Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Solemnity of di Immaculate Conception of di Blessed Virgin Mary
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God send angel Gabriel go one town for Galilee wey dem dey call Nazareth, go meet one virgin wey dem don betroth to one man wey im name na Joseph, from di house of David. Di virgin name na Mary. As di angel come meet her, e talk say, “Hail, you wey grace full! Di Lord dey with you.” Luke 1:26–28
Wetin e mean to dey “full of grace?” Na this question dey di heart of di solemn celebration wey we dey do today.
Today we dey honour di Blessed Virgin Mary, di Mother of di Saviour of di World, with di special title, “Di Immaculate Conception.” This title acknowledge say grace fill her soul from di moment wey dem conceive her, and so e preserve her from di stain of sin. Even though Catholic faithful don hold this truth for many centuries, na on December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX solemnly declare am as dogma of our faith. For im declaration of this dogma, e talk say:
We declare, proclaim, and define say di teaching wey hold say di most Blessed Virgin Mary, from di very first moment wey dem conceive her, through one special grace and privilege wey Almighty God give her, because of di merits of Jesus Christ, di Saviour of di human race, dey preserved free from every stain of original sin, na teaching wey God reveal. So all di faithful must believe am firmly and continue to hold am.
As di Holy Father raise this teaching of our faith to di level of dogma, e declare say all di faithful must hold this truth as something wey sure. Na truth wey dey inside di words of angel Gabriel: “Hail, you wey grace full!” To dey “full” of grace mean exactly that. Full! 100%. One thing wey catch attention be say di Holy Father no talk say dem born Mary for di condition of Original Innocence like Adam and Eve before dem fall into Original Sin. Instead, e declare say na “one special grace” preserve di Blessed Virgin Mary from sin. Even though she never conceive her Son that time, e declare say di grace wey He go win for humanity through His Cross and Resurrection pass di limits of time, so e fit heal our Blessed Mother for di very moment wey dem conceive her, and through di gift of grace, preserve her even from di stain of Original Sin.
Why God go do this? Na because no stain of sin fit mix with di Second Person of di Most Holy Trinity. And if di Blessed Virgin Mary go become fitting instrument wey God go use unite with our human nature, then she need to dey preserved from all sin. On top of that, she remain in grace throughout her life, as she use her own free will refuse to ever turn away from God.
As we dey celebrate this dogma of our faith today, turn your eyes and heart to our Blessed Mother by simply thinking deeply about those words wey di angel talk: “Hail, you wey grace full!” Think deeply about dem today; reflect on dem again and again for your heart. Imagine di beauty of Mary soul. Imagine di perfect virtue wey grace fill, wey she enjoy for her humanity. Imagine her perfect faith, perfect hope and perfect love for God and neighbour. Reflect on every word wey she talk, as God inspire and direct her. Truly, she na Di Immaculate Conception. Honour her as such today and always.
My mother and my queen, I love you and I honour you today as Di Immaculate Conception! I dey gaze on your beauty and perfect virtue. I thank you because you always talk “Yes” to God will for your life, and because you allow God use you with such power and grace. Pray for me, so that as I dey know you more deeply as my own spiritual mother, I go fit also follow your life of grace and virtue for everything. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint of di Day – Immaculate Conception of di Blessed Virgin Mary—Solemnity
(Patronal Feast for di United States—Na Holy Day of Obligation Always)
Di picture wey dey above: Immaculate Conception wey Peter Paul Rubens paint
