Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
La Inmaculada Concepción, by Francisco Rizi, Museo del Prado, 17th-century, oil on canvas
Also calledImmaculate Conception Day
Observed byRoman Catholic Church
SignificanceThe most pure and sinless conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary without original sin
Celebrationsprocession, fireworks
Date8 December
Related toNativity of Mary, Assumption of Mary

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 December, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary on 8 September. It is one of the most important Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church.

By pontifical decree, it is the patronal feast day of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the Philippines, Spain, the United States, and Uruguay. By royal decree, it is designated as the day honoring the patroness of Portugal.

Since 1953, the Pope visits the Column of the Immaculate Conception in the Piazza di Spagna to offer expiatory prayers commemorating the solemn event.

The feast was solemnized as a holy day of obligation on 6 December 1708,[1] by the papal bull Commissi Nobis Divinitus of Pope Clement XI.[2][3][4] It is celebrated with Masses, parades, fireworks, processions, food and cultural festivities in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic countries.

  1. ^ Clementis XI, Papam - CXX - Mandatur ut Festum Conceptionis beatae Mariae Virginis Immaculatae de praecepto ubique observetur - Commissi Nobis Divinitus sacrosancti apostolatus officii exigit ratio, ut gloriossimae Virginis Dei genitricis Mariae cuius Conceptio gaudium annuciavit universo mundo, venerationem et cultum, plurium Romanorum Pontificum praedecessorum nostrorum more, ampliare studentes in terris, illius, quae super choros angelorum exaltata pro populo Christiano sedula exoratrix apud eum, quem genuit, assidue intercedit in caelis, potentissimam opem in toltantisque, quibus premimur, Christianae reipublicae et Catholicae Ecclesiae necessitatibus, quantum nobis ex alto conceditur, promereri iugiter satagamus. Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, sub annulo Piscatoris, die 6 Decembris 1708 Pontificatus Nostri Anno IX. - http://www.icar.beniculturali.it/biblio/pdf/bolTau/tomo_21/02_T21_189_368.pdf Archived 2013-12-14 at the Wayback Machine (PP. 338)
  2. ^ Lacoste, Jean-Yves (29 September 2004). Encyclopedia of Christian Theology. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780203319017.
  3. ^ "Introduction". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
  4. ^ Gentle, Judith Marie; Fastiggi, Robert L. (30 September 2009). De Maria Numquam Satis: The Significance of the Catholic Doctrines on the Blessed Virgin Mary for All People. University Press of America. ISBN 9780761848479 – via Google Books.

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