Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8
On Friday, Dec. 8, Catholics will observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation declared on Dec. 6, 1708. The day honors the Virgin Mary — how she was free of original sin from the moment of her conception and also her sinless lifespan.
It is the belief that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way by her parents Ann and Joachim, that Mary was preserved from original sin or its stain upon her conception. God gave us the gift of Mary which bore us Jesus in our likeness, except for sin, said Father John Gordon, Secretary for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark.
The angel Gabriel said to her: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
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“Mary’s womb is home to God. Because of the Grace of God, Mary ‘full of grace,’ free from sin was prepared to become the mother of Jesus when the angel came to Mary,” said Father Gordon.
An image of the Immaculate Conception portrays Mary with 12 stars surrounding her head and a crescent moon under feet. The image is drawn from Revelations 12:1, “Woman clothed with the sun.” Lillies and roses symbolize her purity and Queenship. She crushes a serpent under her feet, her hands held together in prayer, and the obelisk on her right (“Tower of David”).
Churches will offer day, and evening Masses for those who work. It is also a tradition in many places to set up their nativity on this day.
In May 1846, the bishops of the United States proclaimed Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception, the principal patroness of the U.S. Seton Hall University’s Immaculate Conception Seminary School also declared her its saint.
