Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Feast day : 08 December

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast celebrates the splendour of the unique holiness by which Mary was enriched from the very first instant of her conception. As proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854, through the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the Church confesses that “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”

Today we also observe the Hour of Grace at noon, between 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in accordance with the messages received from Our Lady, Rosa Mystica. In the year 1947, in a series of apparitions at Montichiari, Italy, Our Lady gave several messages to Pierina Gilli. In the fifth and the seventh vision, Our Lady asked that an Hour of Grace be observed on December 8th at noon time. She promised “Many divine and bodily graces will be received through this devotion. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will send His overflowing mercy if good people will pray continuously for their sinful brothers. If anyone is unable to visit his church, yet will pray at noon at home, he will also receive graces through me.” The Hour of Grace (from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.) is observed by praying the Psalm 51 three times and then spending the remaining time in prayer contemplating on the Passion of Our Lord, or praying the Holy Rosary or reading the Bible or any other prayers.

Immaculate Conception:

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary was “enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role”. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses this as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854 “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” God, the Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love”. This feast therefore celebrates the splendour of this entirely unique holiness by which Mary is enriched from the first instant of her conception and it comes wholly from Christ: she is redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son. (CCC 491 & 492)

Hour of Grace:

In a series of apparitions in the year 1947, Our Lady appeared to to Pierina Gilli at Montichiari, in Northern Italy. Pierina Gilli was a Roman Catholic nurse who worked in the local hospital. During the apparitions, Our Lady wished for a new marian devotion in the title 'Rosa Mystica' and asked for 'Prayer, Sacrifice and Penances' for the offences committed against Our Lord especially by consecrated souls. She asked for the 'Hour of Grace' to be observed on 08 December every year.

In the 5th vision Our Lady said "On the 8th December, at noon, I shall appear again here in the Basilica. It will be the Hour of Grace. This Hour of Grace will produce great and numerous conversions. Hardened and cold hearts resembling this marble will be touched by Divine Grace, and they will become faithful to Our Lord in loyal love."

Accordingly on the feast day of The Immaculate Conception, 8 December 1947 countless priests and lay people were present in the Basilica. Pierina entered the Basilica and knelt in the center of the church, just where the other apparitions had taken place. During the recitation of the Holy Rosary, Pierina called out: "O, Our Lady!" Great silence ensued!

Our Lady appeared on a large white staircase, decorated with white, red and yellow roses. She said with a smile: "I am the Immaculate Conception. I am Mary, full of grace, Mother of My Divine Son Jesus Christ. Through my coming to Montichiari, I wish to be known as the 'Rosa Mystica'. It is my wish that every year, on 8th December, at noon, the 'Hour of Grace for the world' be celebrated. Many divine and bodily graces will be received through this devotion. Our Lord, my Divine Son Jesus, will send His overflowing mercy if good people will pray continuously for their sinful brothers. One should very soon notify the Holy Father of the Church, Pope Pius XII, that it is my wish that the 'Hour of Grace for the world' be made known and spread throughout the world. If anyone is unable to visit his church, yet will pray at noon at home, he will also receive graces through me. Whoever prays on these tiles and weeps tears of penance, will find a secure heavenly ladder and receive protection and grace through my motherly heart."