Friday of the first week of Advent - 8 December 2023 - The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Advent Reflection

I love the feast of the Immaculate Conception that we celebrate in the midst of our Advent season each year in our preparation for Christmas. We celebrate Mary in different ways during Advent, hearing about her in the readings and celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. This is a wonderful prayer that Pope Francis prayed at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception back in 2016. He prayed these words at the Spanish steps in Rome.

O Mary, our Immaculate Mother, on your feast day I come to you, and I come not alone: I bring with me all those with whom your Son entrusted to me, in this city of Rome and in the entire world, that you may bless them and preserve them from harm.

I bring to you, Mother, children, especially those who are alone, abandoned, and for this reason are tricked and exploited. I bring to you, Mother, families, who carry forward life and society with their daily and hidden efforts; In a special way, the families who struggle the most for their many internal and external problems.

I bring to you, Mother, all workers, both men and women, and I entrust to you especially those who, out of need, are forced to work in an unworthy profession. And those who have lost work or are unable to find it.

We are in need of your immaculate gaze, to rediscover the ability to look upon persons and things with respect and awareness, without egotistical or hypocritical interests. We are in need of your immaculate heart, to love freely, without secondary aims but seeking the good of the other, with simplicity and sincerity, renouncing masks and tricks. We are in need of your immaculate hands, to caress with tenderness, to touch the flesh of Jesus in our poor, sick, or despised brethren, to raise up those who have fallen and support those who waver. We are in need of your immaculate feet, to go toward those who know not how to make the first step, to walk on the paths of those who are lost, to find those who feel alone.

We thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us you free us of all stain of sin; you remind us that what comes first is the grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us, the strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things. Let us not give in to discouragement, but, trusting in your constant help, let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self, of this city and of the entire world. Pray for us, Holy Mother of God! AMEN.

Blessings to all of you as we celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary today. Father Lincoln.