Source: Wikipedia
Today, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What does “immaculate conception” actually mean? Here is a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as seen on CatholicCulture.org:
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 Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 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.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church
Basically, it just means that Mama Mary was conceived in the womb of Saint Anne without original sin. She was sinless from the very beginning of her life! Below is a beautiful picture of Saint Anne conceiving the Virgin Mary, by Jean Bellegambe:
Source: wf-f.org
We Filipinos need Mama Mary’s intercession in a special way today. As I write this, our country is being battered yet again by another typhoon. As of today, Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) has wreaked havoc in many parts of central Philippines and threatens to do the same in the north too, including Metro Manila.
I’ve been wanting to update the blog with posts of different topics (including introductions to my most recent posts on philstar.com), and had committed to doing so starting this week… but in light of recent events, I’ve decided to postpone doing so for now.
Instead, I just want to invite you all to pray with me, and to reach out in love to those who have been or are still being affected by the typhoon. We’ve done it before, and let’s do so again now.
If you’re going to Mass today (and you really should do your best to do so, since ), please do include our countrymen in your intentions! Kindly do the same, too, if you plan to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception in your own way at home.
Let’s continue to update ourselves, too, on how we can help our affected brothers and sisters, and also prepare ourselves and our loved ones, especially if we are in the path of the typhoon.
Let’s also keep praying for our Lord to deliver us and our country from disasters and calamities:
Source:
Mama Mary, pray for us!
