Homily on the feast of the Immaculate Conception and Mother of Pilgrims at Venkayapalle, Kurnool,

Most Rev Dr. Johannes Gorantla ocd preached on the feast of Immaculate Conception and Mother of Pilgrims at Venkayapalle, Kurnool, on 8th of December, 2025. Mary, God’s First Gift of Grace” Homily on the Immaculate Conception Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception — the truth that Mary was conceived without sin. From the very first moment of her life, God filled her with grace and prepared her to be the mother of His Son. 1. God Prepared Mary from the Beginning Scripture gives us clear signs of God’s plan. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah, he trembled with fear. But when the same angel appeared to Mary six months later, she remained calm. Her heart already lived in God’s grace. Gabriel’s greeting, “Hail, full of grace,” shows that God blessed her long before she spoke or acted. We cannot choose our mothers; God can. And God chose Mary and prepared her in a pure, grace-filled way to become the mother of Jesus. 2. Why the Immaculate Conception Matters The birth of Jesus is the mystery of God taking human form. For God to become human, He needed a holy vessel. John the Baptist’s birth came after years of prayer. Mary’s motherhood came by God’s initiative, not her request. If Jesus is truly the Son of God, His mother must be untouched by sin. For this reason, the Church teaches the Immaculate Conception. At Lourdes, Mary herself confirmed this truth when she said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” 3. Sin Removes Joy; Grace Restores It In Genesis, Adam and Eve lost peace the moment they sinned. Sin brings shame and restlessness. It weakens us and dims our joy. At baptism, each of us received a white garment — a symbol of purity and new life. Sin stains it. Grace restores it. Mary lived her entire life in grace. She shows us what it means to be free in God. 4. Practical Implications for Our Daily Life The Immaculate Conception is not only a belief — it is a call to live differently. a) Keep your soul clean Mary teaches us to guard our hearts. Avoid whatever leads us to sin — harmful words, anger, jealousy, addictions, gossip. Purity begins in daily choices. b) Go to confession regularly Sin stains the garment we received at baptism. Confession washes it. Mary lived in grace; we can return to grace whenever we fall. c) Pray for purity of heart A pure heart sees God in daily life. Mary reminds us to ask God for a clean conscience, clean intentions, clean relationships. d) Honour Mary by imitating her “yes” Mary said “yes” to God fully. We can say “yes” in simple ways — being honest, forgiving others, doing our duties with love, helping someone in need, avoiding harsh speech. e) Bring peace wherever you go Mary carried Christ within her. We carry Christ through our words and actions. Let our presence bring peace to our families and workplaces. Conclusion The Immaculate Conception is the beginning of God’s great plan of salvation. Mary is God’s first gift of grace — pure, prepared, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Today, let us thank God for Mary and ask her to help us keep our hearts clean, our lives peaceful, and our choices guided by grace. Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.