The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8 © Sophia Institute Press December 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Marian Feast Day When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she was to be the Mother of Jesus, he greeted her with the words, “Hail, full of grace.” Mary was full of grace. Not only had she never sinned, but she had been conceived without Original Sin, the sin we all inherit from Adam and Eve’s Fall. Why was she given this special gift? God saved Mary from the stain of sin because He knew that she would say yes to the angel’s words. He knew that she would say yes to His will and become the Mother of Jesus. For nine months, Mary carried Jesus in her womb. For nine months, her body gave Jesus life, and from her body, His body was made. Jesus is holy. Jesus is God. It is only fitting that the Mother who bore Him should be pure and spotless. Like the Ark in the Old Testament that carried God’s written Word, the Ten Commandments, inside it, Mary carried Jesus, God’s Word made flesh, inside her. Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant. Because Jesus is sacred, Mary was made sacred to honor Him. Today, we remember that Mary was conceived without sin. We celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception because it helps us remember that Jesus’ body is holy, so holy that God required Mary to be holy too. Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Everything that Mary does is to make us look at Jesus. When we celebrate and honor Mary, we celebrate and honor her Son, because everything that she does brings us closer to Him. Immaculate Mary, conceived without sin, pray for me now and at the hour of my death! © Sophia Institute Press.