December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.
The Immaculate Conception is
an often misunderstood concept. Many
think that it has to do with Jesus’ virgin birth. In reality, it has to do with Mary’s being
conceived from the first moment of her being free from original sin. We are all born in a state of lacking sanctifying
grace – in a certain estrangement from God.
Not so with Mary. From the first
moment of her existence, Satan had no dominion over her.
