Every year on December 8, we celebrate the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

The Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Dogma that states that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without the stain of original sin; which is what the word “Immaculate” means – without stain. Quite often, the meaning of the Immaculate Conception gets misunderstood. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception, while others believe it means that Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit”, but both of those are incorrect. 

Luke 1:28: “And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” In this verse, the angel Gabriel greets Mary by saying, “Greetings, you are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” This indicates that Mary is someone who has received God’s grace and favor in a profound way. She is being chosen for a special and significant role, which is to be the mother of Jesus. The verse is often seen as a recognition of Mary’s purity, faithfulness, and favor with the Lord, making her a fitting vessel for the divine conception and birth of Jesus.

It is important to note that the Immaculate Conception doesn’t mean that Mary didn’t need salvation – rather, she was saved in a more perfect manner by being prevented from original sin rather than needing to be cleansed from it. 

On this beautiful feast day, let us celebrate and meditate upon the purity and holiness of our Mother. Mother Mary, pray for us and watch over us!