Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Massimo Palombella
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Dogma of faith proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1854 with the Bull “Innefabilis Deus”, according to which the Virgin Mary was preserved immune from original sin from the first moment of her conception.
The readings of today’s Eucharistic Celebration (Gen 3:9-15.20, “The mother of all those who live“; Ps 97, “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders“; Eph 1:3-6.11-12, “Before the word was made, God chose us in Christ“; Lk 1:26-38, “I am the handmaid of the Lord“) give a historical-salvific setting to this feast. In fact, Mary Immaculate is for each one of us a reason for hope because she shows us a clear direction of history towards the triumph of grace over sin, of life over death, of truth over lie…
A story is traced, a story of salvation, of “life in abundance” that can take shape in my existence through my collaboration, my trust, my “leaving the nets”. We must then accept the challenge to walk, to follow Him who alone can lead us to the truth, to the meaning, to the true fulfilment of our every desire.
The Gradual of today’s celebration is taken from chapters XII and XV of the Book of Judith (Judit 13, 23; 15, 10) with the following text:
Benedicta es tu, Virgo Maria, a Domino Deo excelso, prae omnibus mulieribus super terram.
Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostril.
(Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord, the most high God, beyond all women upon the earth.
You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you are the honour of our people.).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Gradual Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. Interpretation: Paderborner Domchor conducted by Theodor Holthoff. The music track can be found on the CD ‘Aus den Quellen der Gregorianik’ published by Musicom in 2007.
A blessed feast and heartfelt greetings.
