Immaculate Conception

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The House of Mary community poses for a photo on Dec. 8, 1994, in St. Peter's Square, the first time they brought their blue banner with the words "The Immaculate Conception will Triumph" to the Angelus with Pope John Paul II. The group has continued to bring the banner to every Sunday Angelus for 29 years.

The story behind the Immaculate Conception banner at every Vatican Angelus

Dec 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The banner’s declaration recalls the Marian spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception. Read more

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis honors Virgin Mary on solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a... Read more

Pope Francis waves from the window of the Apostolic Palace as he gives his Angelus address for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

Pope Francis announces Catholic Church’s first World Day of Children

Dec 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The event was inspired by a 9-year-old boy named Alessandro, who proposed the idea to the pope to have an... Read more

'Immaculate Conception' by Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1628.

The miracle that made the Immaculate Virgin patroness of Spain and its infantry

Dec 8, 2023

By CNA Staff

In 1585 a miracle attributed to the Immaculate Conception allowed the Spanish troops to win the Battle of Empel in... Read more

Procession from Saint-Jean Cathedral to Fourvière Basilica in Lyon, France, on Dec. 8, 2022.

The city of Lyon, France, honors Mary with light festival on Dec. 8

Dec 8, 2023

By Emma Silvestri

The tradition of the Festival of Lights goes back to 1852 before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was even... Read more

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Women from all over the world pray the rosary on solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

On Dec. 8, thousands of women in different countries around the world gathered to pray the holy rosary for peace... Read more

A detail from Francisco de Zurbarán’s painting “The Immaculate Conception” (1628–1630)

Explore the Immaculate Conception through art in video series on faith and beauty

Dec 8, 2022

By CNA Staff

Benedictine College is kicking off a new video series today on art and faith with a video celebrating today’s solemnity... Read more

Pope Francis visits the statue dedicated to the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Piazza di Spagna Dec. 8, 2022.

Pope Francis calls on Catholics to entrust themselves to Our Lady, prays for peace in Ukraine

Dec 8, 2022

By AC Wimmer

On Thursday, Pope Francis publicly visited the statue dedicated to the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Piazza di Spagna for the... Read more

A bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Louis

The mighty Mississippi was once named ‘River of the Immaculate Conception.’ Here’s why

Dec 4, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

“Immaculate” is not a word most people would use to describe the Mississippi River’s famously muddy waters. But Father Jacques... Read more

Image of the Immaculate Conception of the Parish of San José de Tipitapa, Nicaragua

Dictatorship in Nicaragua prohibits Immaculate Conception procession

Nov 29, 2022

By CNA Staff

The decision forces San José de Tipitapa parish in the Archdiocese of Managua to hold their celebrations in the parish... Read more

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Don’t let Christmas take you by surprise: lessons for Advent from the Church

Nov 28, 2022

By Kelsey Wicks

The Church provides songs, signs, and symbols to enter into the season of Advent more fruitfully. Read more

CNA

The Worldwide Women’s Rosary is coming to the United Arab Emirates

Nov 22, 2022

By CNA Staff

Women from all over the world will join together Dec. 8 for the public recitation of a rosary to Our... Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address at the Vatican, Dec. 8, 2021.

Pope Francis hails ‘the beauty of Mary’s heart’ on Immaculate Conception feast

Dec 8, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope leads the Angelus prayer on Marian solemnities, as well as Sundays. Read more

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Did you know the Immaculate Conception is patroness of the United States?

Dec 8, 2021

By Kate Olivera

Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, has been patroness of the United States since the mid-19th century. But... Read more

An Italian firefighter places a wreath of flowers on the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, Dec. 8, 2021.

Pope Francis makes early morning visit to Immaculate Conception statue in Rome

Dec 8, 2021

By CNA Staff

The pope made the private visit to the statue shortly after 6 a.m. Read more

Pope Francis prays before the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna Dec. 8, 2020.

Immaculate Conception: Pope Francis cancels public act of veneration again due to pandemic

Nov 29, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Last year, the pope made a surprise visit to pray alone at the Immaculate Conception statue. Read more

Pope Francis blesses a statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of the Miraculous Medal Nov. 11, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis asks Immaculate Virgin Mary to intercede for US after Capitol violence

Jan 10, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed Sunday for the United States asking the Immaculate Virgin Mary to help foster a “culture of encounter”... Read more

Pope Francis delivers an Angelus address overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis: the Immaculate Conception is ‘one of the wonders of the story of salvation’

Dec 8, 2020

The Immaculate Conception is “one of the wonders of the story of salvation,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address... Read more

Pope Francis prays before the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna Dec. 8, 2020.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to Immaculate Conception statue in rain-drenched Rome

Dec 8, 2020

Pope Francis made a surprise visit Tuesday morning to the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna.  Read more

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.

Belarus to be consecrated to Mary on Immaculate Conception feast

Dec 7, 2020

By Courtney Mares

The metropolitan archbishop of Minsk has asked all churches in Belarus to pray an act of consecration of Belarus to... Read more