In Advent we celebrate the feast of Bibians, a faithful virgin one of the glorious retinue of Mary Immaculate.her virging robe wasdyed in purple of the martyrs. She shed her blood under julian the Apostate,who was striving to extringuish the light of Christianity, she abroad over the earth by the Redeemer.If victims were needed then,they are evenmore necessary in our own time.More true in our days than at the time of Bibians are the words of St.Bernard in his first sermon of Advent. ( M.D.-6)
In the prophecies of old we read that an offshoot of the all-white blossom will come forth from the East. Without over-stressing the value of these prophecies , we can apply them to ourselves .As a religious family,we were born through Divine Providence in the East,so let us be the offering of Mary Immaculate,the souvenir of the triumph of her Immaculate Conception. In order to realize this sublime vocation,let us keep withing our heart and meditate upon these words : “And now ,my daughter,listen to me: Happy those who keep my ways”. (M.D.-17)
The whole life of Mary is there. The salutation of the angel glorified the Immaculate in greeting her full of grace. Her virginal fidelity is proclaimed by Mary herself.Her obedience and faith shine in he words,full of abandonment.”behold the handmaid of the Lord”.
The little house where this mystery was accomplished testifies to the entire world that Mary is the queen of poverty. “Blessed ar those who are admitted into thy house,O Lord,for they will praise thee forever and ever.”Understand then, your happiness,my soul.be humble like Mary at Nazareth, obedient,poor,pure,full of faith and abandonment and like her,repeat: “Behold the handmade of the Lord.”( M.D.-22 )
Missionaries of Immaculate, we have received a share in the graces of the Immaculate Conception.let us ask God to remain humbly faithful to them and beg Mary to help us to crush the serpent’s head in us and in the souls entrusted to our care. (M.D.-32)
Let us, like Blessed Hugolinus,try to understand the ways of God ; let us walk in the steps of Mary and joseph: let us always follow the Incarnate Word in the path of poverty, so that, poor as He was, we may one day ascend into splenders of heaven. (M.D.- 48)
Like the sheperds, listen to the Angel’s invitation, and “come with haste” Jesus, Mary & Joseph forever.Let us rejoice because we are the children of the poor Man of Assisi. If we are very poor, we shall be all the more welcome at the court of Holy Poverty. (M.D.-55 )
The reward of fidelity is not long in coming. The faithful Magi knelt before their king, God,because He is sogreat,manifests Himself by.Mary, because he is so merciful.Jesus smiled upon them, and all the fatigues of the long journey are forgotten. ”Hail !”they cry from the bottom of their hearts. “Hail”! O Emmanuel, O God with us.” They have found at Bethlem all they can desire , the child and His Mother, and also the good St. Joseph, a living example of faithful and persevering love.
Lwt us kneel beside the Magi,and ask through the intercession of St. Joseph Mary, the star of the sea, for ourselves,and for all the present and the future members of the institute, a prompt and generous fidelity ,
Whichwill never fail to enlighten us. (M.D.-86)
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