Word to the Wise
Saturday, December 8, 2007 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
[Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38]In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception comes and goes now without a lot of controversy. (In the thirteenth century, it was a matter of considerable debate!) Many Catholics are actually unaware that in this country this feast day is a Holy Day of Obligation and they're supposed to attend Mass! (What? Go on Saturday and then again on Sunday? Yes, Virginia! And, NO, you can't "double dip" by attending the Saturday evening Vigil Mass!) When I was pastor of St. Ann's in San Antonio, an inner city Hispanic parish, the crowd was sparse on December 8th because the Hispanic community "figured" they would make up for it on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 15! She's the same Lady, isn't she? Sigh! What's a Conference of Bishops going to do? But let's give this feast its due! The first and second scriptures address the issues of the impact of original sin (which Mary bypassed through God's intervention) and "predestination" (which can be particular if God so chooses and we believe God did so choose in Mary's case). The gospel addresses the issue of Jesus' conception and Mary's response to God's plan of salvation, for which the first two actions were a preparation. Does this make Mary less human and "more divine" than us? I don't think so. Not any more than Lazarus, whom the Lord brought back from the dead. In every miracle, something is turned around from where it was in a way that defies the ordinary. Christ did not work signs or miracles just to show that he could do it. He worked them as a means to preach about his mission. Mary remains the model disciple. Her "Immaculate Conception" and perpetual virginity and Assumption are all matters of faith drawn from tradition arising from what we know of Christ's mission. We can bestow whatever titles on her we want (and Lord knows, we have!), but we need to at least be aware of those three major truths about her. Because she is the patroness of the United States of America under her title of the Immaculate Conception, our bishops ask us to observe this feast in a solemn way. Don't worry, it won't come on Saturday next year! AMEN
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