Breath of Heaven

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception, readers! Just by reading statuses and tweets, I can definitely feel the excitement for the upcoming Christmas season.  So on this feast, and as we continue on in this 2nd week of Advent, I want to share something that’s been on my mind lately.

Last night the Lord beautifully reminded me of a really important person in my life, through a song. Immediately I was filled with joy at the thought of how we’ve grown so incredibly close within this year. Not saying that I don’t think about this person often. I think about her a lot. But the way God reminded me of her last night was so special and the meaning rang truer than ever, especially within this season.

“Breath of Heaven” is probably one of the most beautiful Christmas songs I’ve ever heard. It has the ability to take someone on a journey into a woman’s heart, digging deeper to understand her perspective. Filled with such grace and faithfulness to the Lord, she remained obedient with all that He planned for her, and with an unyielding “yes” she accepted to bear a Son and give birth to Him, for He would bring  salvation of the world. Yes. You got it. I’m talking about our beautiful Blessed Mother Mary.

When thinking about how young the Blessed Virgin was when she accepted the will of our Father amazes me. She was only a teenager! At times, I would even forget she was human because she was so perfect in virtue. It’s almost as if she’s too good to be true. This song helps me remember how human she was and how connected we really are to her. The verses give you the sense of fear as she pleas for help, but in a reminder of her full submission to God, her weariness subsides. She was at peace with the realization that Jesus was her breath of Heaven. Jesus was in her womb. She was the living Tabernacle.

I was first introduced to this song in my high school choir class because we were supposed to sing it for our annual Christmas concert. But as a young high school student at the time, I failed to comprehend the meaning of the song to its full extent. While listening to the radio during my drive home last night, the familiar piano introduction in the minor key suddenly brought me into prayer. In that moment, my heart was enveloped with peace, my soul was awakened and my ears and mind were attentive, channeling out any distractions and unwanted noise. And once the song reached the chorus (transitioning into a major key), I knew I was going to be perfectly fine.

Thoughts of final exams, presentations, and fears of the future too subsided. Within those five minutes, He reminded me of the grace and virtues I need to obtain. Allow yourselves to let go of those fears and worries and turn to God in full trust. Let us also look to the Blessed Mother as our model and know that as humans, it IS possible to obtain the virtues she possessed, even during the hardest times.  So in reflection, as we continue in this Advent season, and as Mother Mary continues to carry her Son — our Savior — in her womb, may we willingly accept to carry the Lord Jesus in our hearts and ask Him and Mother Mary for guidance in our journey.

When we receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion, we become the living Tabernacles just like Mary. We are ONE with Him. What’s there to be afraid now?