The Diocese of Orlando commemorated the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, which is a holy day of obligation within the Catholic Church. 

On this feast day, the Church celebrates and affirms the Marian Dogma that the Virgin Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. 

“Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What is the Immaculate Conception? Mary, the Mother of God was conceived free from original sin. We celebrate this miracle and honor her. Amen,” the Diocese of Orlando posted to their Facebook page. 

An important doctrine in the Catholic Church is that of original sin. This doctrine teaches that all humans are born in a sinful state, which we have inherited from the first humans, Adam and Eve, who chose to disobey God, therefore bringing sin into the world. Unlike the rest of humanity, Mary was preserved from original sin through the merits of her son, Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Church teaches that all of humanity has the opportunity to obtain spiritual salvation in their life after birth thanks to the redemption, which Christ made possible in his death on the cross to pay the penalty of sin. 

“The essence of original sin consists in the deprivation of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature,” according to Catholic Answers.

Mary was saved from ever suffering the stain of original sin, the Church teaches and affirms. 

According to Catholic Answers, many Catholics misunderstand the meaning of this important feast day, confusing it with the conception of Christ. 

“It’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father; but that is the Virgin Birth. Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived 'by the power of the Holy Spirit,' in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect,” according to Catholic Answers.