December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception

During the session of February 4, 1834, the members of the first Conference adopted several proposals. Le Prévost was the one who asked that the Conference be placed under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul and Frederic Ozanam in turn asked that the decision be taken that the Conference be placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary and celebrate one of her feasts, the feast of the Immaculate Conception; since then we have been placed under the patronage of the Immaculate Virgin.

Precisely in order to place ourselves at the feet of the Virgin, the first regulations of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, drawn up at the beginning of December 1835, were proclaimed at the general assembly of December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Since then the feast has been part of the ‘liturgical ceremonies’, which is included in our statutes and current rule, and is one of the liturgical celebrations considered especially significant for Vincentians.

The Immaculate Conception, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, is the truth of faith that affirms how Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. This dogma, proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854, underscores the unique purity and holiness of Mary, chosen by God to be the Mother of His Son. The Miraculous Medal that we Vincentians wear is therefore also a reminder of this profound truth and of Mary’s special role in the plan of salvation.

The General Council asks the members of the Congregation all over the world to pray a prayer today and to ask the Blessed Virgin as mediator, a personal intention and a general intention for peace in the world. Also, a prayer is requested for the growth of the Conferences, so that they do not forget that they are born of friendship and the Love of God, and that our mission is to proclaim the Gospel, living the faith in service to our brothers who suffer the most.