How to prepare for this Christmas?
One of the most obvious questions one would ask in these preparatory days before Christmas is the following one: How to prepare for this Christmas?
St Faustina had the big grace of being taught by Mary, the Mother of God, how to best prepare herself for Christmas. In entry 785 of her Diary, St Faustina recounts what Mary taught her about how she was to prepare for Christmas.
November 29,[1936]. The Mother of God has taught me how to prepare for the Feast of Christmas. I saw Her today, without the Infant Jesus. She said to me: My daughter, strive after silence and humility, so that Jesus, who dwells in your heart continuously, may be able to rest. Adore Him in your heart; do not go out from your inmost being. My daughter, I shall obtain for you the grace of an interior life which will be such that, without ever leaving that interior life, you will be able to carry out all your external duties with even greater care. Dwell with Him continuously in your own heart. He will be your strength. Communicate with creatures only in so far as is necessary and is required by your duties. You are a dwelling place pleasing to the living God, in you He dwells continuously with love and delight. And the living presence of God, which you experience in a more vivid and distinct way, will confirm you, my daughter, in the things I have told you. Try to act in this way until Christmas Day, and then He himself will make known to you in what way you will be communing and uniting yourself with Him (Diary, 785).
The advice of the Virgin Mary is so interesting. First she delineates the importance of silence and humility, which, as it were, are the context or the soil in which the seed of interior life grows. This ambiance makes Jesus rests in such a heart which is full of silence and humility. Furthermore, these two virtues help the person to adore Jesus in the heart. Mary is the Mother of Graces because through her intercession St Faustina was to obtain the grace of an interior life which is then reflected in the most diligent way Faustina was to carry out her duties.
Our Lady encouraged Faustina to dwell with Jesus because He is her real strength. She encouraged her not to be distracted in fruitless words but only she was to communicate with others on what is necessary according to her duties. On Christmas Day Jesus was going to show St Fuastina how she was going to commune and unite herself with Him.
This beautiful paragraph from St Faustina’s Diary reminds us that Faustina was to follow Mary in her living the Mystery of Christmas. The Gospel of Luke tells us how in these two following verses: But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19). And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).
Lord Jesus, give me the grace to hold you in silence and humility as your Mother Mary did. Amen.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
