Immaculate Conception<\/p>\n
December 8<\/p>\n
Mary- conceived without original sin; Mary was sinless from the moment of conception. This doctrine was defined by Pope Pius the 9th, on December 8, 1954, four years before the apparitions of Mary at Lourdes. The Truth, which is from the beginning, is explicated to humanity at this time.<\/p>\n
Mary was born free from original sin and remained free from all sin for the rest of her life. This is according to the Plan of God, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” (Gen 3:15) It is God’s work; God put Mary here as an instrument.<\/p>\n
Mary, the New Eve<\/p>\n
Catholics always viewed two women, Mary and Eve, here to refer ultimately to Mary, as God\u2019s obedient instrument, and her offspring, Jesus, at one end and Eve, as a victim of Satan\u2019s temptations, and Satan and his colleagues at the opposite end.<\/p>\n
In today’s Gospel reading, the words “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter( full of grace), the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.”, speak for themselves.<\/p>\n
Blessed John Duns Scotus, even in the 13th century, proposed that “God has shielded Mary from sin(from Satan) as she was to be the Mother of God’s Son. It is not fitting that the Son of God should be born of a sinless Mother?\u201d (theological reason).<\/p>\n
All over the world people respect and venerate the Blessed Mother, not only Catholics, but many people of many cultural traditions. She is the divine Mother; Devi, Matha, Madre, Mother of Mercy. People come to blessed Mother for love, for bonding, for protection.<\/p>\n
Mary, Mother of All<\/p>\n
All over the world, millions of people- in India, in other Asian Countries, in African countries, in Europe (Lourdes and Fatima, etc.), and the Americas, (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron of the United States of America), venerate and pray to her. We know the saying PER MARIAM AD JESUM (through Mary to Jesus).<\/p>\n
Holy mother, Virgin Mother, Blessed Mother, in the Divine Plan, loves all her Children. Jesus, our Lord, gave his Mother to us as our Mother. So we love the Blessed Mother Mary. Humanity is looking for a Mother who will protect and care. In keeping with the early days of our nation\u2019s history, in the State of Maryland, the National Basilica in Washington D.C is dedicated to The Immaculate Conception.<\/p>\n
Today we celebrate the feast of The Immaculate Conception with special joy and gratitude. So let us now turn to Mary in prayer; a prayer composed by St. Bernard of Clairvaux over 800 years ago:<\/p>\n
“Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.<\/p>\n
Inspired with confidence, we turn to you, o virgin of Virgins, our Mother, to you we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful.<\/p>\n
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, do not turn from our petitions, but in your Mercy hear and answer us”. Amen.<\/p>\n
Fr. Lucas Thumma<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Immaculate Conception December 8 Mary- conceived without original sin; Mary was sinless from the moment of conception. This doctrine was defined by Pope Pius the 9th, on December 8, 1954, four years before the apparitions of Mary at Lourdes. The Truth, which is from the beginning, is explicated to humanity at this time. Mary was born free from original sin and remained free from all sin for the rest of her life. This is according to the Plan of God,…<\/p>\n