HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Genesis 3:9-16,20. Psalm 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4. Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12. Luke 1:26-38. "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 in 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'" (CCC 491). To St. Bernadette who had questioned her many times, the Blessed Virgin Mary answered, "I am the Immaculate Conception". With these words our Lady clearly revealed that she is not only conceived without sin, but she is moreover the very "Immaculate Conception". The Immaculate Conception is the na...