Even in her cradle, Mary was the delight of the Holy Trinity, the admiration of the angels. “Who is this privileged creature” they ask, “who, at the first dawn of life, is so rich in virtue and adorned with such glory?” And the demons trembled. They beheld her advancing against them strong as an army in battle array. They felt the humiliation of their chief s defeat, and they already foresaw the terrible war that this child of a day would wage against them.[1] – St. Peter Julian Eymard
 
​
Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we ponder on how God delighted in His most wonderful creation: the one who would become the Mother of His Son. We imagine Our Lady, as a babe, her beauty and splendor pointing us to the forthcoming birth of our Savior. St. Peter Julian echoes the words from the Song of Songs as he invites us to open our eyes and see the spiritual reality in front of us. We see the angels marveling at this most beautiful creature, while the demons tremble in fear. “Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, beautiful as the white moon, pure as the blazing sun, fearsome as celestial visions?” (Song 6:10)

This reality present at Mary’s birth is the same one present at our Baptism. Through the waters of Baptism, we become a new creation, heirs of the Kingdom of God. On the day of our Baptism the angels marveled and rejoiced, and the demons trembled in fear. “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” (Eph 2:10) The enemy of our souls will be relentless in trying to blind us to this truth, but we shall not fear, for nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Rom 8:39)

Saint Theresa of Calcutta said that “when you know how much God is in love with you then you can only live your life radiating that love.” Let us ponder on the beauty of our soul. Let us open our eyes and see the reality before us; see how God delights in us. Once we are rooted in His love, we may then go forth and fulfill the good works He has prepared in advance.  As we live our lives radiating His love, we join Mary’s “army in battle array.” We become the marvel of angels and the terror of demons, and we hear the echo resounding through the ages… “Who is this?”
 


[1] http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/48/mode/2up

“How happy is the loving soul when it has found Jesus with Mary, His Mother! They who know the Tabernacle where He dwells, they who receive Him into their souls, know that His conversation is full of divine sweetness, His consolation ravishing, His peace superabundant, and the familiarity of His love and His Heart ineffable. To find Jesus in the arms of His Mother, to unite oneself to Mary’s sentiments as she presses Him to her heart-O What a ravishing moment! … we have Jesus and Mary.”  - St. Peter Julian Eymard, Eymard Library Volume 7 page 70


Dearest Eucharistic Family,

We can find supreme consolation in the above reflection if we imagine and bring to life the reality of being held in the arms of our Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Our good mother carries our pleas to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus where we find the sweetness of His love. In the open heart and silence, we begin to hear the voice of God to explore the truth in the virtues that need to be activated within us. This activation comes from divine grace upon the reception of Holy Communion and the listening to the Word of God. Jesus calls us to believe in Him. He has been inviting us to the divine banquet asking us if we too will leave Him? Once we encounter, befriend and try to love the life of Christ that surpasses all darkness, the words from the Benedictus will echo in our hearts, “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way…” The beating heart of Jesus is found in the Blessed Sacrament, the living God is with us. God our Father confects the humble host into the flesh of Jesus by the power of His love. Love is found in giving, extraordinary and simple. Our Father gave us the supreme gift in His Son who suffered, died and rose to show us the way to true life found in the service of others. Our Lady is the first to trust in the power of God the first to know He can bring life to one who chooses to follow His will. Our Lady believed in Jesus from the announcement of His Incarnation into her body. She believed in Miracles, believed in God, believed in Jesus. The Eucharist is confected by the power of the Most High through the hands of our beloved priests. We press Jesus in our hearts like Mary, we allow Him to dwell in our souls, we find divine life as we love and serve. This is where God is found present in our midst. There is no darkness, no power greater than what Our Father brings to us on the Altar, He who dwells in our Tabernacles, Jesus who lives in our hearts.

“Believe Me” (John 14:11)
“We have Jesus and Mary” (St. Peter Julian)



The Benedictus
​
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.