Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Please join us for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Friday, December 8. Mass will be held at

• 8:15 am with the School Children,
• 12:10 pm, and
• 7:00 pm.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a solemn celebration in the Catholic Church that honors the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin. It is observed on December 8th each year. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

According to Catholic teaching, Mary's conception without original sin prepared her to be a pure woman to bear Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The feast emphasizes Mary's unique role in salvation history and her special relationship with God. 

We believe that Mary's immaculate conception underscores her holiness and serves as a model for the faithful to strive for purity and virtue. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation.

 

Prayer

Virgin most holy and immaculate,
to you, the honor of our people,
and the loving protector of our city,
do we turn with loving trust.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
In you there is no sin.

Awaken in all of us a renewed desire for holiness:
May the splendor of truth shine forth in our words,
the song of charity resound in our works,
purity and chastity abide in our hearts and bodies,
and the full beauty of the Gospel be evident in our lives.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
In you the Word of God became flesh.

Help us always to heed the Lord’s voice:
May we never be indifferent to the cry of the poor,
or untouched by the sufferings of the sick and those in need;
may we be sensitive to the loneliness of the elderly and the vulnerability of children,
and always love and cherish the life of every human being.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
In you is the fullness of joy born of life with God.

Help us never to forget the meaning of our earthly journey:
May the kindly light of faith illumine our days,
the comforting power of hope direct our steps,
the contagious warmth of love stir our hearts;
and may our gaze be fixed on God, in whom true joy is found.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
Hear our prayer, graciously hear our plea:
May the beauty of God’s merciful love in Jesus abide in our hearts,
and may this divine beauty save us, our city and the entire world.

Amen.
(Pope Francis)