Three Reasons the Church’s Enemies Hate The Immaculate Conception

TFP ^ | 12.08.06 | Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

[Coleus]

The following text is adapted from a lecture Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira gave on June 15, 1973.  It has been translated and edited for publication without his revision.  Note, in this text, he uses the words Revolution and Counter-Revolution as he defined them in his book Revolution and Counter-Revolution.  In this sense, the Revolution is a centuries-old process, motivated by pride and sensuality, and therefore egalitarianism and liberalism, that dominates the modern world and seeks to destroy Christian civilization.  Counter-Revolutionaries are those dedicated to defeating this process and defending the rights of God. –Ed.

…One of the truly Counter-Revolutionary acts of Pope Pius IX’s pontificate was the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception. 

There are three reasons the definition of this dogma was especially Counter-Revolutionary and therefore hateful to the enemies of the Church.  

First Reason: An Anti-Egalitarian Dogma
As you know, this dogma teaches that Our Lady was immaculate at her conception, meaning that, at no moment, did she have even the slightest stain of Original Sin. Both she, and naturally Our Lord Jesus Christ, were exempt from that rigid law that subjugates all other descendants of Adam and Eve.  Thus, Our Lady was not subject to the miseries of fallen man.  She did not have bad influences, inclinations and tendencies.  In her, everything moved harmonically towards truth, goodness and therefore God.  In this sense, Our Lady is an example of perfect liberty, meaning that everything her reason, illuminated by Faith, determined as good, her will desired entirely.  She had no interior obstacles to impede her practice of virtue.

Being “full of grace” increased these effects.  Thus, her will advanced with an unimaginable impetus towards everything that was true and good.  Declaring that a mere human creature had this extraordinary privilege makes this dogma fundamentally anti-egalitarian, because it points out an enormous inequality in the work of God.  It demonstrates the total superiority of Our Lady over all other beings.  Thus, its proclamation made Revolutionary egalitarian spirits boil with hatred.

Second Reason: The Unsullied Purity of Our Lady
However, there is a more profound reason why the Revolution hates this dogma.  The Revolution loves evil and is in harmony with those who are bad, and thus tries to find evil in everything.  On the contrary, those who are irreproachable are a cause of intense hatred.  Therefore, the idea that a being could be utterly spotless from the first moment of her existence is abhorrent to Revolutionaries.  For example: Imagine a man who is consumed with impurity.  When besieged by impure inclinations, he is ashamed of his consent to them.  This leaves him depressed and utterly devastated.

Imagine this man considering Our Lady, who, being the personification of transcendental purity, did not have even the least appetite for lust.  He feels hatred and scorn because her virtue smashes his pride.  Furthermore, by declaring Our Lady to be so free from pride, sensuality and the desire for anything Revolutionary, the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception affirmed that she was utterly Counter-Revolutionary.  This only inflamed the Revolutionary hatred of the dogma all the more.

Disputing the Doctrine: A Counter-Revolutionary Struggle

Declaring that Our Lady was so free from pride, sensuality and the desire for anything Revolutionary, affirmed that she was utterly Counter-Revolutionary and inflamed the Revolutionary hatred of the dogma all the more.

For centuries, there were two opposing currents of thought about the Immaculate Conception in the Church.  While it would be an exaggeration to suggest that everyone who fought against the doctrine was acting with Revolutionary intentions; it is a fact that all those who were acting with Revolutionary intentions fought against it.  On the other hand, all those who favored its proclamation, at least on that point, expressed a Counter-Revolutionary attitude. Thus, in some way the fight between the Revolution and Counter-Revolution was present in the fight between these two theological currents.

Third Reason:  The Exercise of Papal Infallibility
There is still another reason this dogma is hateful to Revolutionaries: it was the first dogma proclaimed through Papal Infallibility.  At that time, the dogma of Papal Infallibility had not yet been defined and there was a current in the Church maintaining that the Pope was only infallible when presiding over a council.  Nevertheless, Pius IX invoked Papal Infallibility when he defined the Immaculate Conception after merely consulting some theologians and bishops.   For liberal theologians, this seemed like circular reasoning.  If his infallibility had not been defined, how could he use it?  On the contrary, by using his infallibility, he affirmed that he had it.

This daring affirmation provoked an explosion of indignation among Revolutionaries, but enormous enthusiasm among Counter-Revolutionaries.  In praise of the new dogma, children all over the world were baptized under the name: Conception, Concepcion or Concepta to consecrate them to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

Pius IX: Bringing the Fight to the Enemy
It is not surprising that Pius IX so adamantly affirmed Papal Infallibility.  Very different from those who succeeded him, he was ever ready to bring the fight to the enemy.  He did this in Geneva, Switzerland, which then was the breeding ground of Calvinism, which is the most radical form of Protestantism.  When Swiss laws changed to allow a Catholic Cathedral in Geneva, Pius IX ordered that a statue of the Immaculate Conception be placed in the middle of the city, to proclaim this dogma in the place where Calvinists, Lutherans and other Protestants denied it more than anywhere else.  This is an example of Pius IX’s leadership in the fight against the Revolution. It is therefore entirely proper that all Catholics entertain a special affection for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which is so detested by the enemies of the Church today.

To read another commentary on the Immaculate Conception, click here.
To read Fr. Saint-Laurent's commentary on the Immaculate Conception, click here.
To order your free copy of a picture of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, click here.

[Gamecock]

There are plenty of Catholic only forums out there where you can call us protestants every name in the book and we won't respond.

That's right. I know, I've been banned from them. ;-)

[P-Marlowe]

I'm not referring to a thread that is titled in such a way as to at least peak Catholic curiosity. I mean a thread that seems totally innocuous

There are a number of Catholic posters who manage to show up on nearly every thread that is posted by a protestant, no matter how innocuous the title. I know them all by name and I debate with them all regularly. I don't think they would deny that they seem to post on nearly every protestant thread. They enjoy the discussions and, amazingly enough, some of them actually believe the stuff they say. :-)

This thread is NOT a catholic thread. It may have been started by a Catholic, the intent was to rag on Protestants and Mormons and Jews and skeptics and everyone else who does not accept the doctrine of the "Immaculate Conception".

[adiaireton8]

so if he felt that she was exempt, he would not have said "all"

Another argument from silence.

-A8

[bremenboy]

you responded: While I am aware of the long history of the Catholic Church and there Live and Let Live attitude WHO are you addressing? I never made the above comments...

Sorry My Bad
I meant to address DogwoodSouth this was my attempt a sarcasm.

The Immaculate Conception doesn't require that idea. what would be the purposes of Immaculate conception if no inherited sin?

NOWHERE does the Scripture give warrant for people to leave the Church or reject God's prophets and apostles because "they are wrong and I'm right". Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

The Church is the Body of Christ. Christ's Church will always be right for God cleanse his body and to leave his body is to reject Him or be rejected by him. The Holy spirit warns us that In Act 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

all the incorrect doctrines of Catholicism without giving any explanation. Apparently, this is all based on your superior wisdom and knowledge of God and Sacred Scriptures, something that has apparently alluded the Church for 2000 years...

The catholic church small c has known and followed the truth since Pentecost. The truth has never be alluded it has be twisted, it has been usurped by the wiil of ma. But no one who has a love for the truth will be denied it.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[Malacoda]

Indeed. I get o so tired of this -- especially during the joyous Christmas season.

My faith in the essential goodness and niceness of people as a whole is always tested on these threads. For some reason, our Protestant brethren take especial glee in being particularly nasty, hateful and protesting theoir moral superiority.

Blah. I mat forswear these until after the Epiphany, at this rate.

[P-Marlowe]

Another argument from silence.

Who is included in "all"? Just some?

[bremenboy]

This is untrue, since nowhere in Scripture does it state that Mary sinned

by that same logic then we could say that Cesar Augustus didn't sin and for that matter nowhere in the bible dose it specifically say that yours truly has sin. but the bible says that Chist was the savour of Mary.Luk 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, Luk 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Question what did Jesus save Mary from?

[stfassisi]

God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin because she was to be the mother of His Son.it follows that He will also have preserved Mary from the stain of any actual sin.
as the goodness of the parents brings honor to their children,,so,too, does the sinfulness of the parents bring shame to their children.But it is NOT fitting that the Mother of God should bring shame to Her divine son.Therefor.God preserved Mary from any personal sin,wether mortal or venial.
Through the Grace of God,which was infused into her soul at the moment of her conception,at the very instant He created her soul and united it to her body. He did it in virtue of the merits of Christ.No descendant of Adam receives the Grace of God except through the merits of Christ.
The Mother of Christ was no exception to this law of Grace.
Like every other human being who is descended of carnal generation from Adam,the blessed virgin Mary need to be redeemed by the blood of Christ,But wheras every other human being needs to be cleansed from the stain of original sin-which has contracted by way of carnal generation from Adam-the virgin Mary did NOT need to be cleansed from original sin.Through the Grace of Christ she was preserved from the stain of sin.
Mary is closer to Christ than any other human being,because He took flesh from her and dwelt in her womb.
The closer one is to Christ,the source of all Grace,the greater degree of Grace one receives from Christ.Mary,therefor,received from Christ a fullness of Grace not granted to any other creature.
Her Immaculate Conception made her worthy to be Mother of God

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Friday, December 08, 2006 Meditation Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12 The Immaculate Conception If you have any experience of motherhood, you know that it takes a lot of faith. In many ways, it’s something beyond your control. Suddenly, you have a new life inside of you. You do your best to nurture that life, but you don’t know how everything is going to turn out. You do everything you can to assure that your child will be loved and supported. Still, you have to trust God for the big picture. As we honor Mary today, let’s remember the deep faith she had, not just to be a mother but to be the Mother of God! She didn’t comprehend how she could give birth to the Messiah, but she still said yes to God’s plan. She was told she would suffer greatly because of her child, but she still obeyed. Clearly, Mary was no shrinking violet. She took care of Jesus for thirty years, endured his crucifixion and death, and stayed true to him until the end. Mary has many things to teach us. Like her, we are called to bring Jesus into this world, and like her, we too will suffer. When we face the challenges and temptations of life in this world, we can be tempted to forget about our walk with the Lord and just go with the flow. Or we can do as Mary did and proclaim God’s greatness, recognizing that he will look after us if we remain humble and open to his word: He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:53). Mary is more than just an idealistic example of perfect faith. She is a mother, and she wants nothing more than to bring us to her son, Jesus. Quite simply, she loves us! St. John Vianney tells us, Mary’s heart is so loving toward us that the hearts of all other mothers taken together are but a piece of ice in comparison. We can go to her, not just for our needs, but to ask her help in growing closer to the Lord. In the prayers of the rosary, we say to her, The Lord is with you! Let’s not forget Mary, this privileged insider in the heavenly court, who is already praying for each and every one of us! Lord, thank you for your Blessed Mother! May I imitate her virtues and call upon her to help me walk with you!

[Salvation]

Homily of the Day
Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.	Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version
She Was Almost Invisible, but She Gave Birth to Him!

---

December 8, 2006

Gn 3:9-15, 20 / Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 / Lk 1:26-38

As we look across the span of recorded history, we find the exploits of leaders, scholars, adventurers, inventors, and explorers whose achievements changed forever the world that we live in. And we wonder how they rose to greatness, as often as not from humble beginnings. More often than not, our wonderings go unanswered, because there is rarely a useful record of their formative years, and even less useful records of those invisible people who did the forming and shaping of their intellects and their souls.

The feast we mark today celebrates that simple peasant girl whose heart was so open to God that she gave birth to God's only Son, whom she then tended and guided for the many years that followed. What an extraordinary privilege that was, and with what grace Mary lived up to her special calling at every moment. At the very first moment of it all, she said to the angel, "I don't understand how this can be, but my answer to God is 'Yes.'" And so it was all her life long.

That is why we celebrate this and all the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because she, a human being just like us, had both the ability and the willingness to say "Yes" to God at every moment. In doing that, she made the right home and formed the right heart in God's Son and her son, Jesus.

Mary is the almost-invisible woman in the Gospels, but her gift to Jesus was beyond calculation. The gifts that we have to give will in the long run also be almost entirely invisible except to those who can read the fine lines of cause and effect from generation to generation.

Give your gift as Mary did. History may never notice, but God will, and so will many of His children.

 

[nanetteclaret]

Circular reasoning. One can't know for sure one way or the other, from direct Scripture references.

However, one can deduce from Scripture that she was sinless, pure, and holy by the following argument:

1) The Glory of the Lord overshadowed the Ark of the (old) Covenant. It was so Holy that Uzzah was killed when he touched it (I Samuel 6:19). The Glory of the Lord, in the thick cloud on Mt. Sinai, was so bright and awesome that Moses’ face shone.The Lord Himself told the Israelites that they were not to go on the mountain or even touch the border of it or they would die(Ex. 19:12). There are many other instances recorded in Scripture where people knew that they would die if they beheld the Glory of the Lord. Isaiah saying "Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips" is one that comes to mind.

2) The Angel said to Mary that "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35b) The “power of the Highest” overshadowed her, just like the “Glory of the Lord” overshadowed the original Ark of the Covenant.

3) Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, because Jesus called Himself the New Covenant. See Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20; and Mark 14:24.

4) If God made the Israelites sanctify themselves and wash themselves before Moses could go up on the mountain (Ex. 19:9-12), how much more so would He sanctify the woman chosen to carry His Glory.

[Salvation]

Beauty Unveiled
December 8, 2004

"You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Matthew Reinhardt, Consecrated Member of Regnum Christi

Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin´s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 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 Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Introductory Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace! Mother, I praise you and congratulate you today as we celebrate your feast. Thank you for the example you gave us while you were on earth. You have taught me how to live so many virtues. Teach me how to pray today so that I may win the grace to live as you did.

Petition:Let it be done to me according to your will.

1. Don’t Be Afraid.   On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate the moment when the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. From the first moment of life, Mary was sinless, just like Eve before the Fall. Though both were created sinless, only Mary persevered in her immaculate state by fighting to do God’s will. The fight to be faithful is what we can offer God today: “Do not be afraid” to show your love for God by doing his will.

2. God’s the Protagonist.   “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Today we celebrate a feast honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the other great Marian feasts we celebrate how Mary generously collaborated with God’s action in her soul. In being immaculately conceived, Mary plays a passive role, while the protagonist is God. God is also the protagonist in our fight to be holy. Often times, the best thing we can do is let go and allow God to take over. He wants to be the protagonist in our striving for holiness today.

3. Getting to Yes.   Just as you are doing your daily meditation now, one day Mary, a girl in a poor town of about 500 inhabitants, was doing hers. Suddenly, an angel appears, startles her and proposes to her the sublime mission of being the mother of the Messiah. All creation is pending on her answer as she ponders the message in her heart. One final push by the angel – “For nothing will be impossible for God” – and the young Mary answers, “Let it be done to me.” Though an angel probably won’t appear during your meditation, God’s grace asks you for a yes today just like Mary’s.   

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, I thank you for the gift of Mary. She gives me an example of a life perfectly united to your will. Help me today to live as she did, to give myself without thinking of myself, and to be open to what you want to do through me today.

Resolution: I will invite one or more friends or family members to Mass with me today.

[Salvation]

Thanks

[nanetteclaret]

original sin

[stfassisi]

Give your gift as Mary did. History may never notice, but God will, and so will many of His children.

Thank you for this,Dear Friend.

[Salvation]

You are welcome. You have FRmail.

[blue-duncan]

"Who is included in "all"? Just some?"

I'm a fast learner so let me see if I can help you. "All" is like the word "brother" but not like the word "grace". "All" can mean "all", like everything, or it can mean less than everything if you don't mean everything. Kind of like when your wife says "you do that all the time" when what she means is "look what you did". Now on top of that you have "all" meaning all that I can think of at this time but that doesn't mean I've included everything that has ever happened or that I have ever thought of. It's kind of a fluid word of convenience, a chameleon type word that you can use and withdrawer items from if they don't really fit into what you are trying to sell.
The word "brother" is similar in that it can mean kindred, cousin, friend and even mean sibling except it can never be used as a sibling for Jesus 'cause by fiat of some councils He didn't have any no matter what the scriptures say. However the word "grace" can only have one meaning when used in reference to Mary, but multiple meanings when used anywhere else in the scriptures.

Thus endeth the lesson.

[Salvation]

Wasn't he talking about all the Romans? Makes sense to me.

[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by His death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Recipes:

• » Day Six Activity ~ Christmas Gingerbread Bowls
• » Crown Cake
• » Moravian Spice Cookies

Activities:

• » A Single Branch Three Roses Bore
• » Ave Maria Dear
• » Ave Maris Stella
• » Beautiful, Glorious

more

• » Behold a Branch is Growing
• » Cut-outs and Shadow Boxes
• » Feasts of Mary in the Family
• » Mary Garden
• » Religion in the Home for Elementary School: December
• » Religion in the Home for Preschool: December
• » Salve Regina
• » Stella Matutina
• » 'Tis Said of Our Dear Lady
• » Virgin Blessed, Thou Star the Fairest
• » What is a Nameday?
• » Family and Friends of Jesus Scrapbook Album
• » Advent — The Immaculate Conception
• » Celebrating for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
• » Celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the Home
• » Celebrating the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin
• » Feasts of Our Lady in the Home
• » Immaculate Conception
• » Immaculate Conception Rose Bush
• » Mary Candle I
• » Mary Candle II
• » Nameday Ideas for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
• » Teaching the Immaculate Conception

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Prayers:

• » Advent Wreath Prayers I
• » Advent Wreath Prayers II
• » Readings and Hymns for the Immaculate Conception
• » Roman Ritual Blessing Before and After Meals: Advent (2nd Plan)

more

• » December Devotion: The Immaculate Conception
• » Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
• » Christmas Anticipation Prayer
• » Litany of the Immaculate Conception
• » Table Blessing for the Feasts of the Mother of God
• » Novena to the Immaculate Conception

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December 08, 2006

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Old Calendar: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the solemn dogma defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. As Our Lady Immaculately Conceived is the patroness of the United States of America, this is a holyday of obligation in the United States.

Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." — Catechism of the Catholic Church

Jesse Tree ~ Mary

Immaculate Conception of Mary
"Tota pulchra es! O Mary, thou art all fair, unstained by original sin" (1st Ant. at Vespers; All.). This cry of admiration, which the Church puts on our lips, expresses the feelings of fallen man before the spotless purity of our Lady. From all eternity God had chosen Mary to be the Mother of the Word Incarnate; He therefore decked her in holiness, preserving her from all stain and making her a worthy dwelling for His Son. The Blessed Virgin's perfect redemption which, from the moment of her conception, preserved her from original sin cannot, therefore, be dissociated from our redemption by Christ; and so, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, coming in the course of Advent, heralds the splendours of the Incarnation of the Redeemer.

Pope Pius IX in his bull Ineffabilis Deus of December 8, 1854, declared the Immaculate Conception to be an infallible teaching of the Church as well as "a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception was, by a unique privilege and grace of Almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, preserved exempt from all stain of original sin." The stain of original sin was excluded from her soul, not removed from it. Many confuse the meaning of this dogma, thinking it refers to Mary's conception of the immaculate Jesus. That is the Incarnation, which we celebrate on the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25. This dogma of the Immaculate Conception, on the other hand, refers to St. Anne's conception of Our Immaculate Lady in her womb.

Patron: United States.

Symbols: crown and monogram; lily; enclosed garden; crown of stars; glass (symbol of purity) lily often placed in a vase of transparent glass; lily of the valley.

Things to Do:

• The dogma of the Immaculate Conception lends itself to fruitful meditation and should be taught to children. The doctrine of original sin, the sin of Adam and its effects on the human race, is a good beginning for study. For the best explanation of the teachings of the Church on this, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 386-412. Also you might read Pope Piux IX's bull, Ubi Primum (On The Immaculate Conception) proclaiming the Immaculate Conception as a dogma of Faith. Other reading from the Catholic Culture Library:
  • Apostolic Constitution The Immaculate Conception (Ineffabilis Deus) by Pius IX;

  • Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum (On The Immaculate Conception) by Pius X;

  • Fulgens Corona (Proclaiming A Marian Year To Commemorate The Centenary Of The Definition Of The Dogma Of The Immaculate Conception) by Pope Pius XII;

  • On Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Marialis Cultus) by Pope Paul VI;

  • Immaculate Conception Defined by Pius IX by Pope John Paul II;

  • John Duns Scotus: Champion of the Immaculate Conception by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.;

  • The Message of the Virgin of Lourdes by Bishop Donald Montrose, D.D.;

  • The Immaculate Conception by Abbot Gueranger

• Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States. Visit or take a virtual tour of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, America's patronal church.

• This day would also be appropriate for parents to plan their approach on family sex education, as it is the privilege and duty of parents to teach their own children in this area.

• Make a Mary candle for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. See Celebrating for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for details and other ideas.

• Prepare an all white meal for dinner and then discuss with your children the dogma of the Immaculate Conception with the visual aids of dinner showing the purity and the stainlessness of Mary's soul. Read Teaching the Immaculate Conception and Advent and the Immaculate Conception for discussion ideas.

  Ideas for dinner:

  Appetizers: Rice crackers and white cheeses;
  Soups: cream soups, such as clam chowder, pototo soup, cream of celery;
  Main Course: chicken breasts, pasta with alfredo sauce;
  Side Dishes: mashed potatoes, white rice, cauliflower with (or without) white cheese sauce, white bread (with crusts removed), white corn;
  Dessert: White cake with white icing, meringue kisses, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, white chocolate.

• The special treat for this feast is Moravian Spritz, or gingerbread cookies, loaded with fine, aromatic spices. These are mixed on the vigil, December 7. Or make your favorite gingerbread cookie. Perhaps for this solemnity the family could make a gingerbread house or Gingerbread Bowls.

• Today, plant an Immaculate Conception Rose Bush. During this winter season, it is also a good time to plan a Mary Garden. Flower Theology by John Stokes, the website Mary's Gardens and the book Mary's Flowers, Gardens, Legends and Meditations by Mary's Gardens Associate, Vincenzina Krymow, are good beginnings for planning your garden.

• No room for a garden? No time to nurture nature? Read Flowers for the Fairest by Daniel Foley to read about flowers appropriate for Our Lady, and purchase a small bouquet or a few

[nanetteclaret]

She would have been numbered among the "all" if God had not chosen to save her beforehand.