The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

We celebrate the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of Saint Anne and 9 months later on 8 September nine months later, on 8 September the feast Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin by a singular privilege and grace granted by God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race."

Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854,

Pope Pius IX

It reminds us that Mary's sinlessness is not something that Mary achieved by her own power but a gift of God, given to her right from the very moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Anne.

Christ flesh and blood came from Mary as he was the blessed fruit of her womb, the Flesh that was scourged for us, the Blood that was poured for us, the Bread of Life that saved us yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

As we rejoice with Mary, God's most favoured one ("Hail Mary, Full of Grace") on the feast of her conception, let us thank God for His love and mercy which embraces us right from the moment of our own conception. Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated every 8 December, which is 9 months before the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 September.

Brazil, Korea, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, and the United States list the Blessed Virgin Mary as their principal patroness and Ireland consider her a special patroness.

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.

Revelation 12:1-2

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.
You were chosen by the Father;
You were chosen for the Son.
You were chosen from all women
and for women, shining one.
Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.
Blessed are you among women,
blest in turn, all women, too.
Blessed they with peaceful spirits.
Blessed they with gentle hearts.
Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

"Mary, my dearest mother, give me your heart so beautiful,
so pure, so immaculate, so full of love and humility,
that I may receive Jesus as you did--and go in haste to give him to others."

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Saturday, December 08, 2012

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 presences.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

1st Reading
Genesis 3: 9 - 15, 20

9	But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10	And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
11	He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12	The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
13	Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."
14	The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15	I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
20	The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Psalm
Psalms 98: 1 - 4

1	O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2	The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3	He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4	Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

2nd Reading
Ephesians 1: 3 - 6, 11 - 12

3	Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
4	even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
5	He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
6	to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
11	In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will,
12	we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.

Gospel
Luke 1: 26 - 38

26	In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27	to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28	And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
29	But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30	And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31	And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32	He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33	and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34	And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"
35	And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36	And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing will be impossible."
38	And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.

~~~ St. John Vianney ~~~