Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Lk 1:38)

The tradition of honoring Mary on Saturday is old, dating back to the early Middle Ages, and based on Saturday being the day when the Lord Jesus rested in the tomb after his death on the cross. According to St. Thomas Aquinas (as quoted by Fr. John Hardon), the choice was connected to Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday and the unshaken faith of Mary on the previous day: “Since the Resurrection took place on a Sunday, we keep holy this day instead of the Sabbath as did the Jews of old. However, we also sanctify Saturday in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary who remained unshaken in faith all day Saturday after the death of her Divine Son.” Since Sunday is devoted to Jesus, it would be fitting to dedicate the day prior to his Mother. Her "yes!" to the Archangel Gabriel launched the proximate preparation for the birth of Jesus the Messiah. Maurice Zundel, a Swiss theologian, gave us a beautiful thought as he reflected on Mary, the tenderness of God in which he wrote: “In Mary’s womb a new humanity has blossomed. God did not have to come among us. God did not have to come down from heaven. These traditional words are venerable parables. In reality, God was always there, always present in our innermost being, as if He had never stopped shining in our darkness. It was man who was not there, who was absent from God. It was man who did not perceive within himself the Presence of this invisible sun who is the Living God. It was therefore up to man to come to God! It was up to mankind to be made present to the Eternal Love, and this is what the Athanasian Creed expresses with admirable clarity: ‘Christ is one; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God.’ In other words, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, a new humanity has blossomed. In the womb of Mary, the Eternal Trinity brought forth this new creation of a humanity so transparent to God that the true Face of God could at last be seen in it.” (Mary, the tenderness of God)

During this Advent Season, let us go to God through Mary and find comfort and peace for yourself.

O Blessed Mother Mary, you are the “preparer”, the heart of Advent, draw us closer to your Son, Jesus, each day. Hail Mary full of grace…

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Clare, pray for us.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Peace in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX

DON’T FORGET:  St. Clare’s Advent penance schedule as follow: 

1) Every Wednesday during Advent 7-8:15 AM

2) Every Thursday during Advent from 6-7 PM