Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8, 2021): GN 3:9-15,20; PS 98:1,2-3,3-4; EPH 1:3-6,11-12; LK 1:26-38
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The complete cooperation of our Blessed Mother with the Divine Will allowed the gift of salvation to come into the world.
This Solemnity venerates Mary, the Mother of Christ and Mother of God, as she was conceived in her mother’s womb immaculately, that is, without original sin. This was an idea that grew in widespread acceptance over the first centuries of the Church from the East to the West. It was also more readily first appreciated and accepted by ordinary people before it gained official approval. This extraordinary gift came to her from Almighty God in anticipation of the merits of her Son Jesus. The first reading in today’s Mass reminds us of the loss of grace that followed the disobedience of Adam and Eve who gave in to the temptations of Satan. Even at that terrible moment, God revealed that redemption would come to humankind from the Son of a woman – the woman: “The Lord said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this … I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at His heel’” (Genesis 3:14-15). When the Son of God and Son of Mary suffered and died and rose again, He fulfilled the promise of our Father. The complete cooperation of our Blessed Mother with the Divine Will allowed the gift of salvation to come into the world.
While feasts saluting Mary’s conception have long existed, it was in the 19th century that more impetus developed to officially acknowledge this belief. A lovely popular prayer honoring the Immaculate Conception came through the Blessed Virgin’s appearance to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830. She asked for this prayer on what is now known as the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” In 1854, eight years after the American bishops chose Mary in her Immaculate Conception as the country’s patron, the pope proclaimed this concept as a dogma for the whole Church. Let us pray to “Mary, conceived without sin” often and thank God for His profound love for our Mother and for us, her children.