Introduction to the Christmas Novena

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 […]

Second Sunday of Advent

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 […]

Advent: Preparing for the coming of the Lord

Each year, on the 1st Sunday of Advent, the Church heralds the start of a new year. A new year is often a time of ‘resolutions’, ‘new start’ or even renewal. The Church’s year is no different! As the Lord prepared Israel for the coming of the Messiah over the course of 4,000 years, it […]

Novena to the Immaculate Conception. Day 9 Pray for us to the Lord Jesus Christ

Tota Pulchra Tota pulchra es Maria, et macula originalis non es in te. Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri, tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria! O Maria! Virgo prudentissima, Mater clementissima, ora pro nobis, intercede pro nobis, ad Dominum Iesum Christum. You are all beautiful, Mary, and the stain of original sin […]

Novena to the Immaculate Conception. Day 8 Mother most merciful

Tota Pulchra Tota pulchra es Maria, et macula originalis non es in te. Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri, tu advocata peccatorum.O Maria! O Maria! Virgo prudentissima, Mater clementissima, ora pro nobis, intercede pro nobis, ad Dominum Iesum Christum. You are all beautiful, Mary, and the stain of original sin is […]

The Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 7

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 […]

Novena to the Immaculate Conception. Day 7 Your name is blessed for us O Mary

Tota Pulchra Tota pulchra es Maria, et macula originalis non es in te. Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri, tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria! O Maria! Virgo prudentissima, Mater clementissima, ora pro nobis, intercede pro nobis, ad Dominum Iesum Christum. You are all beautiful, Mary, and the stain of original sin […]

Novena to the Immaculate Conception. Day 6 You are the advocate of sinners

Tota Pulchra Tota pulchra es Maria, et macula originalis non es in te. Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri, tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria! O Maria! Virgo prudentissima, Mater clementissima, ora pro nobis, intercede pro nobis, ad Dominum Iesum Christum. You are all beautiful, Mary, and the stain of original sin […]

Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 6

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 […]

Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 5

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 […]