“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, full of grace!  The Lord is with you.’ ” (Luke 1)

Today, we remember and celebrate the fact, that since she was to be the mother of the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God; Mary was born without the stain of original sin.  It is the first act, that culminates in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and our liberation from the power of sin and death.