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Beauty Unveiled
December 8, 2004

"You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Matthew Reinhardt, Consecrated Member of Regnum Christi

Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin´s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Introductory Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace! Mother, I praise you and congratulate you today as we celebrate your feast. Thank you for the example you gave us while you were on earth. You have taught me how to live so many virtues. Teach me how to pray today so that I may win the grace to live as you did.

Petition:Let it be done to me according to your will.

1. Don’t Be Afraid. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate the moment when the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. From the first moment of life, Mary was sinless, just like Eve before the Fall. Though both were created sinless, only Mary persevered in her immaculate state by fighting to do God’s will. The fight to be faithful is what we can offer God today: “Do not be afraid” to show your love for God by doing his will.

2. God’s the Protagonist. “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Today we celebrate a feast honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the other great Marian feasts we celebrate how Mary generously collaborated with God’s action in her soul. In being immaculately conceived, Mary plays a passive role, while the protagonist is God. God is also the protagonist in our fight to be holy. Often times, the best thing we can do is let go and allow God to take over. He wants to be the protagonist in our striving for holiness today.

3. Getting to Yes. Just as you are doing your daily meditation now, one day Mary, a girl in a poor town of about 500 inhabitants, was doing hers. Suddenly, an angel appears, startles her and proposes to her the sublime mission of being the mother of the Messiah. All creation is pending on her answer as she ponders the message in her heart. One final push by the angel – “For nothing will be impossible for God” – and the young Mary answers, “Let it be done to me.” Though an angel probably won’t appear during your meditation, God’s grace asks you for a yes today just like Mary’s.

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, I thank you for the gift of Mary. She gives me an example of a life perfectly united to your will. Help me today to live as she did, to give myself without thinking of myself, and to be open to what you want to do through me today.

Resolution: I will invite one or more friends or family members to Mass with me today.