Tuesday, December 8, 2026 — Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Annunciation
Luke 1:26-38
The Gospel
The angel Gabriel is sent to Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to Joseph, and greets her as full of grace. Troubled by the greeting, Mary hears that she will conceive a son who will be called Son of the Most High and will reign forever. When she asks how this can be, the angel tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and nothing will be impossible for God. Mary answers that she is the handmaid of the Lord and asks that it be done to her according to His word.
Readings of the day: First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Alleluia: Luke 1:28; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38.
Reflection
The first reading tells of the woman who hid from God after the fall. Today the angel greets a woman who does not hide. St. Gregory of Nyssa sets the two side by side: where the first announcement brought the pains of childbirth as punishment for sin, this announcement drives sorrow away through gladness. St. Jerome explains the greeting itself: to others grace comes in part, but into Mary the fullness of grace was wholly infused at once. That is the Immaculate Conception the Church celebrates today: Mary, preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception, so that she could be the fitting Mother of the Savior. And her answer is the model for every answer to God: she does not demand to understand everything first. She trusts the word spoken to her, and says yes. Advent asks the same of us, in smaller words and smaller callings: let it be done to me according to your word.
From the Fathers
“And it is well said, Full of grace, for to others, grace comes in part; into Mary at once the fullness of grace wholly infused itself.”
— St. Jerome, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 1:28-29
“Far different then to the news formerly addressed to the woman, is the announcement now made to the Virgin. In the former, the cause of sin was punished by the pains of childbirth; In the latter, through gladness, sorrow is driven away.”
— St. Gregory of Nyssa, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 1:28-29
Feast of the day
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church celebrates that Mary was conceived without original sin, preserved by the grace of Christ from the first moment of her life. The dogma was defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854. In the United States this solemnity is a holy day of obligation.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 689). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 1:28-29, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).