On December 8, the Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of Mary. For Italians, the religious celebration fully sanctions the beginning of the Christmas holidays. On this day, traditionally, in Christian families the nativity scene is prepared and the Christmas tree is decorated.
The dogma proclaimed by Pius IX
On 8 December the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated, proclaimed by Pius IX in 1854 with the bull "Ineffabilis Deus". It establishes as the Madonna was preserved from original sin from her conception, so that she was worthy of bearing Jesus. Exactly, in the text, it is written: "The most blessed Virgin Mary was preserved, by particular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in anticipation of the merits of Jesus Christ Savior of the human race, immune from every stain of original sin from the first instant of his conception, and this must therefore be the object of certain and immutable faith for all the faithful ".
The floral tribute to the Madonna
On 8 December 1857, Pope Pius IX inaugurated and blessed the monument dedicated to the Immaculate Conception erected in Piazza Mignanelli, adjacent to the more famous Piazza di Spagna. It was Pope Pius XII, however, who was the first to send flowers to pay homage to the Madonna, on the day dedicated to her. On 8 December 1958, on the occasion of the opening of the Marian Year, Pope John XXIII went in person to the square to place a basket of white roses at the foot of the statue, then he visited the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Since then, this custom has also been carried on by the other popes. Today, however, due to the pandemic, to avoid gatherings, the ritual will not be repeated.
Pope Francis has also entrusted the suffering to the Immaculate Conception
With the floral homage, every year the Pope entrusts the city of Rome and the whole of Italy to the Madonna. This morning, at 7.30, with umbrella in hand, Papa Francesco he went to Piazza Mignanelli to place the flowers at the foot of the statue. It was a real surprise. It was said, in fact, that the Pontiff this year, for the first time in history, would not go there to avoid the gatherings. But the Pope decided to do it early in the morning, precisely to avoid the crowds, and he also paused in Santa Maria Maggiore. With his prayer, he entrusted to the Virgin not only the eternal city, its inhabitants and the country, but all the suffering on earth. A real novelty, linked to the dramatic period the world is experiencing.
The apparitions in Lourdes
It was Our Lady herself who defined herself "Immaculate Conception" when on 25 March 1858 she appeared in Lourdes at the 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous, in the Massabielle cave. It was the little shepherdess who confided to her parish priest that she had seen a young lady, with her hands folded in prayer and her eyes turned to heaven, who said to her: “I am the Immaculate Conception”. Only a year earlier, in 1857, the monument in his honor was inaugurated in Rome. It is a work consisting of a marble base on which rests a column, also of marble, which supports the bronze statue of the Virgin Mary.
The traditions that accompany the feast of the Immaculate Conception
This religious festival is accompanied by many traditions, especially in the southern regions of Italy. In fact, December 8 is not only the day dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, but it is also a moment of joy, to be enjoyed as a family, starting with the Christmas Eve dinner. In addition to the tree and the nativity scene, the houses prepare sweets and fried foods typical of the Christmas period. Furthermore, in various villages, the party is greeted with the lighting of bonfires in the streets. Even if this year, for obvious reasons, many rituals will not take place, December 8 remains one of the most heartfelt and eagerly awaited holidays of the year.
