[Askel5]

December 8

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Feast of the Immaculate Conception

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Presence of God.

Grace I Ask:
Let me understand how your Immaculate Conception should affect me.

The Idea:
When I recall that Mary was free from the moment of her conception from all stain of original sin, I understand what is said-but does this have any effect on my life? Mary is my mother. She was conceived immaculate because of her divine Son-but her motherhood of me is also affected by her sinlessness.

When I came into the world, I was dead to real life, sanctifying grace. At Baptism I was "born" to this life and, in a sense, Mary became the Mother of this life of mine. Does it mean nothing to me that my mother is completely without sin? A child naturally resembles its mother; at birth the resemblance is slight, because the child has hardly begun to live-but the resemblance grows as the child grows older, and soon it begins to imitate and acquire even the habits and mannerisms of its mother.
How should I resemble Mary? In her sinlessness.

When we want to get a picture of Mary, we think of the words of the Apocalypse: "A woman clothed with the sun"; the meaning is clear if we remember that "darkness" stands for sin, and "light" for sinlessness -- Mary, the supremely sinless, immaculate one.

My Personal Application:
My response to this mother of mine will be, first, to keep all darkness, stain, sin, out of my life. But most importantly, I will imitate this sun-clad mother and her Son -- the Light of the world -- in living my act of consecration to her, and by heeding the call to apostolic action: "So let your light shine before men that they may see your good works"

I Speak to Christ: Lord, I thank you for giving me this great gift-your Immaculate Mother. Fill my soul with this light which is really life so that I may ever more and more be like your Immaculate Mother.

Thought for Today:
“0 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

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Daily Sodality Readings

[Askel5]

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Pope Blessed Pius IX instituted this solemnity when he proclaimed as dogma the truth of Mary's Immaculate Conception on December 8,1854, formally affirming the traditional belief of the Church that she was conceived free from the stain of original sin. This feast has been celebrated in the East and also in many places in the West since the eighth century.

Mary's freedom from sin is the most beautiful fruit of the work of redemption accomplished by her Son. Chosen as Mother of the Savior, Mary received the benefits of salvation from the moment of her conception. Christ came to take away the sin of the world; he did not allow that sin to contaminate Mary. In her sanctity, then, our Blessed Mother is a model for all Christians. We should seek her intercession in our own struggles with sin.

Mary is the patroness of the United States under the title of Immaculate Conception.

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