This Thursday, 8th December, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Masses in Sacred Heart Church will be as follows:
Wednesday Vigil Mass at 6.30pm
Thursday Masses at 10.00am, 11.30am & 6.30pm.
“From the first moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of all humankind, kept free from all stain of original sin.”
Pope Pius IX, Apostolic Constitution, Ineffabilis Deus, 8th December 1854
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| Pope Benedict praying at the statue of Mary, the Immaculate Conception at Piazza di Spagna in Rome |
Each year on December 8th, the Pope visits Piazza di Spagna (famous for the Spanish Steps) in Rome to place a wreath of flowers at the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary there. When Pope Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, there was rejoicing throughout the Catholic world. It was somewhat akin to the canonisation of Padre Pio in more recent times – something that was believed in already by the whole Church. The time was right for a solemn definition. Pope Pius had sought the opinion of the world’s Bishops and been advised from all over the world to go ahead with the definition. The support from Spain for this was particularly strong, and so when the decision was being made a few years later where to raise a moment in Rome
