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Feast of Immaculate Conception
December 2024
My Dear Sisters,
On December 8th we will celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Traditionally we have three days before the feast in order to reflect and pray. Our Founder, Fr. Medaille, thought it was important for us to have this time to bring our deepest desires to Mary asking her to obtain for us from her Son, Jesus, an ardent desire for the salvation of the neighbour and a great purity of intention in our conduct” (Spiritual Directory)The Feast of the Immaculate Conception centres on the belief that Jesus's mother, the Virgin Mary, was conceived without sin. The feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast celebrating Mary's conception without sin, her “Yes” to being the Mother of God.
This year we are deep into preparation for our General Chapter in May 2025. We are reflecting and discerning our way forward and dwelling on the thresholds we need to cross together. What are the new things we need to embrace in our Entity? These thresholds were also the concern of Mary Mother of God. What were the challenges that she had to face and embrace in her life?
When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to bear the Son of God, her simple response was “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word…..” What has this to say to us as we reflect on our Chapter theme? What does it mean to be the handmaid of the Lord or to let something “be done according to your word”. What relevance does this have in my life as I discern the thresholds we need to cross together in my Entity and the things that I need to let go of that no longer serve us well?
Mary opened the door of her own heart in an act of faith to the word given to her by the Angel Gabriel. She shows us what it means to take a step in faith. By saying “yes” and taking this step in faith she totally surrendered herself to God’s will for her. What is God’s will for us at this stage of our journey as Sisters of St. Joseph? What is God’s will for our Entity at this moment in time? Am I open to surrendering myself to the will of God just as Mary did? Mary said “yes” to the unknown. This is the challenge for us as a Congregation now. To be open to the unknown and to step out in faith together. “May it be done to us according to your will.” Is this my answer too? When I know what it is that God is asking of me, am I ready to completely submit myself to His will? Could it be that in your surrender or acceptance of Gods will for you, God might open the door for someone else through you? Am I truly His handmaid and ready to serve Him no matter what? This is what it means to be open to receive the Holy Spirit in His fullness into my life so that I might be filled with grace.
The changes that happen in our Entities and in our Congregation, depend on the personal responses of each of us to the invitation of the Spirit of God. Mary our Mother has been our role model and example. As we prepare for this General Chapter, let us reflect prayerfully on the way that the Lord guides us across each threshold on this journey of faith. The first stages of this faith journey always begins with a simple “yes”. Let us be inspired by Mary on our journey of faith by her example. She showed tenacity, courage, forgiveness, kindness and a deep spirit of prayer. These are the values that will inspire us as we face the future and make the necessary changes, addressing our issues. Mary took a leap in faith. She had to let go of her plans and say “Yes” to a life of faith. In spite of her awareness of her own unworthiness and littleness, she had to say “Yes” to become the mother of God and all that it would entail. She was asked to let go of her plans and let God take over her life. I share this short poem with you which is a blessing on the crossing of thresholds:
God of the Threshold,
you forever reveal to us new doorways in our lives,
powerful crossing-over places filled with possibilities.
Give us courage to stay awake and alert
to all the moments when these portals appear.
Inspire us to dance and sing as we wander
into liminal spaces, where the old is stripped away
and the new is waiting to be born.
Holy midwife, sit with us in the waiting,
bring us guidance in the form of signs and symbols:
a stone, a leaf, the song of the river, a night dream,
and infuse us with the wisdom to pay attention.
So, as we once again celebrate this great feast of the Immaculate Conception, we are conscious that we are in the Liturgical period of Advent, a time of waiting for the something to come to birth. Let us pray for each other that we will be blessed with the wisdom and patience of Mary and that something new will come to birth in our Congregation and in each of us as we await the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Let us be open and receptive to grace this Advent. May each one of us, like Mary, be filled with the courage we need.
I take this opportunity to wish you all the blessings of this great feast and a peaceful and reflective Advent.
Sr. Breda Gainey SSJA
Superior General