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Immaculate Conception

Today is a Holy Day, The Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, the Blessed Mother, Mary.

People often confuse this Holy Day, as they assume The Immaculate Conception refers to Christ's conception. Not so. Our Lady was conceived in St. Anne's womb with a perfectly clean soul, no original sin, immaculate so that even from her conception, God had prepared her to welcome Christ within her.

Isn't that beautiful? God prepared her soul, layed the groundwork, gave her the grace to ultimately bring our Lord into the world. Now, that's planning ahead! Thirteen or fourteen years later, He then came to her by way of an angel to present her with a plan.

I once heard a priest describe that moment where she is contemplating her fiat....and he describes all of heaven, angels and all, on the edge of their seat, biting their nails, eagerly anticipating her response. And of course as we all know, and celebrate in the Christmas season, she, having been prepared for this from the moment of her Immaculate Conception, responded in all her free will, a resounding yes to His will for her....and for all mankind.

In essence her 'yes' is a 'yes' on all humankind's behalf. She said 'yes' for all of us: Men and woman alike, she responded for me, personally, and for you, personally.

So today, as you attend Mass, and contemplate Mary's Immaculate Conception, imagine God, in His divine way, preparing her for the Baby Jesus. So intimate, so delicate, so personal - He knows us all in such a way. And it's by our own 'yes' that allows Him to also prepare us for the Baby Jesus.
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