The Marian WayPray now
AdventSolemnity

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Patronal Feastday of the United States of America)

From the first instant of her conception, Mary was preserved from original sin by the grace of Christ. In the Immaculate one, God prepares a Mother entirely His own.

Keep this day with Mary

The Church’s prayer today

United States Roman Calendar · Year B → Year C at Advent · Cycle I. Liturgical color: white.

Scripture for the liturgy

Gn 3:9-15, 20/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 (689)

These references follow the annual calendar, including permitted reading choices. Optional memorials ordinarily retain the weekday readings. Daily reading pages for this future year may not yet be published. Use these references with the USCCB Bible, or open the annual calendar.

Open the USCCB BibleCheck the official calendar

Enter the Marian mystery

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

With Saint Alphonsus, honor Mary’s immaculate purity and seek her help against sin.

Read the teaching, meditation, and prayer →

Contemplate with Mary

Ah most sweet, most lovable, immaculate Mary, you who are so beautiful in the eyes of your Lord, ah, do not disdain to look with your merciful eyes upon the wounds, so loathsome, of my soul. Look upon me, and have compassion on me, and heal me.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary, Part II, Discourse I, On the Immaculate Conception of Mary (excerpt)

Read more in the complete book →

Make this prayer your own

Then, O my Queen, I shall never be able to be your true child, if I am not humble; but do you not see that my sins, after having made me ungrateful to my Lord, have made me proud as well? O my Mother, do you provide the remedy; by the merits of your humility obtain for me to be humble, and so to become your child. Amen.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori · The Glories of Mary · On the Humility of Mary

One faithful act

Pray the act of consecration to Jesus through Mary, asking her help to avoid sin.

Entrust yourself to the Immaculata
Calendar scope and local observance

Dates, ranks, and reading references follow the official calendar for the dioceses of the United States, with Ascension on Sunday. Diocesan, parish, patronal, and religious-family calendars may differ. Consult your parish for Mass schedules and obligations. The Marian meditation is a devotional aid accompanying the day.

Sources for this teaching