Advent Antidotes – Week 2

New video! Be part of the antidote to society’s controlling pessimism by trusting this Advent!

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – A Woman Wrapped in Silence

Drawing by James Hrkach, copyright by James Hrkach…please do not use without permission

Today we celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception. She was conceived “without sin” in her mother’s womb.

On this Feast Day, I’d like to share an excerpt from an article by Catherine Doherty, entitled “A Woman Wrapped in Silence.”

Just think about that strange, incredible, unbelievable faith of a young girl. At fourteen years old she became the Mother of God and the Mother of men. She knew full well that people would not understand that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit. For a long time after her marriage to Joseph she must have been the talk of the town. In those days the women used to wash their linens in ponds. When she brought her linen I’m sure people began to whisper about her. I can just see those gossipy women. But Our Lady never said anything. She was the woman wrapped in silence.

To read the entire article, click on this link at Madonna House.

Sunday Snippets – December 8

Image copyright Ellen Gable Hrkach

Please join me and other Catholic bloggers over at RAnn’s Place for Sunday Snippets where we share posts from the previous week and answer a question.

This week’s question: What is your favorite title for Mary, and why? My favorite title for Mary, the Mother of God, is the Immaculate Conception, not only because December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, but because this is the way Mary introduced herself to St. Bernadette at Lourdes. Mary was immaculately conceived in her mother’s womb, without sin, and we can look to her as a holy example.

Here is my one and only post this week:

7 Quick Takes Friday – Volume 99 (a video preview of the upcoming Christmas musical my husband will be in, Yo Vikings, a mini review and an Advent cartoon, among other things.

Copyright 2013 Ellen Gable Hrkach

The Story of the Immaculate Conception Reflected in Vatican Museum Frescoes

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The following is a link from Rome Reports to a video and article about the Vatican Museum frescoes and a new book about the breathtaking frescoes.

http://www.romereports.com/palio/The-story-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-reflected-in-Vatican-Museum-frescoes-english-3212.html

Of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, St. Maximilian Kolbe said: “…the Holy Spirit lives in the soul of the Immaculate, in her very being, and makes her fruitful from the first instance of her existence and throughout her life…”