Catholic faithful gathered at the Manila Cathedral to celebrate the Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, led by Cardinal Jose Advincula, the prelate of Manila, on December 8, 2023.
The ceremony focused on the theological doctrine affirming the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, asserting that Mary was conceived without Original Sin, paving the way for her role as the Mother of God and the bearer of Jesus Christ.
The intricacies of the Immaculate Conception trace back to a divine plan conceived by God the Father before the inception of the world, choosing the Blessed Virgin Mary as the vessel through which the Savior, Jesus Christ, would enter the human realm.
The doctrine asserts that Mary’s conception was shielded from the ancestral sin that has cast its shadow over humanity since the days of Adam and Eve.
The Mass, a cornerstone of the celebration, served as a sacred juncture for the faithful to deepen their comprehension of Mary’s immaculate nature and her indispensable role in the Christian narrative.
All photos by Angie de Silva
