A testimonial of Sister Mary of Jesus who returned to Poland after a six-year formation in France and now spends her first Christmas in the Grąblin convent.
“Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” But he replied: “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and observe it.” (Lk 11:27)
Exploring the life of Jesus and Mary described in the Gospel of St. Luke, starting with the mystery of the Annunciation and throughout Jesus’ childhood, I cannot help this Christmas but to examine my own recent years. While reading the story of Jesus and Mary, I also look at my own history and begin to see that God has been always present there! In Mary and Jesus, I discover and learn about myself, which brings me to a reflection. I see Him – as He came looking for me as the Good Shepherd – entering my life and making me His own. There was an annunciation – a word planted in my heart; a visitation – when I, stimulated by desire for heavenly things, despised things of this world; a birth – when the word of promise was fulfilled and became flesh, however fragile and weak. 
Later came the bestowal of the name, vesting with the habit of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and then the flight to Egypt to save the child – I am thinking here about everything that was left behind; and finally, the return to Nazareth, to my beloved Poland, where the long period of the hidden life in the bosom of the earthly homeland began. Now I feel as if the entire history reiterates itself every day, because every day I receive the Word – I conceive It, give It birth and bring It to the world, even if it should happen in the Bethlehem manger. I see now that Divine Mercy gave me this process for repeating, although – as I admit with pain – often with no gratitude in my soul and no consideration; therefore, I want to repeat after St. Augustine: O, how late I came to love you, Love! But as the old saying goes: better late than never, which I say to those who procrastinate!
The joy of Christmas is the realization that Jesus is in my heart and is reborn there every day. Blessed and happy are those who heed Jesus and do what pleases Him, in imitation of Mary, our Guiding Star and our “compass” that leads into the depth of the soul, to the poorest manger, where the place is prepared for her Son – that is my joy – Jesus!