Immaculate Conception of Mary – Year C: December 8

The Immaculate and Our Conception

"Behold, the handmaid of the Lord."
Luke 1:26-38

On December 8th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary was conceived without original sin in anticipation of her role as the Mother of the Savior. This does not refer to the virginal conception of Jesus but rather to the fact that Mary herself was preserved from sin from the very first moment of her existence. This celebration harmoniously fits into the Advent season, inviting us to live this liturgical time under Mary’s gaze, the mother of Jesus and our mother.

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, following an extensive consultation with the episcopate worldwide. In the papal declaration, we read: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin” (Ineffabilis Deus).

Four years later, on March 25, 1858, at Lourdes, the Virgin Mary introduced herself to the adolescent Bernadette Soubirous (1844–1879) with these words: "I am the Immaculate Conception," spoken in the local dialect: "Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou."

Although the proclamation of the dogma is recent, the feast of the Immaculate Conception has deep roots in Christian tradition. It is the fruit of centuries of theological reflection, liturgical celebration, and popular devotion. We can say that the dogma was anticipated by the sensus fidei, the intuition of the Christian people. Indeed, from the Patristic period, Mary was seen as "the new Eve" (St. Irenaeus). This vision held the first premonition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Eve, as the first woman, was created by God without the stain of sin; Mary, the new Eve, called to be the Mother of God, was likewise conceived immaculate.

Contemplating this unique grace and beauty of Mary, however, should not lead us to elevate her above the earth and our humanity, as if she were an unreachable star. Viewing Mary only as a woman graced with privileges and celestial gifts risks alienating her from us. To understand the role of the Virgin Mary, we must return to the simplicity of the Gospels. Once “the angel departed from her,” Mary returned to the gray daily life of joys and sorrows, of worries and struggles, of doubts and uncertainties... One of us, walking alongside us, living by faith!

St. Thérèse of Lisieux said: “For a sermon on the Holy Virgin to please me and do me good, it must show me her real life, not her supposed life; I am sure her life was absolutely simple. She is shown as inaccessible; instead, she should be shown as imitable, her virtues revealed, saying that she lived by faith like us, quoting the Gospel. [...] Otherwise, if you listen to a sermon and are forced to marvel from start to finish and exclaim, ‘Ah! ah!’, you’ve had enough!” (August 21, 1897).

Points for Reflection

1. Conceived in Mystery

Every conception is shrouded in mystery. Conceived by her parents—Joachim and Anne, according to tradition—unaware of the divine plan, only God knew the moment He conceived her in His love. He created her as the new Eve, “in His image and likeness,” for His purpose in her. Something similar happens with each of us. The Lord knew and loved us even before our parents became aware of our existence.
The Immaculate Conception reveals something about our own conception. God has also “blessed us with every spiritual blessing”; He has also “chosen us before the creation of the world to be holy and immaculate in His sight in love, predestining us to be His adopted children” (Ephesians 1:3-6, second reading).
In every person, there remains an “immaculate,” “virgin” part—a good soil where God’s Word can take root and bear fruits of love.

2. Visited by God

Like Mary, God visits each of us. He sends His angel, His Word, to deliver a threefold message:

- “Rejoice! For the Lord is with you!”
God invites us to joy. Every true joy stems from the awareness that we are not alone, at the mercy of life’s events, but that the Lord is with us.
- “Do not be afraid! For you have found favor with God!”
The Lord tells us not to fear. Fear—every fear, but especially the fear of death!—prevents us from living peacefully and fully enjoying life. St. Paul, aware of this reality, exclaims: “I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:35-39).
- “Behold, you will conceive a son! For nothing is impossible with God!”
How often have we thought of our lives as barren, insignificant, empty, or even meaningless! The Lord says, “Let me enter your heart, and I promise to make your life fruitful, as fruitful as Abraham’s!”

3. “Where Are You?” – Here I Am!

God continually visits us, but are we ready to be found? “Where are you?” is the existential question God continues to ask each of us. It is not a question of judgment but the loving concern of a Father or the Good Shepherd.
Often, we hide from His gaze out of shame. We feel naked, unworthy to stand in His presence. Yet God’s joy in finding a lost son or daughter is so great that He forgets our wandering.
Let us take courage: let us come out of our hiding places! Let us go to Him and trustingly respond to His call, as the Virgin did: “Here I am!” He will immediately clothe us with the robe of the Son, renewing our dignity.

Fr. Manuel João Pereira Correia, MCCJ