Immaculate Conception
On Monday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I’ve found that there’s often confusion over what exactly the Immaculate Conception is and refers to—contrary to what many think, the “Immaculate Conception” does not refer to the conception of Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary, but rather the conception of the Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.
The Church has taught this reality from very early on: in the very earliest centuries, it was mostly implicit—by comparison with Eve, Mary was considered the immaculate and incorrupt mother of all the living. Throughout the centuries, though, theologians developed more and more an explicit doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, that to be given the privilege to bear within her in the Incarnate Son of God, Mary would have needed a special grace to be without sin, up to and including original sin. This was a special grace given her in anticipation of her Son’s death on the Cross, the act which saves all of us (including Mary) from sin.
It was in 1846 that the United States bishops decreed that the US should honor Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception as the patroness of this country. Some years later, on December 8, 1854, Bl. Pope Pius IX solemnly pronounced it as a dogma of the Catholic faith. The progression of this goes to show that when dogmas are defined, it’s always pronouncing something already held sacred by the Church, not drumming up new ideas for belief.
Because of the significance of the Immaculate Conception to our country—namely, that she is our patroness—we always observe December 8 as a Holy Day of Obligation, even when it occurs on a Saturday or Monday, like this year. This is unlike the Holy Days of Obligation on January 1, August 15, and November 1, which usually see the precept to attend Mass abrogated if they fall a day before or after Sunday. Immaculate Conception and Christmas, however, always maintain their precept to attend Mass no matter which day of the week they fall on.
As such, please remember to attend Mass this Monday. Our Mass times are 8:15 am with the school children and 5:30 pm on Monday, December 8. There will be no “vigil” Mass offered on Sunday evening, as any Sunday evening Mass would have to be of the Second Sunday of Advent. If you are unable to go to these times, I believe there are 7 am options at Cathedral and Christ the King and a 12:05 Mass at Cathedral.
Lastly, looking forward to next week, on Sunday, December 14 at 2 pm, Blessed Sacrament is hosting the Advent penance service for the west-side Springfield parishes. If you would like to take the opportunity to go to reconciliation (it’s always nice to have a clean soul for Christmas!), we will have eight priests here that afternoon, so it will be the perfect opportunity! I can’t encourage you enough to make this important preparation for Christmas, especially if you haven’t gone in many years: there’s no better way to welcome the Savior than to acknowledge our need for the salvation He brings and to humble ourselves to receive the grace of His forgiveness for our sins. It’s a beautiful Sacrament!
Keep spreading joy!
Fr. Friedel