FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Also known as

• Immaculate Conception of Mary
• Mary, the Immaculate Conception
• Nossa Senhora da Conceição
• Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Solemnity

• 8 December
• 9 December (Latin calendar if 8 December is a Sunday in order to avoid conflict with Advent)

Profile

The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin in the first instant of her conception in the womb of her mother. This was a singular privilege and grace of God, granted in view of the merits of Jesus Christ. By her conception is meant not the act or part of her parents in it, nor the formation of her body, nor the conception of Christ later in her own womb; from the moment her soul was created and infused into her body, it was free from original sin and filled with sanctifying grace. Her soul was never stained by original sin, nor by the depraved emotions, passions, and weaknesses consequent on that sin, but created in a state of original sanctity, innocence, and justice. She had at least the graces of the first Eve before the Fall and more. This privilege was befitting the one who was to be mother of the Redeemer.

The doctrine was defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX, 8 December 1854. It is in accord with the texts of Scripture (Genesis 3), “I will put enmities between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed”; (Luke 1), “Hail, full of grace.” It is established by tradition, by the writings of the Fathers, by feasts observed in honour of this prerogative, by the general belief of the faithful. The very controversies over it among theologians brought about a clear understanding and acceptance of the doctrine long before it was declared by Blessed Pope Pius IX. After the declaration, some Protestant writers denounced what they styled Mariolatry (idolatry of Mary). However, there is a constantly-growing devotion among Catholics, and respect among some Protestant groups for the prerogatives of the Mother of Our Redeemer.

Among the many masters who have represented the Immaculate Conception in art are: Carducci, Carreno de Miranda, Falco, Holbein, Montanes, Muller, Murillo, Reni, Ribera, and Signorelli. It is the title she used when appearing at Lourdes.

The feast originated in the East about the 8th century where it was celebrated on 9 December. In the Western Church it appeared first in England in the 11th century and was included in the calendar of the universal Church in the 14th century. It has a vigil and an octave, and is a holy day of obligation in the United States, Ireland, and Scotland.

Name Meaning

• stainless (Immaculata) (Latin)

Patronage

• barrel makers
• cloth makers
• cloth workers
• coopers
• soldiers of the United States
• Spanish infantry
• tapestry workers
• upholsterers
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guam
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Portugal
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• United States
• Agra, India, archdiocese of
• Ajmer, India, diocese of
• Albany, New York, diocese of
• Aracaju, Brazil, diocese of
• Auchi, Nigeria, diocese of
• Austin, Texas, diocese of
• Aysén, Chile, diocese of
• Baltimore, Maryland, archdiocese of
• Besancon, France, archdiocese of
• Bismarck, North Dakota, diocese of
• Brooklyn, New York, diocese of
• Brownsville, Texas, diocese of
• Bùi Chu, Vietnam, diocese of
• Burlington, Vermont, diocese of
• Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Camden, New Jersey, diocese of
• Chicago, Illinois, archdiocese of
• Crookston, Minnesota, diocese of
• Denver, Colorado, archdiocese of
• Dhaka, Bangladesh, archdiocese of
• Dundo, Angola, diocese of
• Edmundston, New Brunswick, diocese of
• Elphin, Ireland, diocese of
• Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, diocese of
• Galveston-Houston, Texas, archdiocese of
• Grand Falls, Newfoundland, diocese of
• Huambo, Angola, archdiocese of
• Johannesburg, South Africa, diocese of
• Kansas City, Kansas, archdiocese of
• Kansas City-Saint Joseph, Missouri, diocese of
• Keimoes-Upington, South Africa, diocese of
• Kingston, Ontario, archdiocese of
• Kwito-Bié, Angola, diocese of
• Lafayette, Louisiana, diocese of
• London, Ontario, diocese of
• Malolos, Philippines, diocese of
• Mbanza Congo, Angola, diocese of
• Memphis, Tennessee, diocese of
• Mobile, Alabama, archdiocese of
• Mont-Laurier, Québec, diocese of
• Nelson, British Columbia, diocese of
• Nueva Segovia, Philippines
• Ogdensburg, New York, diocese of
• Ozamiz, Philippines, archdiocese of
• Palermo, Italy, archdiocese of
• Peoria, Illinois, diocese of
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, archdiocese of
• Philippines, military ordinariate of
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, diocese of
• Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India, archdiocese of
• Portland, Maine, diocese of
• Portland, Oregon, archdiocese of
• Pueblo, Colorado, diocese of
• Québec, Québec, archdiocese of
• Rockford, Illinois, diocese of
• Saint John, New Brunswick, diocese of
• Saint John’s, Newfoundland, diocese of
• Seattle, Washington, archdiocese of
• Shreveport, Louisiana, diocese of
• Southwark, England, archdiocese of
• Spokane, Washington, diocese of
• Springfield, Illinois, diocese of
• Sumbe, Angola, diocese of
• Syracuse, New York, diocese of
• Tyler, Texas, diocese of
• Uíje, Angola, diocese of
• Virac, Philippines, diocese of
• Wichita, Kansas, diocese of
• Carmagnola, Italy
• Cassano d’Adda, Italy
• Cerva, Catanzaro, Italy
• Corsica, France
• Is-Swieqi, Malta
• Pasig, Philippines
• Swieqi, Malta
• Toa Alto, Puerto Rico
• Torrevieja, Spain

Readings

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. – collect prayer, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary