Dear Parishioners,
Among some Catholics, there is still a misunderstanding
regarding what is meant by the term (or title) Immaculate Conception. Some
people mistakenly think that this title refers to Jesus and His being conceived miraculously in the womb of His
Mother Mary.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the following in the
Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus:
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.
This proclamation was one of two notable times in the history
of the Catholic Church when a pope declared an infallible dogma ex
cathedra (that is, from the chair of St. Peter’s
teaching authority). The other occasion
was the dogma of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.
Our catechism instructs us:
“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
. . . .” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 491. Mary was redeemed
by Christ as all humanity is, but her redemption began at her very conception in the womb of her mother by a singular grace--hence, the term Immaculate Conception.
Around the same time as the pope, bishops and theologians
were wrestling with this theological matter, Bernadette Soubirous was born in Lourdes, France in 1844. Saint
Bernadette, as she is now known, is remembered for having received eighteen apparitions
of the Blessed Virgin Mary between February
11 and July 16, 1858. Our Lady asked for
a chapel to be built at a grotto in Massabielle where the apparitions
occurred and a miraculous spring of water now flows. During these apparitions, Our Lady identified
herself to St. Bernadette with the phrase “I
am the Immaculate Conception.” St.
Bernadette, an illiterate peasant girl with no formal training in theology, had
no idea what the phrase Immaculate Conception meant. She was only fourteen at the time of the visions. It seems that in these apparitions Our Lady herself
confirmed what the Church had formally declared just four years earlier. The church holds these apparitions as worthy of belief.
The Solemnity
of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is ordinarily celebrated
on December 8th. Under normal circumstances I would remind people to attend Mass on this day since it is usually a Holy Day of Obligation. However, in 2019 this day is also the Second Sunday of Advent. So, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to December 9th with the obligation to attend Mass being removed. (Are you confused yet? I am.)
I must emphasize that just because we may or may not be obliged to attend a particular Holy Day Mass on various years, it doesn’t mean that the importance and significance of the occasion should be diminished nor should we get into the habit of doing only the least possible (minimum requirement) when it comes to our faith.
I must emphasize that just because we may or may not be obliged to attend a particular Holy Day Mass on various years, it doesn’t mean that the importance and significance of the occasion should be diminished nor should we get into the habit of doing only the least possible (minimum requirement) when it comes to our faith.
Our Lady, as the Immaculate
Conception, is the patroness of our country and our diocese. She should certainly have a special place in
our hearts.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
St. Bernadette Soubirous
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