A 2nd Sunday of Advent Thought that Includes the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
We continue in anticipation mode on this 2nd Sunday of Advent. Christmas will be here in 17 days - the celebration of the first appearance of the Savior of us all. While he appeared to us for the first time at His Birth, He had already entered our world nine months before when He was conceived by the Virgin Mary.
It's important to distinguish between the Incarnation and the Nativity of Our Lord. I bring this us up as a result of a recent conversation with a friend. He reminded me that many Catholics - even priests - refer to Christmas Day as the Feast of the Incarnation. But that's not when Jesus was incarnated God made man. He was incarnated when Mary said "Be it done unto me according to thy word" on the day we celebrate as the Annunciation.
It's important that we note this day, March 25th, as being 9 months before Christmas Day, December 25th. The union of the Divine and human nature of Our Lord - known as the Hypostatic Union - began on the day of the Annunciation with Mary's "fiat" (""Be it done unto me according to thy word").
It's especially important in this age when millions of innocent children have already been slaughtered by the heinous act of abortion. While abortions have been performed in the past, never has this crime against humanity been perpetrated in such vast numbers until our own age, beginning with the Supreme Court's "Roe v. Wade" decision that opened the floodgates to the greatest genocide in human history. Ever since, abortions flow with industrial efficiency both in our own country and throughout the world.
The world has never witnessed slaughter on such a massive scale. Evil has never triumphed with such ease as we have witnessed since Planned Parenthood and other "enterprises" began performing "legalized" abortions.
Can you now see why the distinction between the Incarnation and the Nativity must be recognized? That distinction provides the spiritual foundation of our sincere desire to see the end of our murderous modern wave of abortions. Recognizing that the life of Our Savior began at His conception will provide the spiritual and practical fuel to energize us all in our efforts, be they in prayer, in sacrifice, or in direct demonstrations.
And so this 2nd Sunday of Advent can serve as a reminder to us all: The Incarnation took place at the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ as true God and true man on the day of the Annunciation. On Christmas Day we will celebrate the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A simple but important distinction, don't you think?
Oh, and let's not forget that today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year it falls on the 2nd Sunday of Advent. The traditional calendar of Holy Mother Church celebrates this wonderful feast day today, along with the 2nd Sunday of Advent. In the new calendar, the feast is moved to tomorrow. Don't ask; that's just the way our post-Vatican II shepherds decided was best. Either way, don't forget Our Lady and her special feast day.
It's important to distinguish between the Incarnation and the Nativity of Our Lord. I bring this us up as a result of a recent conversation with a friend. He reminded me that many Catholics - even priests - refer to Christmas Day as the Feast of the Incarnation. But that's not when Jesus was incarnated God made man. He was incarnated when Mary said "Be it done unto me according to thy word" on the day we celebrate as the Annunciation.
It's important that we note this day, March 25th, as being 9 months before Christmas Day, December 25th. The union of the Divine and human nature of Our Lord - known as the Hypostatic Union - began on the day of the Annunciation with Mary's "fiat" (""Be it done unto me according to thy word").
It's especially important in this age when millions of innocent children have already been slaughtered by the heinous act of abortion. While abortions have been performed in the past, never has this crime against humanity been perpetrated in such vast numbers until our own age, beginning with the Supreme Court's "Roe v. Wade" decision that opened the floodgates to the greatest genocide in human history. Ever since, abortions flow with industrial efficiency both in our own country and throughout the world.
The world has never witnessed slaughter on such a massive scale. Evil has never triumphed with such ease as we have witnessed since Planned Parenthood and other "enterprises" began performing "legalized" abortions.
Can you now see why the distinction between the Incarnation and the Nativity must be recognized? That distinction provides the spiritual foundation of our sincere desire to see the end of our murderous modern wave of abortions. Recognizing that the life of Our Savior began at His conception will provide the spiritual and practical fuel to energize us all in our efforts, be they in prayer, in sacrifice, or in direct demonstrations.
And so this 2nd Sunday of Advent can serve as a reminder to us all: The Incarnation took place at the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ as true God and true man on the day of the Annunciation. On Christmas Day we will celebrate the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A simple but important distinction, don't you think?
Oh, and let's not forget that today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year it falls on the 2nd Sunday of Advent. The traditional calendar of Holy Mother Church celebrates this wonderful feast day today, along with the 2nd Sunday of Advent. In the new calendar, the feast is moved to tomorrow. Don't ask; that's just the way our post-Vatican II shepherds decided was best. Either way, don't forget Our Lady and her special feast day.
Happy 2nd Sunday of Advent!
Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!
Divine Infant of Bethlehem
Come and take birth in our hearts!
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