Discussion of Immaculate Conception and Mother of God (Theotokos) ensued. A question arose: Why does this matter? We must consider: everything that is (that has happened or that exists) is because God has allowed it and deigned for it to be. God is not trivial and neither are his actions. As Christian disciples, we do well to ponder the Mystery with great reverence and humility, recognizing that all that God Who is Love is for our benefit, even if at first glance it might seem unimportant. When it comes to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Immaculate Conception, the question "Why does this matter?" must always refer back to the Lord and our relationship to the Lord. The Lord chose to enter the world through Mary as his Mother (Mother of God). This vessel of the Lord is a real person and just as we should desire to know our own mother and others we love, we should seek to know the Lord and his Mother better and better throughout our lives. If we patiently await the Lord's answer to our question "Why does this matter?" we will be struck with awe and wonder.

Sub Tuum Praesidium
We Fly to Thy Patronage

https://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/BVM/SubTuum.html

Chant with versicle and collect is linked below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGke_ktg-58

Did Jesus have a Y chromosome?

https://www.magiscenter.com/blog/did-jesus-have-a-y-chromosome

μυστήριον (mystērion, moos-tay'-ree-on) means mystery https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3466/rsv/mgnt/0-1/

Abba occurs 3 times in the RSV: https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=abba&t=RSV#s=s_primary_0_1

Ἀββᾶ (Chaldean / Aramaic: abba, ab-ah') means Father https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5/rsv/mgnt/0-1/

πατήρ (Greek: patēr, pat-ayr') means Father https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3962/rsv/mgnt/0-1/

Pater (Latin: patēr, pat-ayr') means Father

Church Teaching on Genesis 1-3 June 30, 1909 https://www.vatican.va/archive/aas/documents/AAS-01-1909-ocr.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasimodo

The Come and See class occurred Sunday April 12, 2026 (Divine Mercy Sunday, aka Low Sunday or Sunday in the Octave of Easter or Domenica in Albis or Quasimodo Sunday). The Latin term Quasimodo comes from the Introit of the Mass for that day: "Quasi modo géniti infántes, allelúia, rationábile, sine dolo lac concupíscite, allelúia, allelúia, allelúia" ("As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia). This is the calling of all Christians: to be like or according to the mode of (quasimodo) newborn infants -- to be childlike (seek to know and love the Father). After the Last Supper, Christ tells his disciples incredibly an important message, which we hear or read in John 14:8 (the heart of the chapter), Jesus says: "Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also." The mysteries are meant to be seen, to be shared, to be lived. We can only love what and whom we know, so the Christian must seek to see the face of Christ in order to see the Father. When we see, we know, we "get" or "grasp" it -- we do not exhaust it, but we begin to understand. Over a lifetime and even into eternity, we shall understand better who the Father is by help Christ by becoming another Christ.

https://thomisticinstitute.org/

https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/videos/five-ways-to-prove-god-exists

https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/courses/aquinass-proofs-for-gods-existence

1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]

3 Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]

4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]

5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]

https://hymnary.org/text/we_three_kings_of_orient_are

https://hymnary.org/person/Hopkins_JohnHJr1820

https://thomisticinstitute.org/

https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/videos/five-ways-to-prove-god-exists

https://aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/courses/aquinass-proofs-for-gods-existence

25 lessons Does God exist? This is one of the great questions, and Thomas Aquinas takes it head on with his famous “Five Ways” or “Five Proofs” for the existence of God. In this course, we will unpack each proof over several short episodes, outlining how they work, adding context, and answering objections. With a little study, you’ll find that Aquinas’ proofs are not only profound, but even life changing.

In this episode, Jamie and the parishioners sing the classic Advent hymn O Come, O Come, Immanuel, which is based on the ancient O Antiphons sung the last week of Advent from 17-23 December each year. We encourage you to sing this and other hymns and canticles in your domestic church as a family. If it's not a tradition already, begin today!

1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain

5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain

6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain

7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mason_Neale

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come,_O_Come,_Emmanuel#/media/File:Veni,_veni,_Emmanuel.jpg