"And Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let thy word be done unto me." And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).

The Immaculate Conception

God created man for a supernatural mission. In addition to natural good, He gave man a share in the divine life through divine graces and gifts. The divine gift received by the first parents were not merely personal. Rather, the divine plan was that their descendants should receive these gifts continuously. However, when they sinned, the first parents lost this divine gift. We also became participants in the fruit of their sin.

We too inherited the original sin from our first parents. However as far as we are concerned original sin is not a particular sin for us.The condition of spiritual depravity is the condition that has befallen us because of the sin of Adam, which was transferred to the human race. The fact that all humans are born with original sin is clear from the Bible. “If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17).


The evidence that Mother Mary is of immaculate conception is abundant in the Bible. The words “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) and the greeting of the angel Gabriel are evidence of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. God the Father endowed Mary with unique gifts. Mary was endowed with all the graces at her birth.


In 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a dogma of faith. In 1856, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at Lourdes and said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” This was a challenge to the materialism of the nineteenth century.


There are sinful situations and dangers in our daily lives. As beloved children of the Holy Mother, each of us should be proud of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin and live a sinless life. We are freed from original sin through baptism. But we must be freed from particular sin with God's grace. The intercession of the Immaculate Conception will helpf us to stay away from particular sin.


Incident
The world-famous Lourdes is a center of miracles today. Many miracles occur there every day. A French doctor, Aloxis Carrel, was an atheist. Once, Aloxis Carrel, who was treating a tuberculosis patient, declared that his recovery was impossible. But the patient made a pilgrimage to Lourdes. The patient returned from Lourdes completely cured of his illness.


Aloxis Carrel acknowledged that the recovery of the person was a miracle performed by the Holy Mother. Following this, the French Academy of Scientists expelled him from their organization. However, he did not deny this miracle. Years later, he went to America and engaged in medical research and won the Nobel Prize. The French government and scientists then recalled and honored him.


Prayer
Oh God , you adorned the Blessed Virgin Mary with the gift of the Immaculate Conception. We thank you. O Immaculate Mother, you have shown us that you highly value sinless birth. O Lord, grant us the blessing of living a sinless life. We know that purity of soul and body makes us dear to you. Therefore, obtain for us from your divine Son the gifts for this.

Saint Bernard's prayer (The Memorare)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.


Oh Holy Mary born without original sin, Here we have come to your refuge. Have mercy on us and pray for us to your holy Son in Heaven.

Our Father..Hail Mary..Glory be

Aspiration Prayer
O Immaculate Mother, please keep us free from impurity.