Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Honorio Mateo SVD – Paraguay
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – December 8
AVE MARÍA PURÍSIMA, SIN PECADO CONCEBIDA! That in a nutshell captures the meaning of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Translated loosely, it means: Mary most pure was conceived without sin! It is both a prayer and a greeting that we have heard since we were children. It is also a doctrine of the Catholic Church. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” (Ineffabilis Deus)
Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. We honor Mary “who occupies a place in the Church which is the highest after Christ and also closest to us” (Lumen Gentium 54). Always, the feast of the Immaculate Conception falls during the Advent Season. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Redeemer, the liturgy invites us to reflect on the role of Mary in the salvation history. We turn to Mary, “full of grace,” as the Mother of the Redeemer whoalways brings us closer to Jesus.
Celebrated worldwide, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is an important Marian feast of the Catholic Church. In Paraguay, Mary ́s Immaculate Conception is celebrated under the title “Virgen de Caacupé”. In the Philippines, the Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception is honored as the Principal Patroness of the country.
Not incidentally, today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our ordination to the priesthood. On December 8, 1993, fourteen of us were ordained priests: Fr. Romy Benitez, Fr. Joe Bique, Fr. Raul Caga, Fr. Ronnie Crisostomo, Fr. Joven Doyungan (+), Fr. Loi Ebisa (+), Fr. Bobby Ebisa, Fr. Raymun Festin, Fr. Robert Ibay, Fr. Sebio Manangbao, Fr. Mat Mateo, Fr. Alex Muaña, Fr. Ed Orpilla, and Fr. Bernard Teneza. On ordination day, we put ourselves under the guidance of the Blessed Mother and we called our class “Gabay-Diwa.” As the Mother of Priests, she is for us our model and guide.
Today as we thank God, we also renew our commitment as priests. We ask the Lord to bless us even more, so that we may, as the song goes: “see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly… day by day”! MARY CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US!
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