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POPE ST LEO THE GREAT

MARY CONCEIEVED IN HER SOUL

BEFORE SHE CONCEIVED IN HER BODY

A royal virgin of the race of David is chosen to bear a holy child, the divine and human son whom she conceived in her soul before she conceived him in her body. And lest she be afraid when something so unexpected came to pass, not knowing the divine plan, she was shown in her conversation with the angel  that what was to be accomplished in her would be the work of the Holy Spirit; she would soon be the Mother of God without loss of her virginity.  For why should she lack hope because of the novelty of such a conception, when it was promised that it would be brought about by the power of the Most High? Her trusting faith was confirmed by a miracle already accomplished. Elizabeth was given unhoped–for fertility, so that there would be no doubt that he who granted conception to the sterile could grant it also to a virgin.

And therefore the Word of God, God, the Son of God, who in the beginning was with God and through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made, became man to liberate man from eternal death. Without any diminution of his majesty he stooped to take on our loneliness, so that remaining what he always was and taking to himself what he was not, he might unite the genuine state of a slave to that state in which he was equal with God the Father. By such a bond did he link both natures that this exaltation might not consume the lesser, nor the taking of humanity lessen the higher.

Each nature, then, retains all that was proper to it, yet comes together in one person. And so lowliness is assumed by majesty, weakness by power, mortality by eternity. To pay the debt of our fallen nature, a nature beyond all suffering was united to our suffering nature: and true God and true man are joined in the unity of the Lord. This was so that, as was needed for our healing, one and the same mediator between God and men might, through the one nature, die and, through the other, rise again. Rightly then was virgin integrity marred by giving birth to our salvation, for the birth of Truth was the safeguard of chastity. Such a birth, dearly beloved, befitted Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God, for by it he would be joined to our humanity yet remain far above us in his divinity. Unless he were true God, he could bring us no aid; unless he were true man, he could offer us no example.

The angels therefore exult at the birth of the Lord: they sing; “Glory to God in high heaven”, they announce, “Peace on earth for men on whom his favour rests”. For they behold the heavenly Jerusalem being constructed from out of all the peoples on earth. How greatly ought mere men to rejoice at this mysterious undertaking of divine love, when the angels on high thrill so much at it!

ADVENT

Let us pray to Christ, whom the scriptures foretold, and whose coming we await in this holy season:  

R/. Come, Jesus our Saviour!

Isaiah foretold that the spirit of the Lord would rest upon you: - come to bring us wisdom and understanding.

R/. Come, Jesus our Saviour!

The spirit of counsel and power is given to you; - move thehearts of all who govern or rule.

R/. Come, Jesus our Saviour!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; - teach us to know the Father as he is.

                                                                                                 R/. Come, Jesus our Saviour!

As now we live with you in faith and hope, - prepare us to see the Father face to face.

R/. Come, Jesus our Saviour!