MARY, OUR MOTHER

THE DIVINE BIRTH

2. The Birth.

If oblivion, neglect and even contempt was all that His own brought to the arrival of Jesus, instead look at Mary. Enter that grotto and observe with holy curiosity all that is taking place there. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Mary has come to know that the moment of the birth of Her divine Son is already at hand and tired though She is by the long wearisome journey, yet She has no desire to rest.

Now, more than ever, She draws Herself into most fervent prayer. Her ardent desires and sighs do irresistible violence to the Heart of God. He lets Himself be conquered by Mary's prayer, and when She reaches the peak of ecstasy, the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner acts and Mary opening Her eyes, finds lying on Her mantle, as white as a snowflake, more beautiful than the angels, the Son of God, Her Son. Mary, Virgin before His birth, is also Virgin without blemish in His birth. Just as a sunbeam goes through a crystal without breaking or staining it, so also was the Son of Mary born.

Draw closer confidently and watch that scene. Jesus is about to receive the first adoration and with it the first caresses of a mother. Mary addresses Her God, living there, really and physically present. But as Mother, She is entitled to lift that little Child and imprint on His delicate cheeks the first kiss. With what ardent love She would kiss Him. What a warm embrace, what tender caresses!

Jesus does not feel the poverty of that stable, nor does He feel the cold of the night because the first thing His eyes have seen on opening was the face of His Mother. Have you ever witnessed the charming smile of a little child when it rested its eyes on something pleasant, then try to picture the smile of Jesus on seeing His Mother, so pure, so beautiful, so tender. A Mother and Son do not grow tired of looking at each other. That glance of Mary is joy and consolation for Jesus as the glance of Jesus is an increase of grace and sanctity for Mary.

With what respect and devotion and at the same time with what tenderness and delicacy did Mary wrap the little body of Her Son in the clean though poor swaddling clothes! With what profound sorrow did She place Him on the straw in the manger. God so closely embraced poverty that He had neither house or hut to dwell in. How great, then, is the value of poverty, since the Son of God seems to have associated Himself with it. Ask Mary the grace to know the value of this virtue in order to love and practice it.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]