8th December — Today we celebrate the Conception of the Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord

Like Samson and Samuel, and John the Baptist, Mary was born of a woman believed to be barren. The woman, St. Anne, was promised along with her husband Joachim that God would bless them with a child, by the word of an angel. That child would be the Mother of the Messias. St. Anne’s conception of the blessed Virgin is therefore a blessing of God.

“Blessed art thou which didst believe: there shall be a performance in thee of those things which were told thee from the Lord.

“There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.

“He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.”

We beseech thee, O Lord, most mercifully to pour the abundance of thy grace into our hearts, as we commemorate the holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God; and sanctify our bodies in chastity, and our souls in humility and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Merciful Father, hear the prayers of thy servants who commemorate the Conception of the Mother of the Lord; and grant that by the incarnation of thy dear Son we may indeed be made nigh unto him, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost; one God, world without end. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Made of a woman God sent forth his Son: that we might receive the adoption of sons.