On Friday, Dec. 8, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This refers to the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. It DOES NOT refer to the virgin birth, by which Mary conceived the Christ child in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirt.
    
Mary was conceived without sin, even Original Sin, and was preserved by God from all personal sin, so that she would be a perfect and suitable vessel through which the Son of God might be brought into our world.  
    
Mary shows us who we were intended to be. God created our first parents without sin. They shared in the immaculate state of Mary. It was His desire that we would all be born immaculate. He knew that we would fall into sin, but it was not part of His original plan or intention.  His desire for us was that our lives would not be infected with Original Sin or that we would fall into personal sin.  Imagine our lives if we were not constantly battling against selfishness and self-centeredness, against rebelliousness, and fear, anger, greed, etc. That was His plan.
    
Mary shows us who we will be in Heaven. We will be perfectly purified by the grace of God and live with Him forever as immaculate beings.
    
The Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be at 12:05 pm and 6:30 pm.