The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From my handy dandy Saints Calendar

An ancient Church law that prohibited the celebration of feasts during Lent lead to the transference of the Annunciation(March 25) from Lent to Advent (December 18) by the Church in Spain.  When this law ceased to be observed, the Church in Spain celebrated the Annunciation on both dates.  Permission to celebrate the Expectation of Mary on December 18 was granted in other places and eventually spread throughout almost all of the Latin Rite of the Church. Perhaps the most famous image of Mary when she is expecting is that Our Lady of Guadalupe.  In this image, there are many indications of her pregnancy, such as her sash and the four-petaled flower placed over her womb, symbolizing life.  The Blessed Virgin was chosen among all women to carry Our Lord in her womb; and while she gives Him to us along with her perfect example of how to love Him, He in turn gives her to us as our loving Mother and Queen.  St. Bernardine of Siena said, "No sooner had Mary consented to be Mother of the Eternal Word, than she merited by this consent to be made Queen of the world and of all creatures."