Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary


In the Catholic Church, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8th. This year, because the 8th fell on a Sunday, the celebration was transferred to Monday the 9th.

There are many over the years who have misunderstand this Solemnity (myself included) & mistakenly believe it is about Jesus' conception. However, it actually refers to Mary. From Her conception & birth, without the stain of Original Sin, God kept Her pure, undefiled, & full of grace. She was prepared to receive Jesus into Her womb, to bring the Divine into Human form, thus enabling Jesus to carry out His mission to save our souls for our eternal reward in Heaven. 

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

(Luke 1:26-38)

Mary is the sacred vessel delivering Jesus to all humanity. In Her "Yes", She has become the example we should follow. Like Mary, we should be open to our call from God & be ready with our own affirmative response. Should we need any assistance along the way, Mary will intercede & lead us to Her Son.

We close in prayer...the Collect from today's Mass: 

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for Your Son, grant we pray, that, as You preserved Her from every stain by virtue of the Death of Your Son, which You foresaw, so, through Her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to Your presence, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

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