The Immaculate Conception

Zurbaran's Immaculate Conception

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This is a holy day of obligation where Catholics aren't "forced" but expected to attend Mass as this feast is a touchstone of our faith. What's so great about this feast?

First, this is the feast that commemorates Mary's conception. One legend has that Mary was conceived without sin as a sign of God's promise to her parents, Joachim and Anne. Where most Old Testament narratives have the trope of an elderly couple who are childless awaiting God's promise only to have it fulfilled with the birth of a remarkable child who all times is a son, the story of Mary is similar except the child is a girl.

Mary was conceived without sin so that she may bring forth the sinless Jesus. She, in ancient language, was the second Eve, who also was born sinless.

The Feast is important to us because it stands as testimony to God's power to recreate the world in his peaceable, immaculate (sinless) image. Mary was the first agent of Christ's salvation from conception to death!

Mass times are: Tonight at 5:30 (Dec 7) for the Vigil or tomorrow's 12:10pm Mass (Dec 8) in the afternoon.

BE THERE.