FRIDAY: HOMILY FOR SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
THEME: A Spotless Life
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa, MA.
December 8, 2023.
In light of Mary’s role in our salvation, especially as the Mother of God, the Catholic Church teaches ex cathedra that her conception in her mother’s womb did not involve the transmission of the sin of Adam and Eve, the original sin, to Mary through her parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is therefore a celebration of the preservation of the soul of Mary from original sin at her conception.
“We declare, pronounce, and define the doctrine which holds that 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,” Pope Pius IX writes in his definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception (Ineffabilis Deus).
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
The immaculate conception of Mary is consistent with the economy of salvation. In the plan of salvation, her immaculate conception was accomplished by virtue of the foreseen merits and satisfaction that Jesus Christ would gain for us through His death and resurrection.
Therefore, it would be most appropriate for sin to never touch the womb that would contain the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity at any point in time.
For the Catholic Church in the United States, it is a double celebration. We join the Universal Church to celebrate this solemnity, and at the same time, the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Immaculate Conception, is our patroness.
The concept of a patroness, or patron saint, is familiar to us. For instance, individuals (Anthony), cities (San Antonio, Texas), parishes (St. Anthony’s Parish), etc. named after Saint Anthony of Padua have him as their heavenly intercessor and have a special relationship with him.
At the sixth Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1846, the bishops of the United States unanimously chose our Blessed Mother as the patroness of the United States of America, under the title of the Immaculate Conception.
It means that we have a special intercessor and protector in heaven with whom we can cultivate a relationship. Additionally, she serves as an example of the type of life to which we aspire: a life free of blemishes or wrinkles, a sinless life.
May the Immaculate Virgin Mary intercede for us as we aspire to live an immaculate life and a life of total abandonment to the will of God through Christ our Lord. Amen!
FOR SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>