The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was infallibly defined, ex cathedra, by Pope Pius IX in 1854. To clarify a common misconception, the Immaculate Conception does not refer to the conception of Jesus, but rather that of Mary. Indeed, we can observe that the date on which the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8th December) is celebrated, is 9 months before the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8th September). It is also important to note, however, that the Immaculate Conception does not mean that St Anne was a virgin when she conceived Mary. What it actually means is that Mary, through the merits of her Son and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin.

Although it seemingly took over 18 centuries to declare that Mary was conceived without sin, we must realise that the Church does not simply declare dogmas but rather after many centuries of careful consideration. The belief that Mary was conceived without sin was indeed a part of the early Church and had always been held as a pious belief by the faithful. It is interesting therefore, to take note of 2 Marian apparitions, supporting the validity of the dogma; one before, and the other after the declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

The Apparitions at Rue du Bac

On 18 July, 1830, Catherine Labouré, a 24 year-old novice sister was privileged to see Our Lady, who had a mission for her, in the chapel at the convent at Rue du Bac in Paris. On 27 November that same year, Our Lady once again appeared to her with instructions to have a medal struck on a model given to her in a vision. Around the oval frame of the medal were to be inscribed the words, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Now more commonly known as the Miraculous Medal, it was at first called “the Medal of Mary of the Immaculate Conception”.