160 years ago Pope Blessed Pius IX promulgated the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the Papal Bull Ineffabilis Deus he announced: “We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful"
This Solemnity becomes part of the Church’s Advent journey; how powerfully and quietly Mary fits into this Advent journey; powerfully because she stands before us in all her beauty, quietly because her beauty directs our attention not to her but to her Son - our Lord, Jesus Christ. The sinless Mother of God comes to us during our Advent to display the ultimate beauty which can be only seen in God. For centuries Christian artists have tried to show how beautiful the Virgin Mary. A few months ago in the National Gallery of Victoria we could admire Italian Masterpieces from the Spain’s Royal Court. The selection of pieces of art was impressive. Each room of the exhibition was bringing us to the next level of wander and excitement. However the last room left me speechless. In the room there was a painting of The Immaculate Conception of Giambattista Tiepolo. I couldn’t take my eyes of Mary in the painting. Her beauty was so stunning that one could only stop to glorify God whose own beauty is reflected in the beauty of the Mother of God. Before I realised I was holding my Rosary and I was praying repeating the words Gabriel uttered when he saw Mary in Nazareth: “Hail Mary full of grace.”
This Solemnity becomes part of the Church’s Advent journey; how powerfully and quietly Mary fits into this Advent journey; powerfully because she stands before us in all her beauty, quietly because her beauty directs our attention not to her but to her Son - our Lord, Jesus Christ. The sinless Mother of God comes to us during our Advent to display the ultimate beauty which can be only seen in God. For centuries Christian artists have tried to show how beautiful the Virgin Mary. A few months ago in the National Gallery of Victoria we could admire Italian Masterpieces from the Spain’s Royal Court. The selection of pieces of art was impressive. Each room of the exhibition was bringing us to the next level of wander and excitement. However the last room left me speechless. In the room there was a painting of The Immaculate Conception of Giambattista Tiepolo. I couldn’t take my eyes of Mary in the painting. Her beauty was so stunning that one could only stop to glorify God whose own beauty is reflected in the beauty of the Mother of God. Before I realised I was holding my Rosary and I was praying repeating the words Gabriel uttered when he saw Mary in Nazareth: “Hail Mary full of grace.”
The Immaculate Conception of Giambattista Tiepolo
V. All fair are you, O Mary!
R. All fair are you, O Mary!
V. The original stain is not in you!
R. The original stain is not in you!
V. You are the glory of Jerusalem!
R. You re the joy of Israel!
V. You are the honor of your people!
R. You are the advocate of sinners!
V. O Mary!
R. O Mary!
V. Pray for us!
R. Intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ!
R. All fair are you, O Mary!
V. The original stain is not in you!
R. The original stain is not in you!
V. You are the glory of Jerusalem!
R. You re the joy of Israel!
V. You are the honor of your people!
R. You are the advocate of sinners!
V. O Mary!
R. O Mary!
V. Pray for us!
R. Intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ!
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