Our Lady of O

Our Lady of Ó in ivory.

Nossa Senhora do Ó is an invocation to the Virgin Mary that originated in Spain. The devotion is inspired by the last days of the Savior's Mother's pregnancy, in her expectation of seeing her Firstborn Son. So much so that today, the devotion is known as “Expectation of Our Lady’s birth” . This expectation, however, is not limited to the mere curiosity of a mother who really wants to see the child she is carrying in her womb. It is a much deeper and more supernatural expectation, which involves the entire mission of the Savior who will be born. The Virgin Mary's expectation of seeing the Blessed Son in her womb summarizes humanity's expectation of the Savior. It is an expectation that is based on the biblical promises that God himself made to humanity regarding the Savior. Such promises begin in the book of Genesis, when the Lord God shows his mercy after the sin of Adam and Eve, promising that the woman's offspring will crush the serpent's head. The promises that God would send the Savior to humanity permeate the entire Old Testament until they were completely fulfilled in Jesus. And this was the Virgin Mary's great expectation: not only to see the face of her Son, but to contemplate and collaborate with his mission to redeem humanity. It is, therefore, a wonderful and supernatural expectation.

Prayer to Our Lady of Ó

“ Sweet Virgin Mary, whose heart was prepared by God for the dwelling of the word made flesh by the ineffable joys of the expectation of your most holy birth, teach us the perfect dispositions of an integral purity in body and soul, of a profound humility in the spirit and in the heart, of an ardent and sincere desire for union with God, so that the sweet fruit of your blessed womb may be born mercifully in our hearts, bringing them the abundance of divine gifts, for the redemption of our sins, sanctification of our life and obtaining our crown in Paradise, in your company. So be it. Amen."