A Gift for All!

Monday, December 8, 2025

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Gen 3: 9-15, 20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary highlights that the gift and privilege that she was conferred upon at her conception was, in fact, a gift for the entire humanity.  

How is the Immaculate Conception of Mary a gift for all, for the entire humanity?

The Church teaches that Mary’s immaculate conception is a divine act of grace, a preparation for salvation through Christ. This is why Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, ‘Mary is the one who experienced mercy in an exceptional way – as no one else.’ 

The exceptional gift and privilege that God gifted Mary is explained in terms of the ‘prevenient grace.’ The word prevenient means to ‘come before.’ It is God’s gift that we have not asked for. Though we do not deserve it and have not earned it through our merit, God takes the initiative to give it freely and generously. 

This is why the Eastern liturgies hail Mary as ‘the one without even the slightest stain.’ Such an unmerited gift of grace was given to Mary, based on the future merits of Jesus Christ. 

Here, we need to understand that objections to the Immaculate Conception of Mary border on the absence of redemption. But the Church teaches that Mary’s fullness of grace is the very fruit of the saving death of Christ. Mary has been redeemed like us, not by cure but by prevention, just as a doctor can save us not only by curing our sickness but also by giving us preventive medicine which will keep us from getting sick.

Apart from such profound theological considerations, we understand that the Immaculate Conception of Mary was intended for the good of entire humanity. The special act of God’s grace that preserved Mary from the stains of original sin was given to her so that she would welcome the Christ child for the salvation of us all.

How did Mary’s life justify the gift of such original grace by God? 

1. It was this extraordinary gift of grace from the first moment of her conception that enabled Mary’s ‘yes’ to God’s will at the Annunciation in the words ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Your will’ (Lk 1:38).

2. Apart from her affirmative response at the Annunciation, Mary’s entire life reflects her faithfulness to God. Thus, we may say that God’s gift of prevenient grace to Mary was anticipated ahead of time through the Immaculate Conception. 

3. Mary’s life is a testament to the fact that she stands with and for humanity right from the first moment of her conception. She demonstrated her faithfulness to God by becoming the Mother of God. Her faithfulness to humanity came in the way of sharing her gift of grace with all. Though she was the individual recipient of the prevenient grace of God, through her very life she shared it with the rest of humanity. 

This is why we find Mary’s life an example of many good values. 

1. Mary’s example demonstrates how to use our freedom for God. Her life is an example of what it means to live for God. 

2. Mary shows that the purpose of God’s grace is not for individual enjoyment. To witness the effect of the multiplication of God’s grace, others must be made sharers of it. 

3. Mary teaches that life finds its meaning only when it is put in the service of others. She lived for others. She continues to intercede for us today. 

Let us pray that our reflection on Mary may help us offer our lives for God and others.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar