Walking with the Saints
Reflection by Deacon Jack Betzal
           
Today, we celebrate Mary, Queen of Saints, in her Immaculate Conception.
           
For generations, among many Christian Catholic people, this has been one of the most misunderstood feasts on the Church calendar. This Feast, this celebration, is that of Mary being born without the stain of original sin. It is not about the sinlessness of Jesus. God chose Mary to be the stainless vessel, worthy of bearing His Son, and He did it with her full acceptance and cooperation.

What we believe about this Holy Day is in both Sacred Scripture (The Holy Bible), and in Sacred Tradition (the oral teaching of the apostles handed on by the Church).
           
Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a dogma of our faith which is in Sacred Tradition, although not explicit in the Bible, but implicit. There are hints of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Mother in the Bible.
           
One of them comes to us through the Archangel Gabriel’s visit to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus. The Angel said to Mary, “Hail, Full of Grace”. That specific and particular choice of words, spoken by the Angel and attested to by Saint Luke, in the inspired Word of God from his Gospel, describes Mary as being ‘Full of Grace’ all her life, not just at the moment the Angel addresses her, but from the beginning of her life. 
           
We note that the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25^th, and the birth of Jesus is celebrated exactly nine months later, on December 25. Just so, this Holy Day is December 8^th, and we celebrate Mary’s Birthday nine months later, on September 8^th.
           
“Full of Grace” describes Mary’s very being, from the day of her conception in the womb her mother, of St. Ann, and for all eternity. We give thanks to God for the special grace of the Immaculate Conception which God gave to Mary. We are led to reflect on her beauty and greatness on our personal journey through life, especially in the Holy Rosary.