8/12 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

On the 8th DECEMBER the Church celebrate the Solemnity of THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

It might seem strange that whilst in Advent, and preparing for the birth of Jesus, we pause to remember the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Catholics believe that, in order that she might be worthy to be a tabernacle of the Son of God, Mary was kept free from Original Sin so that she might give a completely free ‘yes’, when asked to bear the Son of God. Otherwise, she might have simply said ‘yes’ out of guilt, shame, or fear. We attain this same freedom from Original Sin at Baptism and can maintain it through the grace of God received in the Sacraments.

We ask our Blessed Mother to pray for us as we say : Hail Mary...

Let us pray:

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.