December 8th

December 8, 2022
Thursday of the 2 nd Week of Advent
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Is 7:10-14/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24 (10) Pss IV
Julian Ohizu: Campus Minister
The observance of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception began with
a Papal encyclical by Pope Pius IX, when he formally defined the dogma of the
Immaculate Conception, INEFFABILIS DEUS, on December 8, 1854. Several
years later, in 1858, the Blessed Mother gave her name to St. Bernadette at
Lourdes stating, "I am the Immaculate Conception." In this encyclical, the Pope
Stated: “We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the
Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace
and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of
the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine
revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all
the faithful” (DS 2803).
Mary was conceived by the singular grace and special will of God to be free
from this taint of original sin, just as He has once proclaimed to our first ancestors,
to be the Woman through whom the salvation of this world would come from.
After all, God is Almighty, All-Powerful, and that feat is clearly possible for Him.
The “freedom from every stain of original sin” entails as a positive consequence
the total freedom from all sin as the proclamation of Mary’s perfect holiness. This
is only possible by a special grace. Afterall, God is All-Powerful! He could
preserve Mary from the stain of sin for his ultimate purpose and glory.
The first reading expresses the lovingkindness of God expressed through his
justice toward Adam and Eve. This reading portrays a God who despises sin, and
yet loves Adam and Eve by promising a Savior through the Woman and her
offspring who will crush the head of Satan in what is known as the first Gospel
ever preached by God—the Proto Evangelium.
The reason for this celebration today is the recognition of the role and
importance of Mary in the plan of Salvation. To that extent, that is why we
celebrate what we celebrate today, on this great Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Jesus Christ the Savior of
all the whole world. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is necessary because,
God cannot possibly enter this world through the means of sin, as perfect, holy,
and blameless He is. Hence, it is very important that the vessel of His entry and
coming into this world, must be perfect and without any taint or blame, and that is
why, God willed into creation, this most worthy of vessel, that is Mary herself,
conceived by the grace and power of God, to be free from the taint of sin, and full

of grace, just as the Archangel Gabriel proclaimed before Mary. Mary is full of
God’s grace, the new Ark of the New Covenant, and the New Eve.
Then, in the same way, Mary is the New Ark, bearing the Savior Himself,
the Son of God, incarnate in the flesh, becoming the Son of Man. By the power of
the Holy Spirit, as we heard in our Gospel today of the account of the
Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, God gave us all His Son, taking
up our human flesh and existence, and He became tangible and approachable to us
through this Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who spent nine months in the
womb of His mother Mary. Like the old Ark, which was mentioned, Mary bore the
Law of God, made whole and complete through Christ who sets us free from the
bondage of Satan, Sin and death.
Now, as we rejoice in and celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, we are all reminded that this same
Mary is our perfect role model and example in her piety, her YES to God, her
obedience to God and in her inspiring actions, in dedicating herself wholly and
completely to the mission that was entrusted to her. Let us all therefore reflect
upon our own lives and be inspired by the examples and inspirations set by Mary,
the Holy Mother of God, our beloved mother, who have watched over us, and pray
for her intercession to guide and lead us to her Son Jesus Christ during this season
of Advent and for the rest our lives. Amen.