St Anne Conceiving the Virgin Mary by Jean Bellegambe (c. 1480 - c. 1535)"I will put enmities between thee and the woman." In these words the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was announced to our first parents. It was to be the reversal of the friendship with the serpent contracted by Eve, when she listened to his voice and fell under his power. The second Eve was never to be under the power of the devil; the enmity between them was to admit of no possible exception. This involved the grace of being conceived immaculate. Mary's Immaculate Conception was the foundation of all her graces. The absence of any stain or spot of sin distinguished her from all the rest of mankind. It distinguished her from the holiest of the Saints, since they, one and all, were sinners. Her perfect sinlessness was the source of all her glory and all her majesty; it was this which opened the door to the unlimited graces that she received from God; it was this that qualified her for her divine maternity, and raised her to her throne as Queen of heaven.
"O Queen, conceived without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee."
(The Roman Missal, 1962)
"O Queen, conceived without original sin, pray for us, who have recourse to thee."
(The Roman Missal, 1962)
December 8th is the feast of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church.
Sometimes people are confused by the words "Immaculate Conception," taking it to mean the conception of Jesus. Rather, it means that Mary was preserved from original sin by God, although she was conceived in the normal way by her parents (despite the painting shown above).
The Blessed Virgin Mary announced herself as the Immaculate Conception to Bernadette Soubirous in the Apparitions of Lourdes in 1858. The authenticity of these apparitions has been verified by the authority of the Church in view of the great number of miracles that have taken place in the Sanctuary of Lourdes.
O God, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, didst prepare for Thy Son a worthy habitation, we beseech Thee, that as Thou didst preserve her from every stain by the foreseen death of this Thy Son, so Thou wouldst grant that we also being cleansed from guilt by her intercession, may come to Thee. Through the same Christ Our Lord who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen
(Collect from the Mass of the Immaculate Conception, The Roman Missal, 1962)
Sometimes people are confused by the words "Immaculate Conception," taking it to mean the conception of Jesus. Rather, it means that Mary was preserved from original sin by God, although she was conceived in the normal way by her parents (despite the painting shown above).
The Blessed Virgin Mary announced herself as the Immaculate Conception to Bernadette Soubirous in the Apparitions of Lourdes in 1858. The authenticity of these apparitions has been verified by the authority of the Church in view of the great number of miracles that have taken place in the Sanctuary of Lourdes.
O God, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, didst prepare for Thy Son a worthy habitation, we beseech Thee, that as Thou didst preserve her from every stain by the foreseen death of this Thy Son, so Thou wouldst grant that we also being cleansed from guilt by her intercession, may come to Thee. Through the same Christ Our Lord who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen
(Collect from the Mass of the Immaculate Conception, The Roman Missal, 1962)
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