Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Information about the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception[1]

Readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Commentary:

Reading 1 Genesis 3:9-15, 20

We find Adam and Eve confronted by God after having eaten from the Tree of Wisdom the fruit of which was forbidden to them. Adam blames Eve, and Eve blames the serpent. Thus the identity of the serpent is now synonymous with the Devil. This passage, because of that linkage can now be classified as the first prediction of the Messianic struggle with evil and ultimate victory.

Contained here is the scriptural evidence of Original Sin. The story is also called “The Fall” as God’s human creation (personified in Adam and Eve) falls from grace and is condemned to suffer the struggle to regain the blessed state throughout history. Mankind has said no to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

A song of victory that is attributed to the Lord and one of awe for the deeds he has done on behalf of his people. Given to us on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception we can relate the victory to the unblemished creation of the Blessed Mother.

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

Paul speaks to the Ephesians about their adoption by God as His sons and daughters. He relates in typical Pauline fashion the omnipotence and timelessness of God’s knowledge and actions. The emphasis in this selection is “Chosen”. We were chosen (“…to be holy and without blemish before him.”) to accomplish His will just as he chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the unblemished vessel of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Gospel Luke 1:26-38

We are given here the story of Mary being told she had been chosen and accepting the great privilege of baring the Savior of the World. This “announcement is parallel to the Zechariah’s news about John the Baptist, also delivered by the Angel Gabriel. This passage clearly identifies Jesus as Son of David and Son of God thus linking it with the messianic predictions from the Old Testament.Also very important in this story is Mary’s incredulous response; “’How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?’" This establishes her virgin status and is a declaration of the Spirit’s role in the conception.

Reflection:

A year ago in this space we provided some straight forward teaching about the Solemnity we celebrate today, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some of that message is repeated below simply because it needs to be repeated. There is of course a new set of awakenings that comes with growth. Some of this will be included following a rather long quote.

“The common misconception by many Catholics and a vast majority of non-Catholics is that, first the feast of the Immaculate Conception refers to Jesus’ conception. This is due to the language used. Immaculate Conception, in the mind of most people, refers to the situation we heard in the Gospel today, that is, conception without sex. Since the best known biblical example of that taking place is the conception of Jesus, that’s what many people think. Even when the full name of the solemnity is used - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, people are still confused since she was the vessel of the Lord.”“This feast is a celebration of the singular gift of grace (“Hail, favored one!”) given to Mary, the Virgin Mother of God (Theotokis). Because the conception of Christ was done through the power of the Holy Spirit, without any will of human industry, it is assumed by many Catholics that the same is true of the pronouncement of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. That is, her conception was accomplished without relations between her parents, Anne and Joachim. This is not the case.”The promulgation of the Immaculate Conception states;

“The term conception does not mean the active or generative conception by herparents. Her body was formed in the womb of the mother, and the father had theusual share in its formation. The question does not concern the immaculatenessof the generative activity of her parents. Neither does it concern the passiveconception absolutely and simply (conceptio seminis carnis, inchoata), which,according to the order of nature, precedes the infusion of the rational soul.The person is truly conceived when the soul is created and infused into thebody. Mary was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin at the firstmoment of her animation, and sanctifying grace was given to her before sin couldhave taken effect in her soul. (from link provided above)

This was the intent of Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854, pronounced by Pope Pius IX.”

It is important for us to remember what the Church celebrates because it is only through our recognition of this event that we can understand its role in our own salvation. The Virgin Mary’s gift, being conceived without Original Sin, marked the beginning of a return to grace provided through her Son, Jesus Christ. In her, the perfect vessel, we see our own destiny as God’s adopted children. She is the first since the fall of man in the garden to experience the fullness of grace.

In that singular gift, we see Mary able to respond to positively God, as she says “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” From the first disobedience by Adam and Eve in the garden comes the complete obedience from one “full of grace.”

Today we recall once more the promise of salvation sealed with the gift of Mary’s Son, the prefect vessel yielding the perfect gift. We see clearly that it could be no other way and give thanks that once so holy and pure should give us so great an example of obedience and love.

Pax
[1] The picture today is “Immaculate Conception” by Domenico Piola, 1683
[2] After Links to Readings Expire