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| Immaculate Conception | c.1626 | | | |
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On the solemn feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(December 8) we recall the infallible statement given by Pope Pius IX in 1854:
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a
singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of
Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain
of original sin.”
A place closely linked with the Immaculate Conception is Lourdes. In 1858, Mary
identified herself as the “Immaculate Conception” to a young girl named Bernadette
Soubirous. It was most unlikely that a girl from an impoverished family without
access to the “media” of the day would have been familiar with such a
theological expression, still less that she could have made it up. In spite of the
unbelieving civil and church authorities, Bernadette won through. The doctrine was
infallibly declared a doctrine of faith four years previously in 1854. Lourdes, then, became a place of pilgrimage where
millions of people go to find healing in body and soul.
What we
celebrate today is that Mary, from the very first moment of her existence,
was free from any taint of original sin. She was free from that tendency to evil with which we
are all born into this world. Not only was she immaculate in her conception,
but she remained faithful and immaculate to God to the end of her earthly life.
On this solemn feast, let us thank God for the gift of our Blessed Mother
Mary. We ourselves have been far from immaculately conceived and are aware of
both the sins we have committed: the tendencies, desires and cravings which
drive us away from God and bring us into conflict with our brothers and
sisters. Let us pray to our Mother Mary to be with us. May she closely guide us
and protect us in our faith journey. Finally, we ask her to help us respond as
generously to God’s call as she did and to be as faithful a disciple of her Son
as she was.
“Mary Immaculate, thank you for your
generous response to God’s call that was instrumental to our salvation. Pray
for us all who have recourse to thee. Amen.”
