With Mary we go to Nazareth, and from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It is a road paved with great simplicity and humility, where small things matter, where nothing is taken for granted, and where everything is an occasion to give thanks. Indeed, this path is called "smallness" and no one finds it if he or she does not leave the tortuous paths of self-sufficiency.

Living Advent with Mary means to espouse what the world holds in contempt and judges weak: namely, smallness. Jesus makes it very clear in the Gospel: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18: 3)

Source: Notre Dame des Neiges