Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Luke 1:26-38

Mary is on a donkey with two friends also on donkeys. The back of one says, "My son is a doctor," and the other one says, "My son is a lawyer." And the other says, “My son is a cardinal.” Mary says, "My Son is God”

There are some big questions we often hear from our Protestant brothers and sisters: Why do Catholics love and honor Mary so much? Why do we even worship her?

Many Protestant denominations reject some of the Catholic teachings about Mary, especially doctrines like the Assumption, and the Immaculate Conception. Since we don’t have much time today, let me share four key reasons why we, as Catholics, love Mary so deeply and believe in the truth of the Immaculate Conception.

1. Mary’s Sanctity as the Mother of God

In the Gospel, the angel tells Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31-32). This is an incredible moment. Mary is chosen to be the Mother of God, the one who would carry and give birth to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

St. Augustine teaches that all humans inherit original sin from Adam and Eve. But since Mary’s unique role as the Theotokos (God-bearer) as the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, it was fitting that she herself be free from sin. Just as a clean vessel is needed to carry something precious, Mary had to be pure to bear God Himself. A vessel bearing God’s Son cannot be stained with sin.

Saint Anselm beautifully puts it: “God created all things, and Mary gave birth to God.” The God who made all things took His form through Mary, making her a pure vessel for this incredible act of salvation.

2. Mary Was "Full of Grace"

When the angel Gabriel greets Mary, he says, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). There is no other person in history called “full of grace” like Mary.

This greeting points to the special grace God gave Mary, a grace that was preemptive—meaning she was preserved from original sin even before she was born. This grace made her pure and ready for her unique role in salvation history. Since other holy figures, like John the Baptist, were sanctified in the womb, it’s reasonable to believe that Mary, who would bear the Son of God, was also sanctified ahead of time.

3. Mary Is Blessed Above All Creatures

When Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42).

Saint Anselm adds that Mary is “full and overflowing with grace, and all creation receives new life from your abundance.” Mary is blessed above all creatures because she gave birth to the Savior of the world. No one in creation is more blessed than she, because she carried in her womb the one who would redeem all of creation.

4. Nothing Is Impossible for God

The phrase “nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37) is at the heart of the Immaculate Conception. This phrase reminds us that God, in His infinite power, can do anything He wills. If God could bring about the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus, He could certainly preserve Mary from original sin from the moment of her conception.

Mary’s immaculate conception was not something she earned; it was a grace given to her by God. Mary is not divine; she, too, was saved by her Son, Jesus Christ, who is God. But God can do the impossible, and preserving Mary from sin is within His power.

What Does the Immaculate Conception Mean for Us?

Saint Anselm beautifully says, “Through your blessing, all creation is blessed.” Mary, by giving birth to Jesus, became the mother of the re-created world. God the Father gave life to all things, and through Mary, He gave new life through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus, there would be no redemption. Without Mary’s Son, we would have no hope of salvation. But through Mary, we receive the greatest gift—the Savior of the world. As St. Athanasius said, “God became man to make man God.” Through Jesus, who Mary gave birth to, we are invited to share in the divine life of God.

The Immaculate Conception’s Call to Holiness

The Immaculate Conception is not just about Mary; it carries a powerful message for each of us. It shows us how God’s grace can transform our lives. We are called to live pure and holy lives, just as Mary did.

As we reflect on this mystery, let us ask for Mary’s intercession. St. Maximilian Kolbe once said, “The fastest way to go to Jesus is through Mary.” She, as our Mother, guides us closer to her Son.

May she help us live holy lives and grow closer to God. Just as light and darkness cannot coexist, sin cannot stay where God’s holiness is. Let us strive to turn away from sin and reflect God’s holiness in our lives. And let u make our souls become holy temples of the Holy Spirit.

May God bless us all, and may we grow in love for our Mother Mary, who shows us the way to Jesus.