Nesting with Mama Mary, reflecting on Mary’s extraordinary motherly virtues….

Late last night, I was thinking about how each year I discern in prayer and prepare my heart for the season of Advent.

Last year, for Advent 2024, the word swaddle was on my heart.

I was asked by a friend to speak to her mom’s group at her parish. I shared the significance of the verse, Luke 2:12, and how it states, "Mary swaddled Jesus."

I really love that word in action. When I hear the word swaddle, I think of the natural and maternal desire that we all have, whether you are a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or friend, to swaddle a baby.  

I reflected on how my own babies are 25, 23, and 16, and though I do not physically get to swaddle them, I do visually swaddle them in prayer daily.

I love praying the Prayer for the Consecration of the Family 

At the end, I say the words, “bind up the wounds, lift up the fallen, and keep each of our loved ones in grace.” I feel swaddling is a lot like binding. 

This year, for Advent 2025, a new word came on my heart through prayer. The word nesting came to me... How as mothers, we naturally feel the desire to nest before our baby is born. How we instinctively, physically, and emotionally prepare for birth.  

I feel that Mama Mary definitely had to do the same —how she must have spiritually nested in order to bring her extraordinary fiat and her "YES" to fruition.

It is because of the Blessed Mother’s extraordinary maternal role and her being the handmaid of the Lord that I desire the need to nest in prayer and celebrate this Advent through the eyes of Mary, preparing for Jesus.

Let us celebrate Mary’s beautiful virtues of Patience, Faithful Understanding, Strength, and Love.

—Adina Braatz/My Saint My Hero Mission Development

Join Amy D’Ambra/My Saint MY Hero Founder and Co-Owner and Adina Braatz/My Saint My Hero Mission Development on Instagram LIVE at 6 am PST each Sunday of Advent.

11/30 Reflecting with Lori Stanley/Executive Director of Loyola Institute for Spirituality on Mary’s Patience

12/7 Reflecting with Amy D'Ambra and Adina Braatz on Mary’s Faithful Understanding

12/14 Reflecting with Sarah Yaklic, Chief Digital Officer of  Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Mary’s Strength

12/21 Reflecting with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, Author of Hope: An Invitation to Mary’s Love and Host of Hope Stories with Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN