Introduction to the Christmas Novena and the O Antiphons How can one explain the greatest, most singular event in human history? How can the extraordinary event of God becoming man in a Child be described? How do we account for the fact that God revealed His love in Jesus Christ? The Advent Liturgy invites us […]
The Gospel of the second Sunday of Advent takes the text from the Prophet Isaiah which spoke of, “A voice of one crying out in the desert,” to refer to the mission of St John the Baptist. He prepared his people for the coming of the Messiah by preaching a baptism of conversion for the […]
Mary is the woman clothed with the sun because she is full of grace and is resplendent with the light of the Redemption brought about by Jesus. On earth, Most Holy Mary, makes the sun of her Son, Jesus, shine for us pilgrims in time. To pray the 7th day of the Novena to the […]
The traditional iconography of the Immaculate Conception depicts the Virgin Mary crushing the head of the serpent. This image takes its inspiration from a passage in the first book of the Holy Scriptures where we read: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; it will bruise your […]
Traditional Marian iconography contrasts Eve with Mary. This representation arises from the reflection of the Church Fathers on these two figures. Eve, mother of all living, condemned us with her sin. Mary, with her faith, reopened the doors of Heaven for us, by welcoming the Lord Jesus into her womb. As Tertullain explains well in […]
The woman of the Apocalypse is She who crushes the head of the serpent, thus inaugurating the time of Salvation. This is depicted by the crescent moon placed under her her feet. To pray on the 4th day of the Novena of the Immaculate Conception click here.
The traditional iconography of the Immaculate Conception associates the lily with Mary. This flower symbolizes purity both for its white color and for the sweet scent it gives off. Furthermore, the flower recalls the beauty of Mary who is the most perfect creature of God. To pray on the 3rd day of the Novena of […]
The traditional iconography of the Immaculate always depicts Mary as a young woman. Her youthfulness represents the fact that she is only creature conceived without original sin. Therefore, Mary’s youthful features in the images of the Immaculate Conception indicates that she did not suffer the consequences of original sin. Mary Most Holy is the […]
The traditional iconography of the Immaculate Conception depicts Mary dressed in white and blue. White, the color of purity, represents the candor that the Virgin enjoys, as she is unstained by original sin. The light white robe is then covered by the deep blue mantle, the color of the sky. Blue, therefore, becomes a […]
On the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast in 1925 with the Encyclical Quas Primas so that the Church may honour Christ’s kingship and meditate on what it means to be subject to His ‘sweet’ rule. Indeed, the feast is […]