The real Advent of Mary lasted nine months

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.” (Lk 1:26-27)

In the Book of Genesis, we will find the announcement of a woman who will accept the fight against evil and ultimately defeat it. The record of words that speak of enmity between a woman and her offspring is called protoevangelium. They are proof that Israel was expecting a Savior who would be somehow connected with the person of the extraordinary Woman. We can say that this is the first Advent prophecy that outlines the further fate of man and the history of salvation. On it will be based all the other messianic signs of the Old Covenant. Therefore, Mary is the Bride of the Covenant that God makes anew with his people.

Saint Paul understood this when he wrote: " when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law". Someone will say that this is just a tautology, because everyone has a mother and is born from a woman. Why emphasize the obvious? But it is a matter of showing the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Israel through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah. The fullness of time is the term for a fulfilled Advent. Time "passed" and had to bear fruit. The coming salvation demanded the freedom and consent of man. Mary was the first of the people to respond positively to this call. She agreed “to marry” the Word. Her willingness to serve can be summed up in a short exhortation: "Tota Tua" – All yours. There is no room for one's own plans and ambitions here. Either God or nothing! In its essence, Marian Advent expresses the spiritual richness of Mary's attitude. The Church learns from Mary and with Mary to welcome the Lord and to await his coming. There is no better example.

In this expectation, there was a meeting that played a significant role. It was a turning point in Mary's life. We are talking about the Annunciation. From the moment of conception in the family of Joachim and Anna, there was a kind of Advent, which was fulfilled in the house of Nazareth. Mary was prepared by God for the extraordinary mission of divine motherhood. We do not know exactly what her life was like before the Annunciation, but we can guess that the Mother of the Word knew well all the messianic predictions of the Old Testament. The truth that the Annunciation was essentially an acceptance of the Word was well presented by the painter Antonello da Messina. Looking at his painting, we stand in front of a young woman. Mary is surprised by the arrival of the Angel, next to her lies a book. The author of the painting departs from the traditional depiction of the Annunciation; it is Mary who is the undisputed star of this scene. All attention is focused on gestures and grace of her face. Even the space around, devoid of architecture and landscape, is conducive to the contemplation of Mary's face.

The future Mother of the Savior holds in three fingers of her left hand a blue veil that surrounds her, as if to cover the completed Fullness in Mary's womb. It is by no means a matter of modesty, but a defense of what a woman feels inside herself. One can imagine the trembling of the whole person, like a shudder at the moment of realizing the mystery. Although the painter decided to get rid of the Angel from the painting, through the image of a young woman, his presence is palpable. Mary's eyes are slightly turned, humble and haughty at the same time. Is there fear in Mary? No, the decision is made, although the thought of the future fate remains expressed in the words, " Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." The only element that anchors the painting in its time of creation is a kneeler in the Gothic style. The open book on it has a symbolic value. Everything will be fulfilled according to what has been written. The pages raised, as if fluttering, are perhaps the vibrating Presence of the Holy Spirit. It is worth returning to this painting, especially now, when we are approaching Christmas.

Mary's true advent lasted nine months. This time was filled with concern for others. In her first impulse, Mary runs to Elizabeth, who is also living her Advent. It must have been an extraordinary time. Surely, she remembered the moment when she first felt the kick of little Jesus, and then fearfully searched for a place where the God-Man could come into the world. Mary's Advent is not an idyllic reflection on some vague mystery. It is, above all, a brutal confrontation with the world. The confusion of great grace with hard everyday life. Let us recall that after the Annunciation, Joseph wants to distance her from himself, and the words of the host in Bethlehem: "There is no place. Go away!" must have been a real sword of sorrow. Mary is extremely brave in living this time. She radiates holiness and spiritual splendor. She overcomes fear because she believes God's promises. She relied entirely on God. Who can defeat her, scare her, upset her? Nobody, absolutely nobody!

From the very beginning, the Church has appreciated Mary's role in the history of salvation, and tradition symbolically devoted her the Rorate Caeli Masses in Honor of Our Lady. The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world. The lit candle on the altar is to be a sign of her accompaniment to Jesus and to us. Looking at the flame shining in the darkness, the words of the psalm come to mind, which proclaims: " In holy splendor before the daystar, like dew I begot you". The prophet Amos also announces the dawn and exclaims in rapture: " The one who forms mountains and creates winds, and declares to mortals their thoughts; Who makes dawn into darkness and strides upon the heights of the earth, the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!” (Am 4:13)

Finally, it is worth looking again at the face of Mary, listening to the words of the angel. Entering this scene, we fill ourselves with grace, and the Lord is really with us. We are waiting for our God. We cry out that he should not delay his coming. We do everything not to miss the meeting, and to rejoice in the light of Bethlehem that will shine in our hearts.