God gave us the most beautiful woman ever created–our most Blessed Mother! She has many feast days but the one some people often misunderstand is December 8th, her Immaculate Conception. I remember the day that I learned that the Immaculate Conception was talking about the Blessed Mother being born without original sin and that it was not referring to Jesus. I was embarrassed, but then my mom told me that that happens all the time.

Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception. God endowed her special graces and gifts because she was to be the mother of Christ. When the Angel Gabriel came to Blessed Mary, she was scared, but because she had total trust in God, she said “yes.”

Another misconception by some Catholics and most of our Protestant brothers and sisters is that we worship her. We should all honor her but not worship her. The Blessed Mother was born without original sin and has never sinned. For this reason, the Church has asked Mary to intercede for us. We ask Mary’s intersession in our daily lives. She is a mother to us all.

A very good way to grow closer to our Mother is to read the consecration readings given to us by Saint Louis De Montford. If you feel you are ready to consecrate yourself to the Blessed Mother when you are done the readings, then you make a promise to ask her always for her help. Thanks be to God for such a loving and beautiful Mother.