But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God (Luke 1:30).
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX defined and presented before the world one of the four Doctrines of faith of Catholic Mariology, the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Other three Marian doctrines are Assumption of Mary, Perpetual Virginity of Mary and Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God) respectively.
When Bernadette asked the beautiful lady who was appearing to her at Lourdes, France, in 1858, who she was, the lady answered, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” It is surprising that the beautiful lady wanted to be known not by a personal name but by a mysterious event in her life. Of course, we all know by now that the beautiful lady who appeared to Bernadette Soubirous was Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus.
The Immaculate Conception – this is the name by which Mama Mary revealed herself to Bernadette in Lourdes. The Immaculate Conception – this is the name by which Mama Mary wishes to be known and remembered. The Immaculate Conception – this is what God did to her. The Immaculate Conception – Mother Mary wanted us to remember God more than herself. The Immaculate Conception – this is what is celebrated today.
The dogma states that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, in view of her unique vocation as mother of the Son of God, had been free from the stain of original sin. In view of her vocation as mother of the Son of God – this was the reason why Mama Mary was conceived without original sin. The Immaculate Conception was because of the Divine Motherhood. The Immaculate Conception was God’s work just as her becoming the mother of His Son was purely God’s unique grace given her. We celebrate the Immaculate Conception to remember three things and so live by it. Amen.
Fr. Jerry Vallomkunnel MCBS