Immaculate Conception

In 1476 Pope Sixtus IV approved the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary celebrated each year on the 8th of December. Pope Pius IX issued a document, Ineffabilis Deus, in 1854 defining the dogma stating that Mary was free from sin from the moment of her conception. This teaching has a long and complicated history. The key idea is that Mary experienced a unique call to be the Mother of God. From the very beginning of her life she had an intimate relationship with God. Her role is special because of her connection with Christ. The moon does not create its own light and only reflects the light of the Sun. Likewise she reflects the light of her son and is normally shown standing on the moon, like she is in the painting above by Peter Paul Ruebens. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception means that Mary was special in a very unique way. She was blessed with a greater and deeper relationship with God.  Another way of saying this is that God was more present to her than to anyone else because she was the God-bearer the very Mother of God himself. This dogma reminds us that God is gracious to us not based on our own merits but based on his mercy and love.