"The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness."

--€“   St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Gospel - Lk 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, 
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, 
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis, 
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, 
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, 
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, 
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
    A voice of one crying out in the desert:
    “Prepare the way of the Lord,
        make straight his paths.
    Every valley shall be filled
        and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
    The winding roads shall be made straight,
        and the rough ways made smooth,
    and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120824.cfm

“As the journey of Advent continues, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity of Christ, John the Baptist's call to conversion sounds out in our communities. It is a pressing invitation to open our hearts and to welcome the Son of God Who comes among us to make divine judgement manifest. The Father, writes St. John the Evangelist, does not judge anyone, but has entrusted the power of judgement to the Son, because He is the Son of man.

“And it is today, in the present, that we decide our future destiny. It is with our concrete everyday behavior in this life that we determine our eternal fate. At the end of our days on earth, at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our likeness or otherwise to the Baby Who is about to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem, because He is the measure God has given humanity.

“Through the Gospel John the Baptist continues to speak down the centuries to each generation. His hard clear words bring health to us, the men and women of this day in which even the experience and perception of Christmas often, unfortunately, reflects materialist attitudes. The 'voice' of the great prophet asks us to prepare the way for the coming Lord in the deserts of today, internal and external deserts, thirsting for the water of life which is Christ.”

—Pope Benedict XVI

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast day that commemorates the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without sin. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is ordinarily celebrated on Sunday, December 8, is transferred to December 9, and is a Holy Day of Obligation.

The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church, which means that it is a doctrine that is considered to be a fundamental truth of the faith. The dogma states that Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception, and that she was born without sin.

The significance of the Immaculate Conception can be understood in several ways:

1. Mary's role as the mother of God: The Immaculate Conception emphasizes Mary's role as the mother of Jesus, who is the Son of God. It highlights her importance as the one who carried and gave birth to the Savior of the world.

2. Mary's sinlessness: The Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary was sinless from the moment of her conception. This means that she was free from the stain of original sin, which is the sin that all humans inherit from Adam and Eve.

3. Mary's role as a model for Christians: The Immaculate Conception presents Mary as a model for Christians, who are called to live a life of holiness and sinlessness. It encourages Catholics to strive for spiritual perfection and to imitate Mary's virtues.

4. The significance of the feast day: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a celebration of Mary's sinlessness and her role as the mother of God. It is a time for Catholics to reflect on their own sinfulness and to seek forgiveness and spiritual growth.

In the context of the Catholic Church, the Immaculate Conception is also seen as a way of understanding the mystery of Mary's role in salvation history. It highlights her importance as the one who gave birth to Jesus, who is the Savior of the world.

Here are some key points about the Immaculate Conception:

* The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church, which means that it is a fundamental truth of the faith.
* The Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary was conceived without sin from the moment of her conception.
* The Immaculate Conception emphasizes Mary's role as the mother of Jesus and her importance in salvation history.
* The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8th, nine months before Christmas Day.
* The Immaculate Conception is a time for Catholics to reflect on their own sinfulness and to seek forgiveness and spiritual growth.