I’m always amazed when people try to come up with a religious argument for supporting the destruction of nascent human life. I’ve heard the “abortion isn’t mentioned in the bible” line and, of course, the excuse that some fathers of the Church thought ensoulment was delayed till a few weeks after conception.

That’s why I love today’s feast commemorating the Immaculate Conception, a doctrine that was verified by the Immaculate Virgin herself.

God did not choose to purify the womb that would carry His son at some random point in her development outside the womb like, say, her presentation and dedication in the temple or at the Annunciation, both of of which would have seemed appropriate or reasonable. Rather, he chose to preserve the sinlessness of the Mother of God from the very moment of her conception inside the womb of St. Anne.

This, like the Incarnation itself and the scene at the Visitation when the unborn John the Baptist leaped for joy in the womb of St. Elizabeth, illustrates the significance and the sacredness of all life before birth from its very beginning.

Let us pray on this day that such innocent life may once again be preserved and protected in our Nation through the intercession of this Immaculate Mother, Patroness of our Land.

O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Img: St. Anne Conceiving the Virgin Mary, Jean Bellegambe.