©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved
Whimsy 365: Day 61
Today’s sketch has nothing to do with what I am writing about. I was so moved by Holy Rosary’s service last night, I felt inspired to share:
We attended mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, last evening, December 8. Many people (including me several years ago) mistake the Immaculate Conception for Jesus’ conception in Mary’s womb. Instead, it is the conception of Mary in St Anne’s womb.
God is all knowing. He knew who he wanted to be Jesus’ mother. He chose Mary before she was conceived so she could be born without original sin, therefore, making the perfect vessel to carry and the perfect mother to raise the Son of Man.
Definition of Immaculate Conception: The Immaculate Conception, according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, was the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, free from original sin by virtue of the foreseen merits of her son Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church teaches that Mary was conceived by normal biological means, but God acted upon her soul (keeping her “immaculate”) at the time of her conception.
I know other religions think Catholics worship Mary. I know this because I have had these discussions with some folks before. We don’t worship Mary, we honor her. Think about it…..don’t you think she is worthy to be honored? She, by saying yes, played a very important role in saving humanity. Without the “perfect vessel”, Jesus wouldn’t have been born. She, without hesitation, said yes. At the time, she was not married to Joseph yet; they were engaged. In those days, she could have been stoned for getting pregnant without being married. A woman could even be stone for not being a virgin before marriage. Also, she had to trust that Joseph would still marry her and believe her story. He struggled with it at first, but an angel came to him and told him to trust Mary and to name the child Jesus.
I love this story. I love her faithfulness, devotion and complete trust in God. What an inspiration.
Blessings,
Teresa
{ 0 comments… add one now }