Day 11: Mary Hidden in Advent-The Exodus

The Burning Bush, Francisco Collantes, 1634, Musee du Louvre

Day 10: The Exodus

     Read The Jesse Tree, pp. 37-41.  Hang ornament (burning bush)
     In the wilderness, God calls Moses to lead the children of Israel out of bondage and into the Promised Land.

     Scripture Reference: Exodus 3-15

     Comment:  When God first appears to Moses in the wilderness, He shows Himself in a bush that burns and burns but does not burn up.  The Fathers of the Church saw in this burning bush an image of Mary who remained a virgin, even though she was the mother of Jesus.  Just as the burning bush was a sign that God would soon free his people from slavery, the Virgin Mother was a sign that God would soon free all of us from the sad effects of the Fall. He is coming to His people to set them free from sin and to bring them into Heaven.

Related Title:  Mary,  Ever Virgin

L'Innocence by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

 "It was not the visible sun, but its invisible Creator who consecrated this day for us, when the Virgin Mother, fertile of womb and integral in her virginity, brought him forth, made visible for us, by whom, when he was invisible, she too was created. A Virgin conceiving, a Virgin bearing, a Virgin pregnant, a Virgin bringing forth, a Virgin perpetual. Why do you wonder at this, O man?" (St. Augustine, Sermons 186:1 [A.D. 411]).

                                                           THE MEMORARE

 Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Here is a detailed listing of the history of the dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary.  Go to this page to read more quotes from the Fathers of the Church.

Day 10: Mary Hidden in Advent-Moses in a Basket

                            Pharaoh's Daughter and Attendants with Moses in a Reed Basket, 1661, Jan de Bray

Day 9:  Moses in a Basket

     Today we will not use The Jesse Tree but instead the Bible.  You could read the story out of a Children's Bible if you have one you like to use.  

     Read:  Exodus 1:8- 2:10.  Hang ornament (basket).
     Although Pharaoh orders all baby Hebrew boys to be killed, Moses's mother hides him and he is miraculously found and raised by Pharaoh's daughter.

     Scripture reference:  Exodus 1-2

     Comment:  Moses's life is spared by the prudence, faith, and courage of his mother so that he might grow up to lead the Israelites to freedom from slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. To give up her son to the Pharaoh's daughter, Moses's mother had to love him more than she loved herself.  By her good counsel, she thought of a plan to save Moses. Our Lady by her faith, prudence, and courage bore Christ in her womb so that He might lead us to freedom from sin and death and into the Kingdom of Heaven. She loved God more than she loved herself.  By her good counsel, she brings us to salvation.

Related Title:  Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel

Quote from Thomas of Villanova in Chapel of Our Lady of Good Counsel

"If in this world
any creature ever loved God
with whole heart,
with whole soul,
and with whole mind,
she was the creature."

+ St. Thomas of Villanova +

Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel

Most Glorious Virgin, chosen by the Eternal Counsel to be the Mother of the Eternal Word made flesh, thou who art the treasurer of Divine graces, and the advocate of sinners, I, thy most unworthy servant, have recourse to thee; be thou pleased to be my guide and counselor in this vale of tears.
Obtain for me through the Most Precious Blood of thy Divine Son, the forgiveness of my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the means necessary to obtain it.
In like manner, obtain for Holy Mother the Church victory over her enemies, and the spread of the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon the whole earth. Amen.
Imprimatur:  + Patrick A. O'Boyle

To learn about the story of the original Lady of Good Counsel image, visit this site.
There are more details on the story of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Gennazzano as well as images for sale here.
ETA: Change of site for information on the miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Day 9: Mary Hidden in Advent-Joseph in Egypt

Joseph Recognized by His Brothers

Leon Pierre Urbaine Bourgeois oil on canvas, 1863

     Day 8: Joseph in Egypt

         Read The Jesse Tree pp. 30-36.  Hang ornament (chalice).

        The story of Joseph recounts his dreams, his betrayal by his brothers, his rise to power in Egypt, and, finally, the story of how he is able to save his family from starvation.  

        Scripture reference:  Genesis 37, 39:1-45:28 (a long and wonderful story)

       Comment:  Joseph suffered much rejection, misunderstanding, and unjust persecution before he finally was chosen by Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, to be responsible for making sure the country had enough grain to last out a seven year famine.  During the famine, Joseph was the man in charge of giving out the grain of Egypt to those who needed it.  His power was second only to Pharaoh himself. His brothers came to him for help when they needed food, and he gave them grain out of the treasury of Egypt. Our Lady is appointed by God to give out the treasury of Heaven to those who come and ask for her intercession.  This treasury has in it all the merits Jesus Christ gained for us during His life, Passion, and death.  In this treasury also are all the merits of Our Lady and all the saints who have ever lived.  Mary dispenses these graces to us when we ask for her aid.

Related title:  Mary, Mediatrix of Graces

    "There are two kinds of mediation.  The first is that one receives something from another, but with some purpose in mind; then the one who has received the gift is not the owner but must use the gift in such a way as has been told to him; meanwhile another received the same gift but for his exclusive property and has the right to administer it as he chooses.

     "The Blessed Mother is in the second category, having received graces in that manner from the Godhead. She is not like a mailcarrier. She does not receive graces from God for an appointed purpose so that She might use them in one way or another. The Immaculate Virgin receives graces from God for Her own exclusive property and She dispenses them to us how She wills, to whom She wills, and inasmuch as She wills, for these are Her own. Here, finally, do we see how holy and great God made His Blessed Mother, and how much we should honor Her.”  St. Maximilian Kolbe

Prayer of St. Bernard to Our Lady

Our Mediatrix and Advocate
O blessed Lady,
you found grace,
brought forth the Life,
and became the Mother of Salvation.
May you obtain the grace for us to go to the Son.
By your mediation,
may we be received by the One
who through you gave Himself to us.
May your integrity compensate with Him
for the fault of our corruption;
and may your humility,
which is pleasing to God,
implore pardon for our vanity.
May your great charity cover the multitude of our sins;
and may your glorious fecundity
confer on us a fecundity of merits. 

Dear Lady,

our Mediatrix and Advocate, 

reconcile us to your Son, 

recommend us to Him,

 and present us to your Son.

 By the grace you found,

 by the privilege you merited, 

by the mercy you brought forth,

 obtain for us the following favour,

 O blessed Lady.

For more wonderful quotes from the saints, doctors, and popes on Mary, Our Mediatrix, visit
EWTN.
An in-depth article on indulgences and the treasury of the Church can be found at New Advent.

First Approved Marian Apparition in USA!

 Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay Rev. David Ricken reads the official pronouncement to officially approve the Marian apparitions of 1859 Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wis.-from AP

     Today, the Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin has officially approved the apparitions of Our Lady to Adele Brise in 1859.  In these appearances, Our Lady urged that children be taught the Faith, saying, "Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the cross and how to approach the sacraments.”  Wise words that we may use to guide our own children in holiness.  As Bishop Ricken commented, "We need to have that same zeal for souls that Adele Brise had. And we need to make sure that we are responsible to our children and to the next generation by providing adequate catechetical formation for them so that they understand the Gospel and that they are able to defend and explain the teachings of the Church. This message is ever ancient and ever new. Each generation must take it.”

Day 8: Mary Hidden in Advent-Joseph's Youth (add for 25 days)

Jacob Receiving Joseph's Coat, Diego Velazquez

Day 8: Joseph's Youth (Add for a 25-day Advent Season)

     Read The Jesse Tree, pp.30-32.  Hang coat of many colors ornament.
     Joseph dreams of his future greatness and his brother's become envious.  They attack him, selling him to slave traders, and telling Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild beasts.  They show Jacob Joseph's blood-covered coat to prove their tale.  Jacob is devastated; Joseph is abandoned to a life of slavery in Egypt.

     Scripture reference:  Genesis 37

     Comment:  Joseph was the light of his father's eyes and the joy of his heart.  He was a favored son, who was to inherit his father's blessing.  Just as Joseph gave such joy to his father, Mary gives joy to us.  She is the Cause of Our Joy, because her obedience to and love of God resulted in our salvation.  Her "Yes!" brought forth the Savior into the world, and her cooperation with God's plan made God-With-Us (Emmanuel) possible.

Related Title:  Mary, Cause of Our Joy

 

     "Through Mary, the Cause of Our Joy, you discover that no where on earth are you more welcomed, no where are you more loved than by Jesus living and truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  He is really there is person just waiting for you." Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Prayer to Our Lady, Cause of Our Joy

O God, Who brought joy to the world 

through the Incarnation of Christ your Son,

grant to us who honor His Mother as Cause of Our Joy

the grace to follow your commandments

and to set our hearts on the true joys of heaven.  

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 

one God for ever and ever. Amen.

-The Missal with readings of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, London, 1997

Day 7: Mary Hidden in Advent-Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Dream, William Blake

Day 7: Jacob's Ladder

     Read The Jesse Tree pp. 26-29.  Hang ornament (ladder).
     Jacob tricks his brother and while fleeing from home dreams of a ladder to Heaven.

     Scripture reference:  Genesis 28:10-22 (Jacob's dream)

     Comments:  In his dream, Jacob sees a ladder reaching to Heaven with angels going up and down from Heaven to Earth.  Jesus applied this vision to Himself when He told Nathaniel, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (Jn. 1:51).  Jesus is our Ladder to Heaven.  In order that we may climb this Ladder without falling, He gives us Mary to help us with her prayers.  The greatest of these prayers is the Rosary.

Related Title:  Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary

     Today people want things that strike and move and that leave deep impressions on the soul. Nor has there ever been anything in the whole history of the world more moving than the wonderful story of the life, death and glory of Our Savior, which is contained in the Holy Rosary. In the fifteen tableaux the chief scenes or mysteries of His life unfold before our eyes. How could there ever be any prayers more wonderful and sublime than the Lord’s Prayer and the Salutation of the angel? All our desires and all our needs are found expressed in these two prayers...You will find that it will be a real Jacob’s ladder with fifteen rungs and by each one of these you will go from virtue to virtue and from light to light.  The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis-Marie de Montfort

To the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

     Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of such brazen impiety, manifest thy power with the signs of thine ancient victories, and from thy throne, whence thou dost dispense pardon and graces, mercifully regard the Church of thy Son, His Vicar on earth, and every order of clergy and laity, who are sore oppressed in the mighty conflict. Do thou, who art the powerful vanquisher of all heresies, hasten the hour of mercy, even though the hour of God's justice is every day provoked by the countless sins of men. For me who am the least of men, kneeling before thee in supplication, do thou obtain the grace I need to live righteously upon earth and to reign among the just in heaven, the while in company with all faithful Christians throughout the world, I salute thee and acclaim thee as Queen of the most holy Rosary.  Amen.

If you are new to praying the Rosary, this website tells you all about the promises, the prayers, and the mysteries of the Rosary.  In this post on EWTN, Fr. Saunders explains the history of the Rosary.

Day 6: Mary Hidden in Advent-Sacrifice of Isaac

Day 6:  The Sacrifice of Isaac
     Read The Jesse Tree pp. 23-25.  Hang  ornament (bundle of sticks).
     Abraham offers Isaac to God as a sacrifice.

     Scripture reference:  Genesis 22:1-19

     Comment:  Abraham had to undergo this great trial of faith.  By faith, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac.  But God stopped Abraham before he could complete the sacrifice and provided a ram instead.  Mary was also asked by God to sacrifice her Son.  She followed Him down the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows) to the hill of Golgotha and to the Cross.  Unlike Abraham, Mary was not spared the death of her Son, but watched as He was crucified.  In her sorrow, Mary's faith never faltered.  She united her will to God's perfect Will.

Related Title:  Mary, Mother of Sorrows

The Virgin Mary, who believed in the word of the Lord, did not lose her faith in God when she saw her Son rejected, abused and crucified. Rather she remained beside Jesus, suffering and praying, until the end. And she saw the radiant dawn of His Resurrection. Let us learn from her to witness to our faith with a life of humble service, ready to personally pay the price of staying faithful to the Gospel of love and truth, certain that nothing that we do will be lost.
— Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus - September 13, 2009 taken from Women for Faith & Family – www.wf-f.org

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS
By St. Bridget

     O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of  God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief, beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption by thy innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only-begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son. that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; and that, persevering till death in His grace, I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.
Mother of love, of sorrow, and of mercy, pray for us.


A meditation on Mary, Mother of Sorrows can be found here.  Read more on this devotion at Women for Faith and Family.

Day 5: Mary Hidden in Advent-Abraham

   
  Please remember that I am posting the lessons one day in advance of the day we actually do them. So, for example, tomorrow, December 5th, we will do the lesson on Abraham that follows.  I hope next year to start right on the First Sunday of Advent, so I will be developing 33 or 34 lessons.  This year, we will need to skip a few, but I'll make a note on the days I think are most expendable.  Praying that your Advent is continuing to be joyful and holy!
 
Day 5:  Abraham

     Read The Jesse Tree pp. 20-22.  Hang ornament (stars).
     God makes a covenant with Abraham, telling him that he will bless all nations through him and that he will make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Abraham believes God.  God blesses Abraham with a son, Isaac.

     Scripture reference:  Genesis 18:1-15 (birth of Isaac)

     Comment:  Abraham is known as our father in faith, because it was through his faith that the Savior would come for all nations and peoples.  Abraham believed in God's promise and it was fulfilled.  Likewise, and in an even greater way, Mary believed in God's promise and became our Mother in faith. Her faith and trust in God led her to answer the angel, "Let it be done to me according to God's Word."  When she said this the Holy Spirit came upon her and Jesus Christ entered into her womb.  She is His Mother and through Him she is our Mother, too.  

Related Title:  Mary, Mother of the Church

     She is our mother—the mother of our life [Jesus], the mother of our redemption [Jesus], the mother of our light [Jesus]. As the apostle [St. Paul] says of our Lord, “He became for us, by God’s power, our wisdom and justice, our holiness and redemption.” [Mary] then, as mother of Christ, is the mother of our wisdom and justice, of our holiness and redemption. She is more our mother than the mother of our flesh. Our birth from her is better, for from her is born our holiness, our wisdom, our justice, our sanctification, our redemption.   St. Aelred of Rievaulx

Prayer from the Association of the Miraculous Medal

O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church to you we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.
Guide and assist our Holy Father and our Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.
Mother of the Church!
Enlighten the People of God along the paths of faith, hope and love! You were given to us as a mother by your Divine Son at the moment of his redeeming death.
Remember us your children, support our prayers to God.
Preserve our Faith, strengthen our Hope, increase our Charity.

Read more about the title Mary, Mother of the Church here.
Fr. Andrew Apostoli writes about Mary, the New Eve and Mary, Mother of the Church in this article, from which the above quote from St. Aelred is excerpted.

Day 4: Mary Hidden in Advent-Noah

     When teaching the Faith to children, the best approach I have found is little and often.  Just 10-15 minutes a day to light a candle, say a few prayers, read a short Jesse tree story, hang an ornament, and then make a few comments about Our Lady is all I do.  Sometimes, though, it takes longer as questions are asked and answered....this is where a child makes the Faith his or her own.


Day 4:  Noah and the Flood
     Read The Jesse Tree pp. 16-19.  Hang ornament (rainbow).
     A cataclysmic flood destroys all mankind.  Only faithful Noah and his family are saved by hiding in a large wooden ark along with many animals.  God promises that He will never again destroy the earth with a flood.

     Scripture reference: Genesis 7:6-9:17

     Comment:  As Noah took refuge in the ark when judgement came to the earth, so also we take refuge in Mary.  She intercedes for us before the Father and she brings us safely to the Son.  Her prayers keep us from sin and strengthen us in temptation.

Related Title:  Mary, Refuge of Sinners

     "There is certainly nothing contrary to faith in this, but the reverse. It is quite in accordance with the sentiments of the Church, which, in its public and approved prayers, teaches us continually to have recourse to this divine Mother, and to invoke her as the "health of the weak, the refuge of sinners, the help of Christians, and as our life and hope."  St. Alphonsus Liguori

Prayer to Mary, Refuge of Sinners by St. Alphonsus Liguori

     O most holy and pure Virgin! O my Mother! You who are the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, the advocate and refuge of sinners! I, a most wretched sinner, now come to you. I honor you, great Queen, and give you humble thanks for the many favors which have come to me in the past through your intercession. I love you, Lady most worthy of all love, and by the love which I bear you, I promise ever in the future to honor you, and to do what lies in me to win others to your love. Receive me as your servant, and cover me with the mantle of your protection, you who are the Mother of mercy! And since you have so much power with God, implore him to deliver me from all temptations, and to give me the grace ever to overcome them. Pray for me that I may love Christ in this world as you love him, and intercede for me that I may have the grace of a good death. O my Mother! by your love for God I beseech you to be at all times my helper, but above all at the last moment of my life. Cease not your supplications until you see me safe in heaven, there for countless ages to bless you and, your holy company, to worship and adore your Son, for ever and ever. Amen.

More lovely reading on Our Lady can be found (for free!) at The Glories of Mary (scroll down). 

Day 3: Mary Hidden in Advent-The Fall

     You may have noticed that we are taking three days to complete the first story about Adam and Eve.   I am going along using the ornaments I already had on hand. Since I had one for Creation, one for Adam and Eve, and a separate one for the Fall, I divided the chapter on Creation into three lessons.  You could combine them if you wanted to, using just the Creation symbol and Mary, Queen of the Universe (or Queen of Creation) as your Marian title.  Also, I didn't begin the Jesse Tree this year until Dec. 1 because we were out of town.  It is preferable to begin the First Sunday of Advent, so extending this first chapter out a few days will make that possible next year.

Day 3:  The Fall

     Read pp. 13-15  in The Jesse Tree. Hang up the ornament (apple).
     Today we hear the sad story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace.

     Scripture reference: Genesis 3:1-24

     Comment:  Eve disobeyed God when she succumbed to temptation and ate the fruit which God had forbidden her not to eat.  Not only that, but she also tempted Adam to sin.  Their sin lost the grace God had given them, which should have been passed on to us, their descendants.  Now we are born without that grace.  This is called original sin.  Mary obeyed God and brought forth our Savior, Jesus Christ, who now restores this grace to us in the Sacrament of Baptism.

Related Title:  Mary, the New Eve

   "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosened by Mary's obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the virgin Mary through faith."  St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies

As a thoughtful expression for mothers-to-be, prayer cards personalized with the name of an expectant mother and statues of “Mary the New Eve” are provided through St. Anthony’s Guild.
  

MARY THE NEW EVE 
O Mary, the new Eve,
You bore the Lord Jesus in your womb
with love beyond all telling.
Hear our prayers especially
for expectant mothers.
May their longing and expectations be
fulfilled with the same joy you
had that first Christmas.
Help us, your children,
to be committed to protecting and
nurturing all life as God first asked of us
when he created all things.
In the spirit of St. Francis, may we see
all creation, weak and powerful,
small and majestic, frail and strong,
human and non-human as
our brothers and sisters.
Blessed are you, for you have
shared your blessings with us,
and are the model of faithful love.
Amen.

+With ecclesiastical approval
 Copyright © 2010 St. Anthony’s Guild. All rights reserved.

 Want to read more about Mary, the New Eve?  John Paul II speaks about her in his general audience of September 18,1996 and Rev. Matthew Mauriello summarizes the teachings of the Church Fathers and Popes in this post.  For the scholars out there, Cardinal Newman comments at length on Mary as the New Eve , including many quotes from the Fathers of the Church.