Mary Speaks From the Heart

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1: 46 � 55)

A surprised Mary is afraid

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, 11 and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:30-33)

A perplexed Mary is confused

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." (Luke 1:34 � 37)

An astonished Mary is faithful

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. During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38-45)

---

More Advent & Christmas

Advent & Christmas 2024

Begins Sunday, December 1, 2024

Ends on Sunday, December 24, 2024

"And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'"

Search Search Advent & Christmas

Christ the King

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Christ the King Day is a Catholic celebration that takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year in the Catholic faith. continue reading

Advent 2024 starts on Sunday, December 1, 2024

Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
[holy day of obligation]

Monday, December 9, 2024

Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, ... continue reading

Advent 2025 ends on Sunday December 24, 2025

Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.

Christmas
Birth of Our Lord Jesus
[holy day of obligation]

Monday, December 25, 2024

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. continue reading

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
[holy day of obligation]

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ. continue reading

Epiphany

Monday, January 6, 2025

The Epiphany signifies the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus. continue reading

Advent Reflections

Reflection for every day of Advent

Advent is a period of waiting, like Lent. We are called to obtain the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to pray and fast, as we await the arrival of our ... continue reading

Advent Calendar

Every day of Advent

An Advent calendar has become a tradition for many families when celebrating Advent and the Christmas season. continue reading

Advent Candle

24 Days of December

An Advent candle is a neat way to mark off the days until Christmas. Such candles are commonly found in churches and sometimes in homes. continue reading

Advent Wreath

Each Sunday of Advent

The wreath's symbolism of the advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the ... continue reading

Advent & Christmas Classes

14 Free Classes - Mobile Friendly

You’re joining our global classroom. Thousands of students from all over the world, each with their own unique story, learn at their own pace on ... continue reading

Advent & Christmas PDFs

FREE - Printable - Catholic

Free Advent & Christmas PDFs for anyone, anywhere; Use in your Parish Church - School - Bulletin Inserts. continue reading

Christmas Gifts

Free Shipping $70+

Make This Christmas Special with Gifts from Catholic Online Shopping. continue reading

Nativity Scene

Holy Family

The Nativity Scene is a meaningful expression for our religious faith. With it, we provide a captivating visual focus during the Christmas season. continue reading

St. Nicholas

December 6th

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas. continue reading

Shop Gifts for Mom | 15% Off!

Advent? What is it all about

The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The Lord is coming. We may reflect that every year at this time we celebrate his coming... continue reading

More Advent

Why is it Important
Advent Conversion
Advent Prayers
Advent Reflections
An Advent Search for God
Collections for Advent
Divine Preparations
The Lord Will Come
Time for Preparation
What the Catechism says

The Christmas Story

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of... continue reading

More Christmas

O Antiphons
Last Eight Days
12 Days of Christmas
Origin of 12 Days
The Epiphany
Christmas Prayers
The Manger and the Cross
Christmas Cookies
A Blessed Christmas
The Christmas Gift

Advent Daily Readings

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby... continue reading

Explore More

Mother of our Lord
Jesus Family Tree
About Isaiah
Christmas Gift Guide

Enjoy Daily Readings? Pay it Forward

Mary Speaks From the Heart
A Young Mother Gives Birth
Mary Remembers
A Life of 'Yes'
Jesus’ Mother is Our Mother

A Birth Foretold
The Witnesses Gather
The Plan Unfolds
Redeemer in the Womb
The Real Christmas Gift

Ideas to Make Your Christmas Special
Traditions From Around The World
Christmas Quotes
How to Handle Christmas Stress

---

More Advent & Christmas

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

Bishop Strickland's Christmastide Message: A Call to Repentance and Courageous Discipleship

As we begin a new year, Bishop Strickland offers us a powerful reflection to carry through Christmastide and beyond. His words remind us of ... continue reading

---

The Deacon Saint Stephen the Proto-Martyr is a Model for all Christians

In the Catholic Church, Christmas is celebrated for eight days (Octave, from the Latin Octava) and opens up into a wonderful liturgical ... continue reading

---

They are waiting for you. Will you answer?

---

Love is Born on Christmas Morn, and the World is Born Anew Watch

The Gospel passages proclaimed at the Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas root the Nativity of the Lord, in the family history and ... continue reading

---

Rediscovering the True Importance of Christmas for Catholics

As the world becomes increasingly secularized, the true significance of Christmas can often be overshadowed by commercialism, distractions, ... continue reading

---

5 Ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year

Christmas is a magical time of year when decorations line the streets, children are suddenly behaving and the Post Office struggles to keep ... continue reading

---

Get your oven mitts ready, it's time to bake Christmas cookies! Watch

Logs are burning in the fireplace and a sweet holiday tune escapes from the stereo. Christmas is here and it's time to break out those eggs ... continue reading

---

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »