It is good that we bear in mind what it is exactly that we are celebrating today, for there seems to be some confusion about what is meant by the term "Immaculate Conception." Today we celebrate, not Jesus' conception, but rather Mary's conception-nine months ahead of her birthday which is celebrated on September 8th. Beginning with St. Anselm in the Middle Ages, theologians began to entertain the idea that Mary was born untouched by what has been called "original sin" - that is, a certain tendency to evil which has marred the human race even to our own day. This doctrine eventually became the official teaching of the Church only with Pius IX in 1854.

The readings today all suggest some of the reasons for the feast we celebrate. In our first reading, we hear the story of the Fall, but also of God's promise of the ultimate defeat of evil. This prophecy has been interpreted by the Church as linked to Mary, foretelling her role in salvation history. Our second reading too can be interpreted as referring to Mary "chosen before the world was made to be holy and spotless." We too have been chosen to be holy and spotless, but this is only possible in our conversion and baptism into Christ. In our Gospel today, we hear Mary addressed as 'full of grace,' a title that was interpreted to mean Mary was graced from the time of her conception.