Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!
From today’s reflection in the Magnificat: “Saint Paul speaks of the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). We know that because of the body’s great dignity as the abiding place of an immortal soul it should be held in reverence…How much more is it to be expected that the Blessed Virgin, who was God’s earthly temple in a way that no other creature could ever be, would be all beautiful and radiant with the utmost in human perfections…
“Original sin was a black cloud of evil, a voluntary blackout with which the human race in the person of Adam closed our souls against the light of grace…. In Mary’s soul there was never a shadow of a cloud to shut out the grace of God. The light of His grace streamed in upon her unobstructed. The radiant colors of all the virtues were found in the clear crystal of her purity.” -Sr. Mary Jean Dorcy, OP
Be sure to attend Mass for this holy day of obligation. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Read more about the Immaculate Conception and how to explain this important Marian dogma to others: http://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/how-to-defend-the-immaculate-conception
