PREPARING OUR
HEARTS
Today the Virgin is on her way to the cave
where she will give birth to the eternal Word of God in an ineffable
manner. Rejoice, therefore, O’ universe
when you hear this news, and glorify, with the angels and the shepherds, him
who shall appear as a young child, being God from all eternity.1
Today, as we prepare our hearts for
the birth of the Savior of our souls, let us, under the guidance of Saint
Bernard, contemplate the beauty of the Virgin and her place in the work of our
salvation. For, as the Holy Prophet
Isaiah prophesied regarding her, “There shall come forth a rod from the stump
of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Is 11:1).
O
Virgin, Sublime Rod, to what holy eminence are you come on high? Even to the very throne, even to the Lord of
all Majesty? And what wonder, since to the very depths
thou dost send down the roots of thy own humility. O Truly Celestial Blossoming Rod, more
precious, more holy, than all the rest!
O True Wood of Life, that alone was found worthy to bear the fruit of
salvation!
Thou
art caught, evil serpent, in the trap of thine own cunning, thy falsity is laid
bare. Two things you had charged against
your Creator: you had accused Him of falsehood, and of envy. But in either case it is you that is proved
the liar. Because as to the first
charge, he died to whom you said: “No, you shall not die the death” (Gen
3:4). And answer Him now if you can, of
what tree, or, of the fruit of what tree, should He be envious, Who refused us
not even this chosen branch, and its sublime fruit? “For he that spared not even his own Son, and
how hath He not also, with Him given us all things” (Rom 8:32).
[Brethren],
the Royal Virgin is Herself the Way through which the Saviour comes, coming
forth from her womb “as a bridegroom coming forth from his bridechamber.” Holding fast then to this way, let us strive,
Beloved, to ascend through Her to Him, Who through Her has come down to us; to
reach by Her aid to His divine forgiveness, Who came by way of Her to take away
our woe.
Through
thee have we access to Thy Son, O Blessed Discoverer of Grace, Mother of Life,
Mother of Salvation! May He through Thee
forgive us, Who by Thee was given unto us.
May thy blameless integrity plead with Him, that He look not upon our
corruption; and let thy humility that so pleases God, obtain the pardon of our
pride.
Let
thy boundless charity cover the multitude of our sins, and thy glorious
fruitfulness bring us an abundance of mercies.
Our Lady, Our Mediatrix, present us to Thy Son. Speak for us to Thy Son. Grant, O Most Blessed, through the graces
thou hast earned, through the privileges thou hast merited, through the mercy
thou hast received, that He Who deigned by means of Thee, to become a Sharer of
our infirmity and sorrow, may through thy intercession make us sharers of His
Glory and of His Joy, Jesus Christ Thy Son Our Lord, Who is above all God the
Blessed unto ages of ages. Amen2
1 Kontakian of Advent, Festal Menaion.
2 Bernard of Clairvoux, The Advent of the Lord and its Six Circumstances (Hom. 1)
