December and Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Part of the Advent experience of December is to reflect on the circumstances of Jesus's birth. That includes his mother Mary, known as the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) or Theotokos (The God-bearer), among a variety of titles.

December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother Anne. (Mary's birthday is commemorated nine months later on September 8th). This should not be confused with the concept of the virginal conception of her son Jesus, celebrated on the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th (nine months prior to Christmas).  The dogma of the Immaculate Conception explains that even from the very start of her existence, Mary was the chosen vessel, pure and sinless, in which God would come to earth. Without any lengthy discourse on the concept and details of "predestination," Mary's free will was still intact, allowing her to choose to obey the message of the angel at the annunciation: "Let it be done to me according to God's will." This dogma, even though it has ancient origins, was not formally defined until 1854 by Pope Piux IX in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Ineffable God). Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is patroness of the United States of America.

Two historic events that are related to this feastday are two appearance of Mary, both of which took place in France. The apparition of Mary and the establishment of the Miraculous Medal in 1830 is celebrated by the Vincentian Orders on November 27th. Saint Catherine Laboure, to whom Mary appeared, is honored on November 28th. The other visitation was to Saint Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858, where Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.

Another apparition of Mary is celebrated on December 9 and December 12, when the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 Mexico, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. Juan Diego's feastday is on the 9th, which was the first day of the appearances. Primary patroness of the country of Mexico, Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is patroness of the Americas (both North and South hemispheres).

The combination of these two days centered on Mary (the 8th and the 12th) serve to intensify the Advent focus on the Mother of Jesus, her pregnancy and role in the coming of the Messiah.