On December the 8th, in the Catholic Church, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. We celebrate this day in honor of our mother Mary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illuminates in turn its faith in Christ.

Mary was made gifted by God from her birth. Through the Annunciation, we understand that Mary is “full of Grace.” It is by this Grace that God worked through Mary, creating a clean vessel for the birth of a savior. The church calls Mary the “Mother of God” because of this divine motherhood that she was made holy for. Mary is not only full of Grace and full of God, but overflowing with Grace which she shares with the world through the birth of her son.

The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is without sin, hence the title Immaculate. Mary is the fulfillment of Eve and totally free from the Original Sin brought forth by human mistakes in Genesis. Mary not only counter-acts the original sin but perfectly embodies all of humanity's salvation through crushing the serpent’s head. By her immaculate conception, she, the descendant of Eve, becomes a perfectly suitable “Ark” for the new covenant.

Mary is the mother of the church. Through scripture, we are told of Mary’s role as our Mother. John 19:26 says, “Jesus therefore, having seen his mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved, said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, behold your Mother.” Jesus gives his Mother to John, and through John, to the whole world. Mary is the Mother of all who believe in Christ. And through belief in Mary, the work of Christ is illuminated for all.