Why the Immaculate Conception?

Meditation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 8, 2010

The inclinations of our human nature, whether to good or evil, come from the deepest desires we cultivate in our minds and wills. Most people do what they do because they want to meet their desires and generally look at these as good, or at least not destructive to self or others. If and when desires lead to actions that are purely destructive to self and others it is seen as evil, out of sorts or simply the result of a no good “bringing up.” This would mean that virtue, “a good bringing up” a “firm focus on good” and the power that good generates “well being” in self and in others, especially in relationships with others. This means that the true desire of a person, the driving intention, is to know right from wrong as identified in nature and in the revelation of God to humankind.

Scriptures recount for us the attitudes and dispositions that form good character — the union of mind and will to be loving, kind, helpful, affirming, and encouraging, forgiving and being for others in such a way that it generates hope and peace in all who interact with such belief in one another. It is precisely this committed conviction of a belief in self that enabled Mary the sinless one to cry out the hymn we repeat each day at Evening Prayer:

My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour
Because He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation until generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath showed might with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the lowly.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

This hymn offers us the opportunity to recognize that Mary realized that her whole being reflected God in all His purity and goodness — thus she could declare without hesitation that her heart and soul gave glory to God as His throne before which she rejoiced because she was freed from all stain of the Original sin by the foreseen death of her Son — the Savior of the world.

Mary had to be conceived Immaculate so as to be the very giver of human life to the One Who was the Word uttered by the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. God desires to give Himself to all who turn to Him in all moments, with thankfulness for good, with pleading over pain and sorrow. Always He does great things for us — for such is the very reality of holiness wherein the fullness of mercy is known and lived. The Immaculate one cries out for us to know that all generations will be loved with limitless love — this is the very truth of mercy, which endures forever. The spotless, all holy women gave room to the All Holy One to show tenderness and compassion to all who with humility cry out for the good things God desires to give to all who abide in purity of mind and will — chaste in the very union with Him who is righteous waiting for us to recognize and invite with awareness His all pure Presence within the world and within each inhabitant of the world.

Our journey is then to desire communion with Mary the Immaculate one so that with her we may make a pure and holy abode for Christ — He living in us and we living in Him and with Him in the Father and the Holy Spirit. Like Mary we will make haste to show mercy to all whom God wills to send into our lives — Blessed are the merciful for they shall know Mercy — all souls shall magnify the Lord.