Immaculate Conception

In the Immaculate Conception, we remember the act of God in applying to the Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, the grace her Son would give through his death and resurrection. God could do this because He is eternal, and in His foreknowledge knew that the Blessed Mother would freely say yes to bearing the Son of God. With this feast, we remember the unique vocation of the Blessed Mother, enabled to do so by the fullness of God's grace, and given all the grace she needed to provide a perfect womb for Jesus Christ. She is the model, therefore, of vocations. Though we are not immaculate, much less immaculately conceived, we can find forgiveness and grace to respond to God's will. May the Blessed Mother intercede for us.