Our Immaculate Mother

Thursday, December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception...O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Looking forward to Mass on that Holy Day as it also marks the 1 year anniversary of my youngest son serving at the Latin Mass.

"We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful. Hence, if anyone shall dare -- which God forbid! -- to think otherwise than as has been defined by us, let him know and understand that he is condemned by his own judgment; that he has suffered shipwreck in the faith; that he has separated from the unity of the Church; and that, furthermore, by his own action he incurs the penalties established by law if he should dare to express in words or writing or by any other outward means the errors he thinks in his heart."
-Blessed Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 8 Dec. 1854

"The day of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a day of universal joy, because through the Mother of God, the entire human race was renewed, and the sorrow of the first mother, Eve, was transformed into joy."
-Saint John Damascene, Father and Doctor of the Church

"The world being unworthy to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her."
-Saint Augustine – Bishop of Hippo, Father, and Doctor of the Church