Mass Celebrates Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mass Celebrates Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary

Today, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day which celebrates the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. It is called immaculate because Mary was conceived without original sin.

December 8 is considered one of the Holy Days of Obligation, which are feast days and Catholics are required to attend Mass.

On the University of San Diego campus, Wednesday night’s Mass for Peace and today’s 12:15 p.m. Daily Mass in Founders Chapel touched on the celebration of this important holy day. For those able to attend this evening, The Immaculata Church on the USD campus, will have a recitation of the Rosary at 6:40 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. Mass, in which Immaculata Pastor Matthew D. Spahr, a 1983 USD alumnus, will preside.

Father Spahr offered a preview of the homily he will deliver at tonight’s cherished and celebratory Mass:

“I’m going to include that the Immaculate Conception of Mary gives us an opportunity to see what a redeemed humanity looks like in Mary, who is conceived without sin. In her, we see our own destiny as the baptized to be those who are ‘full of grace’ and free from sin and what that looks like concretely in a human experience in her complete openness to God’s plan.”

— Ryan T. Blystone