The Immaculate Conception

Much of the attractiveness of our Catholic Faith comes from its deep beauty. I say "deep" because of its richness. Our Catholic faith draws us deeper and deeper into the dynamics of the divine mystery of God and how he relates to his creation and his creatures. Since its beginning, God has unfolded so much beauty in the universe, not only in what we can see around us, but also from what is being gradually unveiled to us of distant stars, clusters of galaxies and distant worlds. For millions and millions of years they were unseen by man, and only now, as their light has become visible traveling for millions of years towards us over such vast distances, we are given a real-time glimpse into the secret depths and the beginnings of God's vast universe. This has only been possible today because of worthy advances in science and technology.

In the same way, as the beauty of God's distant universe can be brought closer, so too can the inner universe of the sacred sanctuary of the human body. CAT scans, an MRI and 3D imaging can show the wonderful complexity of the human body, its organs, muscles, blood vessels, the human brain and pumping heart. Incredibly we can now see blood cells, atoms and molecules as we never saw them before.

However, in the unseen universe, the most wonderful and beautiful image captured in amazement is a real life image of the very moment of conception. In that very instant, when a new human life begins, everything about this newly created human being is determined and set in place. Whereas in the field of biology and science, we have only of late come to appreciate this as scientific truth, the Church has always known this and defended the sacredness and beauty of human life, from this first moment. Why? Because at the very beginning, at the moment of conception, not only does a human being exist and their genetic makeup is determined, but God has also determined who this unique person truly is, what kind of person this individual will be, and what their role in the universe will be. At the first moment of conception, regardless, of the circumstances, what the biologist calls fertilization, not even waiting for implantation in the lining of the womb, a unique individual human being has been conceived, and God brings into existence someone who he has loved before time began.

On December 8th, we celebrate the great revealed truth when God brought the universe into existence, millions and millions of years ago, in his divine mind, along with everyone who has walked this earth, you and me, and all future generations - before the first instance of creation, he was especially thinking of the Virgin Mary. Why? She is the one who would, on behalf of all of future humanity signal the readiness of mankind to be saved.

That signal for God to initialize his plan of rescue and salvation of humanity had to be pure, signal, worthy, without any attachment or influence of sin. That signal that announced to the waiting heavens that we were ready for salvation was the very existence of Mary. And when did Mary come into existence? Not when she was born. Not four months before her birth or not even when she was the smallest little embryo. Her existence, her whole complete life, began at the moment of fertilization, the instant she was herself conceived in the body of her own mother.

Unknown to her own parents, when her mother Anne conceived and became pregnant, they were not aware that this small little embryo was resonating perfect holiness. At the first instant of her existence, knowing of the salvation Christ would bring to all creation (including time), God made it so that Mary was brought into existence without being touched by original sin. Her existence was in itself such a delight to God. She was perfect, as Eve was before sin. Mary was brought into existence as the New Eve. And of course, her Son, the new Adam! Paradise lost would be paradise restored. She was in that perfect state of humanity, as if we never had fallen. On our behalf she calls out to God, "come and save your people." She calls out, because she does so perfectly, and God listens and responds. Her prayer is a perfect prayer. Because of her perfection and perfect prayer, God sent his only Son.

The Immaculate Conception which brought into existence the most prefect and immaculately pure Mary most holy, is a reminder to us of how much we are in need of being cleansed from sin. Of course, when we were baptized we were returned to a state of being sinless. But we know ourselves influenced by sin that we need to be continuously cleansed in order to enter into God's presence. We beg the most perfect Virgin to pray for us so that the wounds of sin in our own lives will heal and God will find in us a worthy place to reside.