From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

December 8th - The Immaculate Conception
(Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)

On this day, so dear to every Catholic heart, we celebrate first of
all the moment when Almighty God, in a vision telescoping the ages,
showed Mary both to our first parents and to the demon, as the Virgin
Mother of the future divine Redeemer, the Woman destined to crush the
proud head of the serpent. This episode is narrated in the first book
of Scripture, Genesis chapter 3. We find Her again in the last
canonical prophecy of the Bible, the Apocalypse or Revelation of Saint
John the Apostle, as the Woman clothed with the sun, having on Her
head a crown of twelve stars. In this beautiful vision She is also
identified with the persecuted Apostolic Church, obliged to flee into
the =E2=80=9Cdesert=E2=80=9D, and as the Mother of a great Head of that Chu= rch,
destined to govern the flock of the latter times in the final combat,
who like that flock is Her own Child. (chapter 12) Mary, like Her Son,
is at the beginning and the end of all God's intentions, an integra=
l
part of His designs for the Redemption of the human race.

Since by eternal decree She was exempted from all stain of original
sin from the first moment of Her Creation, and was endowed with the
richest treasures of grace and sanctity, it is fitting that we honor
Her glorious prerogatives by this special feast of the Immaculate
Conception. We should join in spirit with the Blessed in heaven and
rejoice with our dear Mother, not only for Her own sake, but for ours,
Her children, for we are partakers of Her glory and happiness. =E2=80=9CThe treasures of the mother are the heritage of the children,=E2=80=9D said Sai=
nt
Th=C3=A9r=C3=A8se of the Child Jesus.

We celebrate at the same time the ever-memorable day, the 8th of
December of 1854, which raised the Immaculate Conception of Our
Blessed Lady from a pious belief to the dignity of a dogma of the
infallible Church, causing a great and universal joy among the
faithful. The Holy See had already permitted the feast day from the
time of Sixtus IV, by his papal bull Cum Praecelsa (1477), formally
allowing its celebration for all dioceses desiring it. In 1854, the
ancient faith of the people in their Mother exulted.

Reflection: Let us repeat frequently these words applied by the Church
to the Blessed Virgin: =E2=80=9CThou art all fair, O Mary! and there is no stain in Thee=E2=80=9D (Cant. 4:7).

Sources: The Holy Bible: Old and New Testaments; Little Pictorial
Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the
Saints


Saint Quote:
The Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, like those who draw their
charity from the very source of love, that is, from the Heart of Jesus
Christ, must burn with the same love of the Divine Heart for their
neighbor: purest charity that has no aim save for the glory of God and
the good of souls; universal charity that excludes no one but embraces
all; generous charity that does not draw back from suffering, is not
alarmed by contradiction, but rather, in suffering and opposition,
grows in vigor and conquers through patience.
--Saint Teresa Eustochio Verzeri

Bible Quote:
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a
city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name
was Mary. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.=C2 (Luke
1:26-28)


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Short Prayers

Let not the partaking of Thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ,
which I, all unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my judgment
and condemnation, but through Thy loving kindness may
it be to me a safeguard and remedy for soul and body.
Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof;
but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

The cross is my sure salvation.
The cross I ever adore.
The cross of the Lord is with me.
The cross is my refuge.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)