Full of grace, full of faith - Reflections for the Second Sunday of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Before we start, let me remind you that we should not confuse ourselves in how to commemorate both the Second Sunday of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In the Ordinary Form, since December 8th falls on a Sunday this year, the Solemnity is moved to the 9th, which is a Monday. As for the Extraordinary Form, the Solemnity can be celebrated in two ways: (a) the Solemnity in itself, and the propers of the Second Sunday of Advent to be celebrated within the week as a feria, where there is no saint commemorated (either on December 9th or on December 12th if the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not commemorated); or (b) as what I have seen in Fr. Jojo Zerrudo's Facebook post, the Second Sunday of Advent would be celebrated alongside the Solemnity as a second Collect, a second Secret, and a second Postcommunion.

One last thing: I have posted here the readings and propers of both celebrations for your convenience.

Now let's begin.

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Readings and Propers

Second Sunday of Advent

Ordinary Form (Year A)

Is. 11:1-10

And [in those days,] there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them. The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on other hole of the asp: and the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. They shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain, for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the covering waters of the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious.

Ps. 72(71): 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

R: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king's son thy justice:

To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.

He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor.

Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun.

And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.

Rom. 15:4-9

For what things soever were written were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, one towards another, according to Jesus Christ: That with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, receive one another, as Christ also hath received you, unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles and will sing to thy name.

Mt. 3:1-12

And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. And the same John had his garment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

Extraordinary Form

INTROIT ¤ Isaias 30. 30
	Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes: et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae in laetitiae cordis vestri. -- Qui regis Israel intende: qui deducis, velut ovem, Ioseph. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes: et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae in laetitiae cordis vestri.	People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart. -- (Ps. 79. 2). Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart.
The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted.
COLLECT
	Excita, Domine, corda nostra ad praeparandas Unigeniti tui vias: ut per eius adventum, purificatis tibi mentibus servire mereamur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of Thine only-begotten Son: that through His coming we may attain to serve Thee with purified minds. Who liveth and reigneth, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ Rom. 15. 4-13 Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos. ["A root of Jesse shall rise up" for the salvation of the Hebrews and Gentiles.]
	Fratres: Quaecumque scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt: ut per patientiam, et consolationem Scripturarum, spem habeamus. Deus autem patientiae, et solatii, det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Iesum Christum: ut unanimes, uno ore honorificetis Deum et Patrem Domini nostri Iesu Christi. Propter quod suscipite invicem, sicut et Christus suscepit vos in honorem Dei. Dico enim Christum Iesum ministrum fuisse circumcisionis propter veritatem Dei, ad confirmandas promissiones patrum: gentes autem super misericordia honorare Deum, sicut scriptum est: Propterea confitebor tibi in gentibus, Domine, et nomini tui cantabo, cum plebe eius. Et iterum: Laudate omnes gentes Dominum: et magnificate eum omnes populi. Et rursus Isaias ait: Erit radix Iesse, et qui exsurget regere gentes, in eum gentes sperabunt. Deus autem spei credendo: ut abundetis in spe, et virtute Spiritus Sancti.	Brethren, What things soever were written, were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honor of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: but that the Gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to Thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to Thy Name. And again He saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and magnify Him, all ye people. And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and He that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 49. 2, 3, 5
	Ex Sion species decoris eius: Deus manifeste veniet. V.: Congregate illi sanctos eius, qui ordinaverunt testamentum eius super sacrificia.    Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domine ibimus. Alleluia.	Out of Sion, the loveliness of His beauty: God shall come manifestly. V.: Gather ye together His Saints to Him, who have set His covenant before sacrifices.    Alleluia, alleluia. V.: (Ps. 121. 1) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go unto the house of the Lord. Alleluia.
When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday is used, the Alleluia and its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.
GOSPEL ¤ Matthew 11. 2-10 † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. [John the Baptist, sent "to prepare the way for the Messias," puts the question to Jesus: "Art Thou He that art to come?" Reply of Jesus to the Precursor.]
	In illo tempore: Cum audisset Ioannes in vinculis opera Christi, mittens duos de discipulis suis, ait illi: Tu es, qui venturus es, an alium expectamus? Et respondens Iesus ait illis: Euntes renuntiate Ioanni, quae audistis, et vidistis. Caeci vident, claudi ambulant, leprosi mundantur, surdi audiunt, mortui resurgunt, pauperes evangelizantur: et beatus est, qui non fuerit scandalizatus in me. Illis autem abeuntibus, coepit Iesus dicere ad turbas de Ioanne: Quid existis in desertum videre? arundinem vento agitatam? Sed quid existis videre? hominem mollibus vestitum? Ecce qui mollibus vestiuntur, in domibus regum sunt. Sed quid existis videre? prophetam? Etiam dico vobis, et plus quam prophetam. Hic est enim de quo scriptum est: Ecce ego mitto Angelum meum ante faciem tuam, qui praeparabit viam tuam ante te.	At that time, when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to Him: Art thou He that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus, making answer, said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them: and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in Me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my Angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 89. 7, 8
	Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos, et plebs tua laetabitur in te: ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam, et salutare tuum da nobis.	Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life, and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee: show us, O Lord, Thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation.
SECRET
	Placare, quaesumus Domine, humilitatis nostrae precibus, et hostiis: et ubi nulla suppetunt suffragia meritorum, tuis nobis succurre praesidiis. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the prayers and sacrifices of our humility: and where we lack pleading merits of our own, do Thou, by Thine aid, assist us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
PREFACE Preface of Advent
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios, virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful, promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:
Or the celebrant may say:
Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria, revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION ¤ Baruch 5. 5; 4. 36
	Ierusalem, surge, et sta in excelso, et vide iucunditatem, quae veniet tibi a Deo tuo.	Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that cometh to thee from Thy God.
POSTCOMMUNION
	Repleti cibo spiritualis alimoniae, supplices te, Domine, deprecamur: ut huius participatione mysterii, doceas nos terrena despicere, et amare caelestia. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Filled with the food of spiritual nourishment, we humbly entreat Thee, O Lord, that by our partaking of this Mystery, Thou wouldst teach us to despise the things of earth, and to love those of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world wihtout end.

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Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Ordinary Form (PROPER)

Gen. 3:9-15, 20 (9-20)

[T]he Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou? And he said: I heard thy voice in paradise; and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself. And he said to him: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat? And Adam said: The woman, whom thou gavest me to be my companion, gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? And she answered: The serpent deceived me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall cursh thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

[To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee. And to Adam he said: Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou shouldst not eat, cursed is the earth in thy work: with labour and toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herbs of the earth. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken: for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return.]

And Adam called the name of his wife Eve: because she was the mother of all the living.

Ps. 98(97):1, 2-3, 3-4

R: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things.

His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is holy.

The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.

Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12 (3-12)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity. Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will: Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath graced us, in his beloved son.

[In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace, Which hath superabounded in us, in all wisdom and prudence, That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him, In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.]

In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will. That we may be unto the praise of his glory: we who before hoped in Christ:

Lk. 1:26-38

And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Extraordinary Form

White

1st Class

   "I will put enmities between thee and the woman." In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil; the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain of spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the sounce of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it wsas this that qualified her for her divine maternity, and raised her to her throne as Queen of heaven. "O Queen, conceived without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee."2

INTROIT ¤ Isaias 61. 10
	Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, et exsultabit anima mea in Deo meo: quia induit me vestimentis salutis: et indumento iustitiae circumdedit me, quasi sponsam ornatam monilibus suis. -- Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me: nec delectasi inimicos meos super me. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, et exsultabit anima mea in Deo meo: quia induit me vestimentis salutis: et indumento iustitiae circumdedit me, quasi sponsam ornatam monilibus suis.	I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice He hath covered me, as a bride adorned with her jewels. -- (Ps. 29. 2). I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice He hath covered me, as a bride adorned with her jewels.
COLLECT3
	Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis Conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum praeparasti: quaesumus; ut qui ex morte eiusdem Filii tui praevisa, eam ab omni labe praeservasti, nos quoque mundos eius intercessione ad te pervenire concedas. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy Son: we beseech Thee, that as by the foreseen death of the same Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so Thou wouldst grant unto us also, through her intercession, to come unto Thee with clean hearts. Through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ Wisdom: Proverbs 8. 23-35 Lesson from the Book of Wisdom: Proverbs. Lectio libri Sapientiae. [The excellence of Wisdom. The Church applies this lesson to Our Lady.]
	Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio. Ab aeterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis, antequam terra fieret. Nondum erant abyssi et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes auarum eruperant: necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar: adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terrae. Quando praeparabat caelos, aderam: quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos: quando aethera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum: quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines sus; quando appendebat fundamenta terrae. Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore, ludens in orbe terrarum, et deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum. Nunc ergo filii, audite me: Beati qui custodiunt vias meas. Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam. Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei. Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino.	The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out; the mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth; He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when with a certain law and compass He enclosed the depths; when He established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters; when He compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits; when He balanced the foundations of the earth; I was with Him, forming all things, and was delighted every day, playing before Him at all times, playing in the world: and my delight is to be with the children of men. Now therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
GRADUAL ¤ Judith 13. 23
	Benedicta es tu, Virgo Maria, a Domino Deo excelso, prae omnibus mulieribus super terram. V.: Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri.    Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Tota pulchra es, Maria: et macula originalis non est in te. Alleluia.	Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth.4 V.: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people.    Alleluia, alleluia. V.: (Canticles 4. 7) Thou art all fair, O Mary, and there is in thee no stain of original sin.
In Votive Masses, after Septuagesima, the Alleluia and the Verse Tota pulchra . . . are omitted and the following is said:
TRACT ¤ Ps. 86. 1
	Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis: diligit Dominus portas Sion super omnia tabernacula Iacob. V.: Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei. V.: Homo natus est in ea, et ipse funda vit eam Altissimus.	The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains: the Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob. V.: Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God. V.: A man is born in her, and the Highest Himself hath founded her.
During Eastertide, the Gradual is omitted and the following Alleluia is said:
	Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri. Alleluia. Tota pulchra es Maria: et macula originalis non est in te. Alleluia.	Alleluia, alleluia. V.(Judith 15. 10) Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Irael, thou art the honor of our people. Alleluia. V.(Canticles 4. 7) Thou art all fair, O Mary, and there is in thee no stain of original sin. Alleluia.
GOSPEL ¤ Luke 1. 26-28. † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke. † Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. [The Angelical Salutation. Our Lady is "full of grace."]
	In illo tempore: Missus est Angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, ad Virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Ioseph, de domo David, et nomen Virginis Maria. Et ingressus Angelus ad eam dixit: Ave, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus.	At that time: The Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.
OFFERTORY ¤ Luke 1. 28
	Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus. [T. P. Alleluia.]	Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. [P. T. Alleluia.]
SECRET
	Salutarem hostiam, quam in solemnitate Immaculatae Conceptionis beatae Virginis Mariae tibi Domine offerimus, suscipe et praesta: ut sicut illam, tua gratia praeveniente, ab omni labe immunem profitemur; ita eius intercessione a culpis omnibus liberemur. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Receive the saving Victim we offer to Thee, O Lord, on the solemn feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: and grant that, as we confess that by Thy preventing grace she was kept free from every stain of sin; so, by her intercession, we may be delivered from all our offenses. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
PREFACE Preface of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Et te in Conceptione Immaculata beatae Mariae semper Virginis collaudare, benedicere, et praedicare. Quae et Unigenitum tuum Sancti Spiritus obumbratione concepit: et virginitatis gloria permanente, lumen aeternum mundo effudit, Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quem maiestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli, coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti iubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise:
COMMUNION
	Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, Maria: quia fecit tibi magna qui potens est. [T. P. Alleluia.]	Glorious things are told of thee, O Mary, for He who is mighty has done great things unto thee. [P. T. Alleluia.]
POSTCOMMUNION
	Sacramenta quae sumpsimus, Domine Deus noster, illius in nobis culpae vulnera reparent; a qua Immaculatam beatae Mariae Conceptionem singulariter praeservasti. Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	May the Sacraments which we have received, O Lord, our God, heal in us the wounds of that sin, from which Thou didst alone preserve the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Mary. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

1 The faithful who on twelve consecutive Sundays preceding the Feast of the Immaculate Conception shall utter some mental or vocal prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, can gain a plenary indulgence on each of these Saturdays, under the usual conditions. -- P.P.O. n. 334.

2 Indulgence of 300 days. -- Plenary, under the usual conditions, when this invocation is recited daily during a month. -- P.P.O. n. 325.

3 Indulgence of 3 years. -- Plenary, under the usual conditions, if this prayer is daily recited. -- P.P.O. n. 340.

4 Indulgence of 300 days, each time this ejaculation is recited. -- Plenary, under the usual circumstances, once a month, which this same ejaculation is daily recited. -- P.P.O. n. 287.

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Reflections and Insights

This week, the Gospel readings for the Second Sunday of Advent of both Forms of the Mass put their focus on John the Baptist.

In the Ordinary Form, John preaches about the advent of the Christ, and advises both the Jews and the Gentiles (in that order), to check their moral compasses for "the Kingdom of God is at hand."  At that point, he was not yet aware that the Christ was actually Jesus, his blood relative.

In the Extraordinary Form, John was featured as a prisoner who decreased himself in order to let Christ's glory increase (cf. Jn. 3:30). Somehow, he would like to confirm through his remaining disciples if Jesus, who has done wondrous miracles at that point, is really the Christ he is introducing to the people when he was still baptizing them in the Jordan. In reply, Jesus told them that "The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them" ; all through the Lord's immense love for His own people.

The bottom line is that John, though have gone through a test of faith, remained faithful to the Lord by preparing His way; and that he was consoled that Jesus really is the Messiah before his head literally rolled.

On the other hand, regarding the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, it is such a wonder that the Holy Spirit perfectly weaved Sacred Scriptures to let us understand that the obscure prophecies of the Old Testament is brought to light and fulfilled in the New through  Jesus Christ.

Though the Scriptures have not prophesied too straightforwardly about the instrument the Lord is using in order for the Messiah to be born, the Old Testament nevertheless has colorfully introduced the Blessed Virgin Mary as the "Woman of the Protoevangelium" (cf. Gen. 3:15).

In the Epistle of the Extraordinary Form, Wisdom speaks as a person, explicitly as a collaborator of God in the creation of the world. Extensively, the Book of Wisdom exhorted that  he "will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins." (1:4) So, to whom shall Wisdom enter? The Book of Isaiah answers that "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (7:14), which means "God-with-us" (Mt. 1:23). I cannot give you the full exposition of this since I have a deadline to beat, but this only shows that Mary is the "Seat of Wisdom" since she gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Divine Wisdom.

But you would ask: Why is it that the Gospel is focused on the Incarnation of Jesus? The obvious reason is because, as I said above, there is no straightforward prophecy of the Woman's characteristics; and that the nearest passages of such are distributed in the whole of the Old Testament, that if I try to summarize, I won't be able to post this reflection because of its vastness. Besides, the greeting of the Angel to Mary sums up the teaching of Mary's Immaculate Conception: "Hail, full of grace!"
 

"All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23), as St. Paul exhorted, but he also preached that the Son of God was "born of a woman, born under the Law" (Gal. 4:4). It is somehow appalling that non-Catholics do not understand that we can apply here the secular by-word "for every rule, there is an exception"; and that in the concept of Original Sin, Mary is that exception. The main reason why the Angel Gabriel greeted Mary as "full of grace" is because she is the fulfillment of the passage in the Canticle of Canticles: "Tota pulchra es...et macula non est in te" (Thou art all fair...and there is not a spot in thee) (4:7). Mary was so spotless that even the said Archangel bowed down to her for she was created by God to be all perfect, the masterpiece of all creation.

The Annunciation, therefore, is the fulfillment of the Protoevangelium. Mary is the "Woman" who is "blessed among women", and that her "offspring" is to be called the Son of God. Extensively, the Gradual of the Extraordinary Form is taken from the praise of Ozias to Judith: "Blessed art thou...by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth" (13:23), and the said passage only gives strength to the Protoevangelium by alluding Judith's decapitation of Holofernes (the Assyrian general who fled from battle after being outmaneuvered by the Israelites) to the Woman's offspring crushing the serpent's head.

One last point to consider is that Mary was the peculiar creature of the Most Holy Trinity. This is summed up because of what the Angel told Mary on how she would become the Mother of God: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High (God the Father) shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Jesus Christ)" (Lk. 1:35, boldface and italic inserts mine). If we read in full the Epistle of the Ordinary Form (including the ones skipped by the Liturgy of the Word, which I supplied in this blog), we shall discover that St. Paul's first passages in his Letter to the Ephesians was an ode to the Holy Trinity.

Now we ask ourselves:

In what way am I honoring Mary just as Scriptures honored and prophesied her role in Salvation History? Do I do whatever her Son, Jesus, tells me, just like a child listening to his mother? Am I also heeding the call of John to "repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand"?

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Praying the Collect

[This is the section where I combine and condense the Collects of both Forms to create a complimentary and integral prayer]

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of Thine only-begotten Son: that through His coming we may attain to serve Thee with purified minds. Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company.

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy Son: we beseech Thee, that as by the foreseen death of the same Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so Thou wouldst grant unto us also, through her intercession, to come unto Thee with clean hearts.

Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.