We celebrate Tuesday the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a special Marian celebration for Filipinos who regard Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception as the National Patroness.

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was defined by Pope Pius IX in the bull Ineffabilis Deus in 1854, although, even before the dogma was proclaimed, many Christians already believed in Mary’s sinless stature from the moment of her conception until her last moment on earth.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception declares that Mary, the mother of Jesus, unlike all other human beings, was conceived without original sin. This is a special favor given to her by God since she was being prepared to be the mother of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus our Lord.

In the Gospel of Luke, it is written that when the angel sent by God to announce to Mary that she would be the mother of His Son, the angel greeted Mary as being “full of grace” or “highly favored daughter” (cf. Luke 1:26-28). It must be stressed that Mary had received grace from the very beginning, not because of any merit on her part. It was purely out of God’s goodness.

Pope John Paul II, a Marian devotee, said in 2003: “Chosen in advance to be the Mother of the incarnate Word, Mary is at the same time the first-fruits of his redeeming action. The grace of Christ the Redeemer acted in her in anticipation, preserving her from original sin and from any contagion of guilt.” Some theologians regard the conception of Mary as the “dawn of salvation.” It was through her that God started to carry out his loving plan of salvation.

God looks with favor upon all of us too. This is the reality that our Christian faith tells us. Like Mary, we have been privileged to be recipients of God’s ineffable grace and limitless love. The Holy Book tells us that even before we are born, God had carved us in the palm of His hands. (cf Isaiah 49:15)

The challenge of this feast is for us to live our lives like Mary. Mary, aware that the grace of God was at work in her, lived a life of obedience to God’s will. She remained sinless until the very end. We, too, must strive to live a good life. We, too, must seek always the will of God in our lives.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in this special Year for Priests and Year of the Two Hearts for Lay Participation in Social Transformation, may the example of Mary, who proclaimed the goodness of the Lord in her “Magnificat,” also announce the Good News and denounce what is sinful, evil, and unjust in our society. May the sinless Virgin Mary lead us to Jesus, our true Peace.