Verse to Meditate on Throughout the Day
A branch shall sprout from the root of Jesse,
and the glory of the Lord will fill the whole earth,
and all flesh will see the salvation of God. Cf. Is 11: 1; 40: 5; Lk3: 6
Morning Prayer
O God, eternal majesty,whose ineffable Word
the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an Angel
and so became the dwelling-place of divinity,
filled with the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant, we pray, that by her example
we may in humility hold fast to your will.
[Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.]
Prayer of Offering throughout day
Look, O Lord, we pray,
upon the one sacrifice of your Son,
that, by participating in this mystery,
we may possess at last the gifts we have awaited
and for which our faith bids us hope.
Through Christ our Lord.
Verse at end of day
The Angel said to Mary:
Behold, you will conceive and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus. Lk 1: 31
Longer Scripture Reading: Isaiah 48:1-11
Advent Reflection
From a homily In Praise of the Virgin Mother by Saint Bernard,abbot
(Hom. 4:8-9; Opera omnia, Edit Cisterc 4. [1966], 53-54)
The whole world awaits Mary’s reply
You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer;it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady,for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily up onus.
The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die.In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise,hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.
