A family portrait: Anna and Joachim (at the top), Mary's parents. Mary is pictured with Joseph and her son, Jesus. A dove reminds us that Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit. Mary is venerated as the Immaculate Conception, conceived immaculately, preserved from original sin, in Anna's womb.
This older prayer from the Mass for this holy day gives us a short lesson in the theology of the Immaculate Conception:
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You allowed no stain of Adam’s sin
to touch the Virgin Mary.
Full of grace,
she was to be a worthy mother of your Son,
your sign of favor to the Church at its beginning,
and the promise of its perfection
as the bride of Christ,radiant in beauty.
Purest of virgins, she was to bring forth your Son,
the innocent lamb who takes away our sins.
You chose her from all women
to be our advocate with you
and our pattern of holiness.
In our joy we sing to your glory
with all the choirs of angels:
Holy, holy, holy ...
Because December 8 was also the Second Sunday of Advent, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was transferred to December 9 and this is year is not a holy day of obligation.
Image above by Michael McGrath
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