Conceived without sin in St. Ann’s womb, Our Lady’s purity is celebrated Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A common misconception is that this feast honors the Incarnation of Jesus in the Virgin Mary’s womb. Though related, the Immaculate Conception is all about Mary.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX’s solemn declaration, “Ineffabilis Deus,” (Ineffable God) clarified with finality the long-held belief of the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin. Mary was granted this extraordinary privilege because of her unique role in history as the Mother of God.
That is, she received the gift of salvation in Christ from the very moment of her conception.
The pope wrote, “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
Even though Mary is unique in all humanity for being born without sin, she is held up by the Church as a model of holiness, purity and willingness to accept God’s plan.
Every person is called to recognize and respond to God’s call to carry out His plan for their life and fulfill the mission prepared for them since before the beginning of time. Mary’s “Let it be done to me according to Thy Word,” in response to the Angel Gabriel, is the response desired of all Christians to God’s plan.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a time to celebrate the great joy of God’s gift to humanity in Mary, and to recognize with greater clarity the truth that every human being has been created by God to fulfill a particular mission.
As the prophet Jeremiah wrote: “The word of the Lord came to me thus: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you’”
(Jer 1:5-6).
— Catholic News Agency