Day 12: Mother and Child

Day Twelve:
Mother and Child

That young child when it began to weep
With song she lulled him to sleep

The birth of a child is a joyous event, but is also filled with fear, pain, and ultimately, submission to God's will. Christians who honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, point to her phenomenal grace under pressure and her willingness to accept God's call.

A Mary Who Speaks Our Language
On Dec. 12, Mexico's Catholics celebrate their patron, Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose words to an Aztec peasant resonate today: "No soy tu madre?" -- "Am I not your mother?"

Advent: Honoring a Mother-to-Be
No one forces a baby to be born "now" because the impending birth is so exciting. Advent's countercultural message is one of patience.