Sign Posts on the Way

Mary, Purifier and Sanctifier

When you think of the Immaculate Conception, do you think of Mary alone, except maybe for a few cherubs as in the Murillo painting? I do. At least I did until I looked into the liturgical texts for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In the Liturgy of the Hours as well as the Eucharistic Liturgy, I observed three scenes: Mary overcoming evil represented by the serpent; Mary listening to Gabriel; and Mary establishing a household with Joseph for the care and protection of the holy child. So her privilege of freedom from sin is not for her glorification, but for the sake of the Holy Family and all of God’s family.

I’m familiar with a Morning Oblation which includes the petition “Mary, by your immaculate conception, purify my body and sanctify my soul.” A friend of mine recently became a grandmother. Among her son-in-law’s people, there is a custom of placing a chain on a baby ‘s body when the child is 28 days old. The basic meaning is protection from evil. In doing this, I hear the family saying, “You are ours. We will protect you. No harm shall come to your body, no evil sully your soul.”

Mary’s immaculate conception, then, is a blessing to us as she opposes evil, keeping all the members of the Church safe as we journey along together. In words taken from Morning Prayer on this solemnity, may we repeat: Sinless Virgin, let us follow joyfully in your footsteps; draw us after you in the fragrance of your holiness.