Mary, the Immaculate Conception

Happy Feast Day, Mary, the Immaculate Conception!







The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain (in Latin, macula or labes, the second of these two synonymous words being the one used in the formal definition) of original sin.^[1][2] It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology. It is completely distinct from the Virginity of Mary and the virgin birth of Jesus, though it is a popular mistake to confuse them. Mary is sometimes called the Immaculata (the Immaculate One), particularly in artistic contexts.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Reflection:


Today, I wish much to visit and attend mass at St. Mary Major Basilica. This basilica, the Santa Maria Maggiore, originated from a dream Pope Liberius had in 356 A.D. when he was told in the dream by the Virgin Mary to build a church where he found snow. Miraculously, it is said that Liberius next saw snow in the summer, on August 5th, on Esquiline hill. The resulting church has also been known as the Liberian Basilica. One of the central images in the apse is a mosaic portraying the Coronation of the Virgin Mary as the "Queen of Heaven" by Jacopo Torriti.

In 1615, Pope Paul V had a marble column removed from the basilica of Roman emperors Maxentius and Constantine, and re-erected it in the Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore immediately south of the basilica, and topped it with a statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. To the north of the basilica, in the Piazza dell' Esquilino, is an Egyptian obelisk erected by Pope Sixtus V in 1587, which is topped with a cross.

I am near, yet so far! that's how I feel today. Because I have all the chances to attend mass at this Basilica but due to some circumstances, I can't. My heart is aching for this longing. That instead of going to this Basilica, I must accompany my husband to attend some movements that's far from that of my interest. Maybe I am foolish, maybe I am stupid for not following what's my heart says.. But what can I do? I am in a situation that is so difficult.

Dear Mother Mary, in this very day of Your feast.. I beg your blessings and intercessions to grant me the freedom to worship my God in a way that pleases you. I ask you to help me have courage to do the thing I need to do. To be able to surpass all the trials and difficulties I have as of the moment. To see the blessings around me, and to appreciate my capabilities, and to use it for the greater glory of God. Help me to understand my purpose in life and be able to do my duty before it's late.

I thank you then for the gift of persons.. especially my family who loved me much. My friends who are always ready to help me in any ways..

Lastly dear Mary, I ask you to pray for my husband.. let his heart be soften so he will accept Jesus more fully and live a life that is worth living. Let his mind be open to the Words of God so he will see the wonder of His love.

This I pray through Jesus with the intercession of Mary, the Immaculate conception.
Amen.