Cycle B - Year II:  

8 December 2023: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Liturgical color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Genesis 3:9-15, 20

Second Reading:   Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Gospel:  Please read  Luke 1:26-38 

The Greatest "Yes"!

The Immaculate Conception of the  Blessed Virgin Mary is December 8 and it falls on a Friday. This day is one of the three obligatory days for the faithful in the Catholic Church in the Philippines, in addition to all Sundays. (The other two holy days of obligation are December 25 which is the birth of our Lord Jesus, and January 1 which is the Divine Motherhood of Mary.)  Since this is a holy day of obligation, all the faithful are required to attend Holy Mass just like a Sunday.

What does the Church teach about the Immaculate Conception of Mary? Our Catechism says  that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception by her Mother St. Anne, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved and exempt from all stain of original sin.

Now, the faithful should not confuse the Immaculate Conception with the perpetual virginity of Mary, or the virgin birth of Jesus. Because the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary herself by her mother, St. Anne.

Reflection on the Gospel:

St. Luke writes on the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the mother of our Savior. We reflect on this event in the First Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary.

Mary, the young girl of no status, from the village of Nazareth, an utterly insignificant place is signaled out, called, chosen, and overshadowed with God's Spirit. Her response to the angel moves from fear to total trust in God's inscrutable design.

At her young age when the angel appeared to her, Mary may not have completely understood the Good News of the Angel Gabriel, but she obeyed and accepted God's will for her. That is why our Lady is the supreme example of obedience to God's will.

Prayer:

Mary is the Patroness of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Let us pray to Mary to be with us during these trying times in our history, to guide and protect us, and intercede for us with her Son Jesus.

Let us ask Mary to strengthen the Church in the Philippines in its resolve to protect human life, especially the life of the unborn.

Let us ask Mary to help us respond generously to God's call as she did and to be as true Catholics and faithful disciples of her Son Jesus as she is.

Mary, our Patroness, we honor you today on your Immaculate Conception with the prayer of Hail Holy Queen, in Latin version:

Salve, Regina, Mater miseridordiae,

Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae,

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos

miserecordes oculos ad nos converte;

et lesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O Clemens, O Pia, O Dulcis Virgo Maria!

Trivia:

(a)  Pope Clement XI established the Immaculate Conception of Mary for the entire Church in 1708.

(b)  Pope Pius IX has defined the Immaculate Conception of Mary as dogma of the Catholic Church

      on December 8, 1854. "The subject of this immunity  from original sin is the person of Mary at the

      moment of the creation of her soul and its infusion into her body."  

(c)  Pope Pius XII declared the Immaculate Conception as the Principal Patroness of the Philippines

      in 1942.

A Blessed Feast of the Immaculate Conception to us all. And thank you for a moment with God,

Ad Jesum per Mariam!