It is currently the liturgical season of Advent, the time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord on Christmas Day. I have been praying the morning and evening Advent prayers of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a way of living out my consecration to Jesus through Mary. I went to Mass on Monday evening to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. December is a lovely month for Marian devotion!
On the day of my consecration, which was the Feast of the Presentation of Mary, I took my daughter to her art class at a Catholic school. I lit a candle at the Mary altar in the church and prayed the consecration prayer written by Fr. Gaitley. I also went into the chapel and prayed before Jesus in the tabernacle, and I prayed the Rosary.
While I have done a consecration to Mary a couple of times before, this was the first time I had done a formal preparation. I consecrated my husband and daughter as well. It felt different this time, more real. I feel like I truly belong to the Blessed Mother now.
I am pushing myself to consistently work on my book about Mary and the sacred feminine in Christianity, with a renewed focus on the Immaculata as Temple of Wisdom. As winter sets in, it will be the ideal time for contemplation, introspection, prayer, and creativity. I encourage all Catholics to draw close to our spiritual Mother and live in the light of her grace.
Am I not here who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow and protection?
Am I not the fountain of your joy?
Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in the cradle of my arms?
--Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego
