Today's feast is a great mystery that says much about the Church. The collect for the day states: "... as you preserved her (Our Lady) from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence." This speaks of the cosmic nature of Christ salvific death on the Cross and the great plan of salvation that existed for all time: "... just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love." (Eph 1: 4) It is Christ expiation of sin that is the cause of the removal of all sin including that of Original Sin in his own mother. This cleansing also has implications for us because it is through not only her child bearing but through her intercession that we too experience the mercy and presence of God. The feast also bears testimony to the Catholic Church as being the authoritative voice on divine mysteries to do with the Incarnation. In 1858, four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by Pope St Pius IX, Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous and identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Therefore, we can go to her with confidence of her heavenly intercession and protection.
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