What is the Immaculate Conception?

When the angel Gabriel comes to tell Mary about her miraculous child, he greets Mary as "full of grace." As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (490) states, "To become the Mother of the Savior, Mary 'was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.'"

In other words--my words--how could God the Son be a part of a person (as all babies are to their mothers) if that person had any sin? It is an impossiblity. Jesus is perfection, is holiness, is goodness. God the Father could not allow His Only Begotten Son to be attached to and enveloped in the womb of a sinner.

In 1858, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette 18 times near Lourdes, France over a period of 6 months. During these apparations, the local priest--skeptical of the veracity of these apparitions--asked Bernadette, who was 14 at the time, to ask the Lady's name. The first two times the Lady merely inclined her head. On the third request in the 16th apparation, the Lady stated, "I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION." Although Bernadette did not know the meaning, she ran to tell the local priest.

The Immaculate Conception is Mary, who was from the moment of conception without sin.

To read the full account of the apparitions click here or go to http://www.catholic.org/

Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary

by Full of Grace Rosary

This is my version of the rosary that Mary used at Lourdes as described by St. Bernadette:

"She has the appearance of a young girl of sixteen or seventeen. She is dressed in a white robe, girdled at the waist with a blue ribbon which flows down all along Her robe. She wears upon Her head a veil which is also white; this veil gives just a glimpse of Her hair and then falls down at the back below Her waist. Her feet are bare but covered by the last folds of Her robe except at the point where a yellow rose shines upon each of them. She holds on Her right arm a Rosary of white beads with a chain of gold shining like the two roses on Her feet."

September 8th the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary--Happy Birthday, Mary!

Mary, Queen of Heaven--Really?

Yes, Really. And Absolutely Positively. How? You say. It all started back in the time of King Solomon, the third king of Israel (IKings 2:19). He had over 700 wives and concubines. So who of his many wives was to be the queen? The queen was the mother of the king, aka The Queen Mother. The queen was an adviser to the king, more importantly, she was an advocate of the people.*

Mary is the Queen Mother to the King of Kings, Jesus. She goes to Jesus with our prayers and requests. We pray (make a fervent request) to Mary asking her for the favors of her Son. Her Son is Jesus. Jesus is God. He wrote the 10 Commandments including the fourth one which commands us to honor our mother and father. How much more would a perfect son (Jesus) honor his mother's requests who is so close to his heart. Who by her faith said, "yes", so that He could come into the world and grant us His salvation.

Mary, the Queen Mother, has been given a special role by her Son, Jesus. He honors her, as should we. Mary's role is to draw us closer to her Son. A wonderful way to do this is to meditate on Jesus' life recorded in Sacred Scripture through the mysteries of the Rosary. Click here for an easy to follow guide on how to pray the rosary.

God Bless You and Remember to Pray the Rosary Daily.


*paraphrased from Scott Hahn Hail, Holy Queen, The Mother of God in the Word of God --an excellent book--you will fall inlove with Mary for the 1st time or all over again and see how she always draws us closer to her Son.