SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION FINISHES FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT............

Our First Week of Advent on this Saturday finishes with the celebration of the liturgical solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Immaculate Conception is a dogmatic teaching of Catholic Christianity rooted in the popular belief through the centuries, the "sensus fidelium", (belief of the faithful) that in accordance with God's Plan for the Redemption of Humankind and the Salvation of the World, that the Co-Eternal Son of the Heavenly Father would be born as God Made Man by the power of the Holy Spirit.  In order for the perfect Divine Son of God, to be born of human flesh as the spotless Lamb of sacrifice in the forgiveness and atonement for Sin, the human vessel, his earthly mother had to be free from the stain of sin, and pure in body and soul as well.  Thus the belief that Mary as the bearer of the Christ Child, the Mother of God, who gave Birth to the Son of God, Who is the Divine Savior, was preserved from the moment of her own conception, immaculate and free from sin herself.  In the United States of America today is not only a Holyday of Obligation for those who are Catholics, but our National Patronal Feast Day, as the USA is consecrated under trhe patronage of Mary in the Immaculate Conception.  As Advent People we join the story and role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salvation History to our time of Watching and Waiting for the Lord Jesus' Coming.  Happy Immaculate Conception Day.  Happy seventh day of Advent............Fr.  Troy