Today is a national holiday here in Spain. La concepción immaculada. The immaculate virgen conception. The day Mary concieved Jesus by the Holy Spirit. The 8th of December, somewhere around year zero, give or take. The day we celebrate Jesus' birthday is in a few short weeks, 17 days.
Not to be irreverent, but apparently Mary either carried Jesus in her womb for 17 days, or 385 days. Neither of which figures at nine months. Now of course neither day is likely to be the actual day that these events occured. But nonetheless they are the days we have chosen to remember these events. Which for all purposes I know, is not bad at all.
I just thought it slightly humorous that we even though we chose these days, no one bothered to make the math work out. Maybe math is overrated. Or maybe there are very good reasons for choosing these days. I just don't know them. If there is an enlightened someone who happens to know what went on, and wants to tell me... I would listen. Until then, I'll just ponder the idea that Mary carried Jesus in her womb for an extra term or two...
Thursday, December 08, 2005
La Concepción Immaculada
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7 comments:
after posting, realized i had some bad math of my own. 17 plus 365 is not 385. but rather 382 days.
For one who is concieved by the holy spirit, can we assume it would take him the whole nine months to develop?!
dude, the feast of the immaculate conception is in honor of Mary's immaculate conception not Christ's. Just so's you know.
December 08, 2005
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Old Calendar: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." — Catechism of the Catholic Church
and so i am enlightened. where i would i be without you thea? thats what i get for not researching my catholic holidays. and for not being reverent.
for one living in a catholic country, i unfortunately still historically and catechismically challenged.
i´ll try to give my opinion, but you have to excuse my english!! :(
what i know is that the original birth of jesus was about august, (that explain the 9 months), and was moved to the 25th of december because it was the celtic celebration of the sun king (or whatever), the same as st john´s day is in the solstice of summer, and all soul´s day is in the solstice of winter (celtic celebrations).
Romans, instead of cancelling this pagan parties, covered up with cristian celebrations to win more devout persons (they were smart, didn´t they?). That´s my opinion, i don´t know if you´re going to understand any single word here, let me know! ;)
Una celabracion de la Virgin es un otra razon para celebrar y recibir dulces!!! Que bueno! "Oh Gloria, Oh Gloria Oh Virgin Maria,purifica mi voz Oh Virgin Maria............." :-)
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