When Adam and Eve sinned, the humanity that is the creation of God was in disgrace and Satan took control taking the humanity on the wrong path allowing sin to reign. To save the humanity from the snares of the devil, God had to choose another woman who was holy and the preparation started from the day Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother St. Anne.
As we know we are born with original sin and all of us are baptized to do away the blot of this sin. But Mother Mary according to the Catholic dogma was conceived without the stain of original sin. This was formally defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854 and is celebrated on December 8th, a holy day of obligation for Catholics.
The doctrine asserts that Mary was preserved from original sin from the very first moment of her conception through the merits of her future son, Jesus, and this grace was necessary for her to be a fitting vessel for the birth of the Son of God.
The doctrine holds that it was fitting for God to preserve Mary from sin to prepare her to be the Mother of God. This preservation was a grace granted through the merits of Jesus Christ’s Birth, Death and Resurrection pre-applied to Her in time.
The Immaculate Conception is not a universal grace, but a singular privilege given to Mary due to her unique mission. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us contemplate on this great virtue and grace given to our beloved mother.
Gladys Da Silva