God chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. (Eph 1:3-6, 11-12)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120821.cfm
There is a divine purpose for each one of us. Today’s feast reminds us how that divine purpose was fulfilled in the life of the Virgin Mary, who was prepared from the first moment of her existence to become the mother of the Son of God. In Colombia for the feast of the Immaculate Conception we have the tradition of Las Velitas (the Little Candles). People light candles in front of their homes lighting the way of the Virgin Mary.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8
