Second Sunday of Advent
Greetings in the name of the Lord:
December 8th is always the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. However, when the 8th falls on a Sunday, the Solemnity is transferred to Monday December 9th. In the past, here in the United States, when this transfer happens the day is not a holy day of obligation. However, a recent directive form the Vatican makes clear that when the Solemnity is transferred it is still to be a Holy Day of Obligation.
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is one of the four Marian Dogma’s of the Church that we must believe. Here is a summary of the four Marian Dogmas:
Mary is truly the Mother of God as proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus in 431. This belief consists of two key truths. The first truth is Mary contributed fully to the formation of the human nature of Jesus Christ as would any other mother. The second truth is that Mary is truly The Mother of God in that she gave birth to the second person of the Blessed Trinity, that is Jesus’ divine nature.
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that she was conceived without the stain of original sin. This dogma was proclaimed December 8th, 1954, by Pius IX in the proclamation with the title Ineffabalis Deus. The belief is that the Most Holy Virgin from the moment of her conception received a special gift of grace and privilege from almighty God in advance of the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior and redeemer of mankind, and that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved free from all stain of original sin.
The perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is that Jesus Christ was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit without cooperation of a man. Furthermore, Mary retained her virginity ante-partum (before childbirth), in-partu (during birth), and post-partum (after delivery).
The Dogma of the Assumption was proclaimed November 1st, 1950, by Pius XII in the proclamation Munificentissimus Deus. Our belief is that Mary, after the completion of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven, and that her body never experienced corruption.
As we prepare to celebrate the Immaculate Conception it is good for us to recall the whole of Mary’s life and her cooperation in the history of salvation. Be sure to check the bulletin and websites for Mass times for this important Holy Day of Obligation.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!
Yours in Christ:
Fr. Haft
