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Preparatory Prayer  (p.  51).

arly in  the  Christian  era  the  feast  of  Mary's immaculate  conception  was  observed  in  several countries. St. Anselm, Bishop  of  Canterbury, introduced  it  in  England. A great  number of Popes  favored  the  doctrine  of  Mary's  absolute sinlessness, and  the  adversaries  of  the  Immaculate Conception  were  bidden  to  be  silent  and  not publicly assert  or  defend  their  view. In 1477, Pope Sixtus  IV  prescribed  the  feast  of  the  Immaculate Conception  to  be  observed  in  the  whole Church, and  made  it  obligatory  on  priests  to recite  the  special  canonical  office  and  to  use  the Mass formula  published  for  the  purpose. In 1846, the  bishops  of  the  United  States  assembled in plenary  council  in  Baltimore  elected  the  Blessed Virgin under  the  title  of  her  immaculate  conception Patroness  of  the  Church  in  their  country.

Finally, Pope  Pius  IX,  after  consulting  with the bishops  throughout  the  world,  and  having implored the  Holy  Ghost  for  His  guidance  in prayer  and  fasting,  promulgated,  on  December  8, 1854, the  dogma  which  teaches  that  the  Blessed Virgin Mary  was  in  her  conception,  by  a  special