As you’re traveling to see friends and family for Christmas, remember that Our Blessed Mother did the same thing leading up to Christmas. I think my favorite song to meditate on her travels while I make mine is today’s Carol of Comfort & Joy, “Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging” – “Mary Walks Among the Thorns”.

German pilgrims used to sing this song as they made their Advent journeys. Its earliest copy is from 1850, featuring seven stanzas, but many speculate this song with an unknown author may be much older than that.

While it’s an Advent song, the journey chronicled is actually Mary’s trek to see her cousin Elizabeth. As Mary walks to visit Elizabeth with Jesus “under her heart”, the thorns along the path, symbolizing what is to come and barrenness of land, begin to bloom in roses. Mary brings Life Himself through the forest, and the thorns are transformed in a beautiful response to their Lord being right there, under His mother’s heart.

Pilgrims took this journey and made it their own, carrying Jesus in their hearts as Mary carried Him in her womb. So, how can YOU make more room for Christ in your heart in these last days of Advent? What thorns can you let Him turn to roses?

Meditate on the beauty of Advent as the Willows Academy choir sings “Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging”: