Sandro Botticelli: Annunciation ( 1489) Metropolitan Museum New York

” Maria durch ein Dornwald ging”

Today, December 8th is the feast of  of ” Immaculate Conception” according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without a stain – or without original sin. This is a dogma of the Catholic church and I think it is widely misunderstood. It has nothing to do with the virgin birth, but all with acknowledging the mother of god as being filled with grace from the start – or as an fully enlightened being.  Where I live this is still a public holiday.