Mary the Immaculate - "A model of holiness"

Although poor in quality and cut up... this picture of me with my first beautiful daughter, Ruth, is very cherished and speaks volumes of the tender closeness and bond between mother and newborn child.  We seem to be one as she melts into me.  I am sure any mother can go back to the feeling of closeness and love and the joy of sharing the mystery and miracle of this little life that came from love, and is now dependant on me for that life to develope and grow.  Firstly we must attend to their bodily needs, and feed them with the milk that we produce for them, but all areas of their lives also are to be tended to... they need to know that they are loved most of all, and we always shared mass as a family every Sunday...even days after birth!  We put our faith, as a family, first.  When we shared on our first date that we wanted to be open to a large family...we knew that we needed to be serious about raising "lights for the world."  The Holy Father asks us to consider being open to families raised in the faith and love of Jesus Christ!  It is a big beautiful responsiblity to share the wonder of our amazing Church with all her wisdom!  Today is the feast day of The Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God.  She is so amazing to me as a mother and woman of faith... she is my "model of holiness."  It gives me so much happiness and joy to have her with me on this journey... she brings to me a slice of heaven in my family life!  I love to imagine how it was in the home of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus!  Sometimes when an especially wonderful/beautiful sharing or happy moment... I think that I can "see" how their home was.  And how important is it to lift up families to her... we need our spiritual Mother in our homes!

There is that Lamb... to remind us of the sacrifice and suffering that we all must have as we follow Him, and carry our cross down the narrow path laid out before us!  As Mary said when asked to carry in her Immaculate Womb - God..."Behold,the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word."  May we have that same reverence, awe and willing spirit to welcome each new life from our wombs as a beautiful Light to the world - Christ to the world!  Imagine how different and changed for the better the world would be if we treated each new life in this way!  For they truly are the image and likeness of God, and this does not mean that we indulge and spoil them... no they are raised with discipline and with humility and knowing that the material world does not bring lasting happiness!  They are raised with the ability to look not at themselves and their needs, but at those of others surrounding them...  These beautiful thoughts this morning from Fr Philippe (2006) about the Immaculate Conception..."The first mystery of mercy is the Immaculate Conception, the prevenient mercy of the Father towards his little child... This haste of love that anticipates allows us to 'touch' the Father's mercy.  When we see someone next to us suffering or crying, we feel sorry for him and rush to help him, immediately.  The haste is the very mark of mercy... haste is necessary."  Who would have thought that the Immaculate Conception of our Lady in preparation for the Coming of LIFE into the world is filled with His Mercy?  Yes, it makes sense, and we as mothers are given the task of raising Lights of Mercy!  Those that go with haste to assist those that are suffering and crying... Servants of others!

One of my favorite pictures is this one that my dad must have taken of my mom with me... her first child!  So beautiful... and how loved and special I was made to feel by my parents!  There is a huge anniversary coming up in our family... our 40th anniversary of becoming Catholic on Christmas Eve midnight mass in 1971!  As a united "family of faith" all 13 of us - 11 children and my parents - all took our first communion together at the Cenacle Convent in Wayzata, MN!  We will be gathering for our annual Christmas Camp the weekend before Christmas and there are big plans underweigh for us to make this a momentous anniversary celebration!  We are planning foremost to share a family mass together, and that now involves from 60-70 with all the little ones that are coming fast and furious!   Life is so cherished in our extended family... as our parents were such a model to us of welcoming and loving life.  They instilled in us that all life is to be cherished, and to know that my mother's devotion to Mary was really what first opened the door to the Catholic Church!  A minister's wife, she started to be drawn to things Catholic through Mary... where else can we be if we love and appreciate her in all the many ways?  There is so much Truth that we know to be true about her, and it allows us to have a little slice of heaven in our homes and lives!  His Mercy - her Immaculate Conception is just  the first step in God coming to dwell among us and within us!  She brings Christ to us, and we ask for a pure and contrite heart!

Jesus with your glorious Mother... "for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bride adorned with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10... at your side... we are filled with such joy and gratitude this day.  Our families flourish, and blossom, and produce much fruit... with the assistance and instruction of your humble amazing Mother, Mary Most Holy!  We ask for her to come more fully into the heart of families...those that do not know you and are misled by the lies of the world.  There are so many hard and dark things that are pulling families away from you.  We need the beauty, joy,life and love of mothers and fathers that know and love you... we need lights of mercy to fill the world.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For you preserved the Most Blessed Virgin Mary from all stain of original sin, so that in her, endowed with the rich fullness of her grace, you might prepare a worthy Mother for your Son and signify the beginning of the Church, his beautiful Bride without spot or wrinkle.

She, the most pure Virgin, was to bring forth a Son, the Innocent Lamb who would wipe away our offences; you placed her above all others to be for your people an advocate of grace and a model of holiness.

And so, in company with the chiors of Angels, we praise you, and with joy we proclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts..."

Preface: The Mystery of Mary and the Church

Rejoice on this special day... just got word that a wonderful family celebration is becoming a beautiful work of art!  Thank you, Lord!