Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

Mother of the Creator
The One who created me
has rested in my tabernacle. ~ Eccl. 24

Klauber engraving

A green shoot came forth
from the Root of Jesse 

and moved forth from the roots
her to climb.

VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD 

Elevated above the heart of Angels and above all Saints

Mother of the Angels

Near to Jesus one finds happiness.

Hand colored Bouasse Lebel

May your soul, like a mystical bee, 

never abandon the dear little King 

and may everything within it be for Him. 

~ St. Francis de Sales

Come my Jesus, come into my heart. Let us prepare for him a bed of roses and lilies! ... 

Angels of the Lord, come help me to worship the Lord of heaven and earth.

Bouasse Lebel 916

OH, MY SON! OH, MY GOD!

HE DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN, THE LITTLE CHILD

He weeps for your sins.

He smiles on your tears.

Christians together,

Happy together.

The Joys of Divine Advent.
I come, Jesus says, to bring fire to the earth.

Innocence watches over...

The Little Jesus

Blessed be the Most Holy and Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Indulgenced Prayer Pope Pius VI. 21 Nov. 1793

Fourth Sunday in Advent

As the deer longs for streams of living water, 

so my soul longs for you, O God.

Psalm 42 

Queen Conceived Without Sin

Our Lady of Lourdes.

Immaculate Conception

She will arise from the midst of her people; 

she will be admired in the assembly of the saints. Ecc. 24:3  

Bouasse Lebel 75B

IMMACULATA!

Mother of love, cover with your mantle my poor flower.

Life-Giving Fountain

This image is based on the icon by this name venerated in the Christian East.
collage - hand colored and hand made 
in the mid 1800's

THIS IS THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

the moon under her feet
and on her head a crown of 12 stars ~ Rev. 12:1

Bouasse Lebel 585

St. John of the Cross: Carmelite Solemnity, December 14

St. John of the Cross, Doctor of Mystical Theology

(Spiritual Canticle music)

Third Sunday in Advent

As the deer thirsts for the source of living water 

so my soul for you, Lord. I fly away to you, and I arrive.    Based on Psalm 21:2

Benzieger Brothers, Einseideln

Feast of Our Lady of Guadelupe, December 12

Immaculate Conception after Murillo

Dopter

Translation of the Holy House of Loreto: Feast Day, December 10

Flemish engraving by Lodewyk Joseph Fruytiers hand-colored Amsterdam, circa late 1700's

LINKS:

Holy House of Loreto

A touching story

VIRGIN CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN

Deign to accept that I publish your praises.  
Felix

The Immaculate Conception: Solemnity, December 8

Immaculate Mary

Breval

For additional images that celebrate this great Mystery visit

small album ~ Virgin Mary, Love's Pure Light

Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

FLOWERS OF THE EARTH

I breathed the fragrance of their virtue, and drew them to myself 

to form the heart of my Mother.

Bouasse Lebel 103

2nd Sunday in Advent

As the deer longs for streams of living water

so my soul longs for you, O God.

~ Psalm 42

Saint Nicholas Day, December 6th

St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra Greek (270 –  346) Because his relics were translated to Bari in southern Italy in 1087, he is also known as St. Nicolas of Bari. His holy relics poured healing myrrh, and even today, fragrant myrrh  streams through many of his icons.

Sermon by St. Augustine for the
Feast of St. Nicholas