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December 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Presence of God.

Grace I Ask:
Let me understand how your Immaculate Conception should affect me.

The Idea:
When I recall that Mary was free from the moment of her conception from all stain of original sin, I understand what is said-but does this have any effect on my life? Mary is my mother. She was conceived immaculate because of her divine Son-but her motherhood of me is also affected by her sinlessness.

When I came into the world, I was dead to real life, sanctifying grace. At Baptism I was "born" to this life and, in a sense, Mary became the Mother of this life of mine. Does it mean nothing to me that my mother is completely without sin? A child naturally resembles its mother; at birth the resemblance is slight, because the child has hardly begun to live-but the resemblance grows as the child grows older, and soon it begins to imitate and acquire even the habits and mannerisms of its mother.
How should I resemble Mary? In her sinlessness.

When we want to get a picture of Mary, we think of the words of the Apocalypse: "A woman clothed with the sun"; the meaning is clear if we remember that "darkness" stands for sin, and "light" for sinlessness -- Mary, the supremely sinless, immaculate one.

My Personal Application:
My response to this mother of mine will be, first, to keep all darkness, stain, sin, out of my life. But most importantly, I will imitate this sun-clad mother and her Son -- the Light of the world -- in living my act of consecration to her, and by heeding the call to apostolic action: "So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works"

I Speak to Christ: Lord, I thank you for giving me this great gift-your Immaculate Mother. Fill my soul with this light which is really life so that I may ever more and more be like your Immaculate Mother.

Thought for Today:
“0 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

DAILY SODALITY

December 13

THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE

Presence of God.

Grace I Ask:
To come to know Christ better.

The Idea:
Let us take a look at the Leader who calls us to His service. There is another aspect to following Him that we have not thought much about before. This is the fact that as our leader, Christ shows us in His life the way the battle must be fought, the way the world can be won. For that is what He came on earth to do, and He chose the best way to do it. Men who want to become great in any line of work study the lives and techniques of other who have been great in that line.

My Personal Application:
I want, if possible, to help save the world. Christ is the Savior – He has done the job perfectly as my leader and calls me now to take my part in it, share the task after and with Him. He shows me in His life the best way to do the job. As my life is more like His, so it will be more a successful life for this great work. And to make my life like His, I must study His life carefully and try to understand it.

Have I ever read a book on the life of our Lord? Do I own a New Testament? Read it? Suppose a non-Catholic challenged me today: “You try to tell me about Christ! Have you ever read the four Gospels all the way through?” What’s my answer?

I Speak to Christ
Dear Lord, I will study your life again carefully; read it slowly, thoughtfully in the Gospels. Your life is the most important life ever lived. I will read what other people have written about you. And I want it to be a model of mine. Open my eyes to it.

Thought for Today:
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Learn of me.”