Immaculate Conception

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is such an important feast day for us Catholics, celebrating our Lady’s purity. It is so important that it is actually a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION.

Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
“Mary, a virgin not only undefiled but a virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” – St. Ambrose
“If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.” – Saint Maximilian Kolbe

As a Catholic parent, it is important to me that I cultivate a strong relationship between my kids and our Heavenly Mother. Here are some things we do to celebrate this special feast day.

Go to Mass **HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION**
Watch the video about the Immaculate Conception at Holy Heros.
Coloring pages: this one from Catholic Icings is my favorite but this and this are great options as well.
If you can, I know this one can be tough with a bunch of littles, pray the rosary. If the whole rosary is too much try to do one decade.
Bake a Mary cake! Ours is made using white cake mix and white icing. White for purity.
Make Mary Mass bags. This is a lovely craft for kids and they can use it as their personal little mass bags.