The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Wednesday, December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a holy day of obligation for all Catholics. This means that it has the same obligatory character as a Sunday Mass. The Masses at Annunciation for this solemnity are 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. Please make sure that you find time to go. The Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States and all Franciscans.

What is the Immaculate Conception?
It is the conception (beginning of existence in the womb) of the Virgin Mary without any stain of Original Sin^. It is one of the Church's four Marian dogmas. Under this aspect Mary is sometimes called the Immaculata (the Immaculate One).

The doctrine states that, from the first moment of her existence, Mary was preserved by God from Original Sin and filled with sanctifying grace that would normally come with baptism after birth. Catholics believe Mary "was free from any personal or hereditary sin."

In a series of three apparitions that occurred in 1830 by the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Catherine Laboure, Our Lady told her a special prayer and asked that a medal be made according to the vision St. Catherine saw. The medal was called "The Medal of the Immaculate Conception," however, because of the many miracles that occurred with those who wore the medal, it became popularly known as "The Miraculous Medal." The prayer on the medal reads:

"O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

 

God's peace,
Br. Joseph