The Immaculate Conception

                                                      "Immaculate Conception" by Velazquez

The Church traditionally dedicates the month of December to the Immaculate Conception.   Many confuse this dogma with the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus.  The virgin birth of Jesus is self-explanatory.  Here is the Catholic Encyclopedia's description of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception:

"In the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854, Pius IX pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin." 

Though defined only in 1854, the Immaculate Conception was long held by the Church to be among the truths revealed by God.  The feast itself, which is celebrated on December 8, appears to have arisen in eastern monasteries as long ago as the seventh century.  In 1846, a few years before the promulgation of  Ineffabilis Deus,  the first Council of Baltimore decreed that Mary in her Immaculate Conception would be the principal Patron of the United States.

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!"

Papal Teaching for Today

From Pope Pius XII's encyclical "Fulgens Corona," proclaiming a Marian Year to commemorate the centenary of the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, September 8, 1953 (full text here): 

And it seems to Us that the Blessed Virgin, who throughout the whole course of her life -- both in joys, which affected her deeply, as in distress and atrocious suffering, through which she is Queen of Martyrs -- never departed from the precepts and example of her own Divine Son, it seems to us, We say, that she repeats to each of us those words, with which she addressed the servers at the wedding feast of Cana, pointing as it were to Jesus Christ: "Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye" John. 2. 5).

Papal Teaching For the Day

Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX reigned longer than any other pope (1846 - 1878;  31 years & 236 days).   He also issued a record number of encyclicals (38) and presided over the First Vatican Council.  Pope Pius IX was the last pope to rule the Papal States, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

From Pope Pius IX's encyclical "Ubi Primum," defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (full text here):

And likewise in our own day, Mary, with the ever merciful affection so characteristic of her maternal heart, wishes, through her efficacious intercession with God, to deliver her children from the sad and grief-laden troubles, from the tribulations, the anxiety, the difficulties, and the punishments of God's anger which afflict the world because of the sins of men. Wishing to restrain and to dispel the violent hurricane of evils which, as We lament from the bottom of Our heart, are everywhere afflicting the Church, Mary desires to transform Our sadness into joy. The foundation of all Our confidence, as you know well, Venerable Brethren, is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. For, God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain everything through Mary.