What is the story behind the Feast of the Immaculate Conception?

There are only a few weeks left until 2023 ends, which means holidays like Christmas and New Year’s are getting closer.

At the same time, some holidays are still pending in the last month of the year. The one that comes closest to the calendar is this Friday, December 8, which aims to commemorate a date that has meaning religious and cultural both in the country and in other parts of the world.

It is Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary also known as Purísima Concepción .

The Day of the Immaculate Conception is one of the most important Marian celebrations in the Catholic Church. Likewise, it is celebrated by certain Protestant Christian denominations.

In simple terms, this dogma refers to the fact that Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, was protected and free from original sin “from the first moment of her conception”, that is, from the moment she began to exist. indicates the official website of the Vatican .

The choice of day for this commemoration is not random. In the Catholic religion, the Nativity of Mary is celebrated on September 8, and to calculate the moment when she was conceived, 9 months must be subtracted. This culminates in December 8th.

It should be noted that the date was set in 1476 by Pope Sixtus IV. Later, in 1708, Pope Clement XI established that it would be a day of obligation, according to the religious institution.

However, it was not until 1854 that Pope Pius IX officially proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, through the apostolic letter Ineffabilis Deus.

The announcement was made on December 8 of the same year in St. Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican. In the presence of a large crowd of Catholics, cardinals and archbishops from around the world, the Supreme Pontiff declared: “We declare that the doctrine which says that Mary was conceived without original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and which obliges everyone to believe it as a dogma of faith. »

With the establishment of this dogma, the Catholic Church recognized the Virgin in a special position of being the mother of Jesus Christ.

Immaculate Conception Day is valid in different countries in the region. However, the customs practiced by the faithful vary according to each territory. In Colombia For example, a vigil known as Candle Day is held and it is customary to hang white flags with the image of the Virgin on balconies.

While in Argentina The tribute begins a little earlier, since at the end of November the faithful make a novena in honor of the dedication of Our Lady of the Valley, patroness of Catamarca. On December 7, they hold a torchlight procession near Plaza 25 de Mayo, and the next day the celebrations continue.

On the other hand, in Panama This date is considered a national holiday and even Mother’s Day takes place, a unique phenomenon in the world.

In all cities of Nicaragua The religious festival “La Gritería” takes place, although the most important one takes place in the city of León, where it originates. The faithful visit the altars of the Virgin Mary, both in homes and in churches, while praying and shouting the phrase: “Who causes so much joy? The Conception of Mary!

In the case of our country, this date is experienced with various activities throughout the country. Mass masses are usually held in churches so that people can admire and pay homage to the Virgin Mary.

Likewise, another common situation on this date are the classic pilgrimages to shrines and other places dedicated to this important figure of Catholicism.

Traditionally, one of the points of devotion that stands out the most is the Sanctuary of the Purísima de Lo Vásquez , in the municipality of Casablanca, region of Valparaíso. Thousands of faithful from all over Chile arrive on December 8, on foot or by bicycle, to ask favors and pay their orders to the Virgin.

According to natural History Museum Every year, around 800,000 people come to Lo Vásquez, making it “the most important Marian pilgrimage in the country”. In 2022, the million visitors were exceeded, knowing that the event was suspended for two years due to the pandemic.

Other important places where the faithful pay homage to this Catholic figure are the Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception on Cerro San Cristóbal, in Santiago; the Sanctuary and Parish of Lourdes in Quinta Normal and the Mirador del Carmen Sanctuary in Lo Barnechea.

Note that December 8 also corresponds to the last day of the month of Mary, which commonly begins at the beginning of November.

In many cases, children preparing for First Communion receive the sacrament on these dates.