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oly Church,  our  Mother,  purposely  gathered into the  season  of  Advent  everything  which might contribute  to  assist  us  in  preparing  for  the coming of  the  Redeemer. Purity of  heart  is  the most necessary  and  helpful  requirement  for  receiving God  worthily,  and  for  participating  in  the fruits of  our  Redemption  through  Christ. To remind us  of  this,  Holy  Church  celebrates  the feast of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the  Blessed Virgin Mary,  this  primary  feast  of  purity,  in Advent.

The Church,  moreover,  intends  to  remind  us that  the  coming  of  Christ,  our  promised  Redeemer, depended  on  the  consent  of  the  Blessed Virgin. The Redeemer  could  not  appear  before she was  born  of  whom  He  was  to  be  born. The aurora must  precede  the  rising  sun. Thus also Mary, the  spiritual  aurora,  had  to  be  conceived and born  before  the  appearance  of  the  Sun  of Justice  in  this  world.

N Mary  appeared  the  woman  who  was  to crush  the  serpent's  head,  who  was  to  repair by her  willing  co-operation  with  God's  designs  the damage wrought  by  the  disobedience  of  our  first parents, and  who  was  to  become  our  mother  and mighty advocate  with  God.