[TCCM] Tmrw-Holy Day of Obligation | Immaculate Conception

[Michael Medas]

Tmrw, 8 December, Monday, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation.  We have two Masses:  12:05pm & 7:30pm

  *   Attending Mass on this Holy Day honors God’s saving work in Mary, gives thanks for the grace that prepared her to bear Christ, and deepens our understanding of God’s plan of salvation. It also strengthens our devotion to Mary as a model of holiness and as the first disciple who perfectly received God’s grace.

Patristic Quotes Explaining the Immaculate Conception:

The Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary, by a special grace of God, was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception in order to be a fitting mother for Christ.

St. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) taught Mary’s unique holiness when he wrote:
“The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied through the obedience of Mary.”
(Against Heresies, c. 180 AD)
This early comparison presents Mary as a “New Eve,” whose holiness reverses the fall.
St. Ephrem the Syrian (306AD–373AD) explicitly attributes to Mary a state “without stain.” Later Catholic theology reads this as a strong patristic witness to the conceptual root of the Immaculate Conception.  “You alone and your Mother are more beautiful than any others, for in you there is no stain, and in your Mother no stain.”
—Carmina Nisibena 27.8 (c. 363)

St. Augustine (c. 415 AD) affirmed her exceptional purity, writing:
“We must not speak of any sin in the holy Virgin Mary.”
(On Nature and Grace, c. 415 AD)


Blessings and peace,

Fr Michael

Reverend Michael B. Medas, MSW
Catholic Chaplain | Director of Catholic Ministry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
W11-012
40 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139



“Jesus loves you always, even when you don’t feel worthy.
When not accepted by others, even by yourself sometimes,
He is the one who always accepts you.  Only believe, you are precious to Him.
Bring all you are suffering to His feet, only open your heart to be loved by Him as you are.
He will do the rest.”  Saint Mother Teresa

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