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Bible Dictionaries
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
or Also known as Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception of Mary
Mary, the Immaculate Conception
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Memorial December 8,
Profile The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin in the first instant of her conception in the womb of her mother. This was a singular privilege and grace of God, granted in view of the merits of Jesus Christ. By her conception is meant not the act or part of her parents in it, nor the formation of her body, nor the conception of Christ later in her own womb; from the moment her soul was created and infused into her body, it was free from original sin and filled with sanctifying grace. Her soul was never stained by original sin, nor by the depraved emotions, passions, and weaknesses consequent on that sin, but created in a state of original sanctity, innocence, and justice. She had at least the graces of the first Eve before the Fall and more. This privilege was befitting the one who was to be mother of the Redeemer.
The doctrine was defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX, December 8, 1854. It is in accord with the texts of Scripture (Genesis 3), "I will put enmities between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed"; (Luke 1), "Hail, full of grace." It is established by tradition, by the writings of the Fathers, by feasts observed in honour of this prerogative, by the general belief of the faithful. The very controversies over it among theologians brought about a clear understanding and acceptance of the doctrine long before it was declared by Blessed Pope Pius IX. After the declaration, some Protestant writers denounced what they styled Mariolatry (idolatry of Mary). However, there is a constantly-growing devotion among Catholics, and respect among some Protestant groups for the prerogatives of the Mother of Our Redeemer.
Among the many masters who have represented the Immaculate Conception in art are: Carducci, Carreno de Miranda, Falco, Holbein, Montanes, Muller, Murillo, Reni, Ribera, and Signorelli. It is the title she used when appearing at Lourdes.
The feast originated in the East about the 8th century where it was celebrated on December 9,. In the Western Church it appeared first in England in the 11th century and was included in the calendar of the universal Church in the 14th century. It has a vigil and an octave, and is a holy day of obligation in the United States, Ireland, and Scotland.
Name Meaning stainless (immaculata) (Latin)
Patronage Agra, India, archdiocese of
Albany, New York, diocese of
Argentina
Austin, Texas, diocese of
Baltimore, Maryland, archdiocese of
barrel makers
Bismarck, North Dakota, diocese of
Brazil
Brooklyn, New York, diocese of
Burlington, Vermont, diocese of
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Camden, New Jersey, diocese of
Cerva, Catanzaro, Italy
Chicago, Illinois, archdiocese of
cloth makers
cloth workers
Congo
coopers
Corsica, France
Crookston, Minnesota, diocese of
Denver, Colorado, archdiocese of
Dhaka, Bangladesh, archdiocese of
Elphin, Ireland, diocese of
Equatorial Guinea
Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, diocese of
Galveston-Houston>, Texas, archdiocese of
Guam
Is-Swieqi, Malta
Johannesburg, South Africa, diocese of
Kansas City, Kansas, archdiocese of
Kansas City - Saint Joseph, Missouri, diocese of
Keimoes-Upington, South Africa, diocese of
Lafayette, Louisiana, diocese of
Malolos, Philippines, diocese of
military ordinariate of the Philippines
Mobile, Alabama, archdiocese of
Nicaragua
Nueva Segovia, Philippines
Ogdensburg, New York, diocese of
Ozamiz, Philippines, archdiocese of
Panama
Pasig, Philippines
Peoria, Illinois, diocese of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, archdiocese of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, diocese of
Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India
Portland, Maine, diocese of
Portland, Oregon, archdiocese of
Portugal
Pueblo, Colorado, diocese of
Rockford, Illinois, diocese of
Seattle, Washington, archdiocese of
Shreveport, Louisiana, diocese of
soldiers of the United States
Southwark, England, archdiocese of
Spanish infantry
Spokane, Washington, diocese of
Springfield, Illinois, diocese of
Swieqi, Malta
Syracuse, New York, diocese of
Tanzania
tapestry workers
Toa Alto, Puerto Rico
Torrevieja, Spain
Tunisia
Tyler, Texas, diocese of
United States
upholsterers
Virac, Philippines
Wichita, Kansas, diocese of
Additional Information Goffine's Devout Instructions
Ad Diem Illum Laetissiumum: On the Immaculate Conception, by Pope Saint Pius X
Fulgens Corona: Proclaiming a Marian year to Commemorate the Centenary of the Definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Venerable Pope Pius XII
Ineffabilis Deus: The Immaculate Conception, by Blessed Pope Pius IX
Ubi Primum: On The Immaculate Conception, by Blessed Pope Pius IX
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Entry for 'Feast of the Immaculate Conception'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ncd/f/feast-of-the-immaculate-conception.html. 1910.
