Our Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is a special day for us Catholics as we venerate the Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary. We are also blessed as it has been declared as a special non-working holiday after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10966 in 2017.

The bill, which was authored by House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas through House Bill 4661, filed on December 12, 2016, is based on the tradition of Catholics to regard December 8 as a holy day of obligation and are anticipated to attend the Holy Mass.

As a predominantly Catholic nation, our veneration for the Virgin mary is very significant and it has a big effect on the “development of Filipino culture, philosophies, politics, education and social norms.” Mores o, for us Kapampangans, we have high reverence for the Blessed Mama Mary since our patroness is Virgen de los Remedios. For us Kapampangans, our devotion to Virgen de los Remedios or Indu ning Capaldanan synonymous to our faith as devout Catholics. As the patroness saint of Pampanga, Virgen de los

1854,Pius IXpronounced anddefinedthat theBlessed Virgin Mary"in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege andgracegranted byGod, in view of themeritsofJesus Christ, the Saviour of thehuman race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."

Further, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says of the Immaculate Conception of Mary states that “to become the mother of the Savior, Mary ‘was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role’. The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace".

In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.”

From these excerpts, we honor the holiness of Mary as one who is without sin and predestined to be the mother of the Savior Jesus Christ, a calling that is so exceptional that only she is deserving to be given.