Pope's Intentions
Universal: That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will.
For Evangelization: That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.
December 22
Commentary of the day
Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716), preacher, founder of religious communities
Treatise on true devotion to the Virgin Mary, 1-6
"He has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness"
In her life Mary was very hidden. This is why she is called “Alma Mater” by the Holy Spirit and the Church: she is a Mother, hidden and secret. Her humility was so profound that she had no other more powerful and continual characteristic while on earth than that of hiding herself from herself and from every other creature that she might be known by God alone.
To satisfy the pleas she made to him to hide, impoverish and humble her, God was pleased to conceal her in her conception, birth, life, mysteries, resurrection and assumption with regard to practically every human creature. Even her parents did not know her and the angels frequently asked each other: “Quae est ista? Who is this?” (Sg 6,10) since the Most High hid it from them or, if he made something of it known to them, he hid from them even more…
What great and hidden things this mighty God did within this marvellous creature, as she herself was obliged to say in spite of her profound humility : « The Almighty has done great things for me ». The world does not know them since it is incapable and unworthy of them.