Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The solemnity on Wednesday 8 December�refers to Mary�s conception and the belief that she was conceived free from original sin.�Mary was given this special grace because she is the Ark of the New Covenant.�In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was God�s dwelling place.�The New Testament fulfills the old. When Jesus came into the world to be with us, He came through Mary, and once again, God prepared a pure and perfect dwelling for himself.�Let us place in the loving protection of Mary in this time of preparation for Christ�s birth, all the many worries and preoccupations that weigh upon us.

Readings

Gen3:9-15, 20

�The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.� (20)

Eph 1:3-6, 11-12

�Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing�� (3)

Luke 1:26-38

�The angel said to her, �Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.�

�

The painting on the main slider is of St Anne with Mary greeting baby Jesus by Sofonisba Anguissola (public domain.)

�

Prayer to Mary

This is the oldest recorded prayer outside of the texts from the Gospels:

We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

For more information on the oldest Marian prayer dating back to the year 250 go HERE

Painting of Jesus\' grandmother Anne, holding her baby Mary.