Preparation for the Feast of Christmas
Pious Reflections and Affections I
How we are to attract Jesus to our souls.

“Purity is so pleasing to God that His Divine Son, having resolved to become man by the operation of the Holy Ghost, wished to be born of a Virgin Mother. We all know with what an abundance of graces and with what extraordinary purity God was pleased to adorn the body and soul of Mary, in order to make of her a dwelling worthy of the Word who was to become flesh in her chaste womb. Hence, if we wish to induce the Incarnate God to be born spiritually in our souls, the proper way to do this is to secure purity of conscience for ourselves by banishing from our hearts even the smallest faults and cultivating in them all the virtues. Therefore we should be careful, during these holy days, to mortify our senses by a perfect exterior modesty, in order to obtain interior recollection and also to induce the Divine Child to be bon in our hearts. For this purpose we must take care that our souls be not disturbed by any passion, since at the birth of Jesus peace was proclaimed. In two words, the Incarnate Word is born in the soul which cultivates piety and produces virtues.”

Blessed Mary of the Angels was born in Turin, Italy, in 1661, she died, after spending her whole life there, in 1717. In 1675 she entered the Discalced Carmelite Convent of St Christina, and several times filled the offices of Prioress and Novice Mistress. She underwent continual spiritual trials, but was constant in her ardent love of God. She was outstandingly faithful to prayer and particularly devoted to St Joseph, in whose honour a convent was founded through her good offices at Moncalieri.

Blesssed Mary of the Angels Discalced Carmelite (1661-1717) A Biography. Rev. G.O’Neill, S.J., M.A. R&T Washbourne, LTD. 1,2 & 4 Paternoster Row, London 1909

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