When and why is the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary the Patroness of the United States of America?
On May 13, 1846 this decision was made by the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore,
"With enthusiastic acclaim and with unanimous approval and consent, the Fathers (of the Council) have chosen the Blessed Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, as the Patroness of the United States of America."
There were several bits of evidence that made sense for devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. In US history it was believed that Christopher Columbus' flagship was named Santa Maria de Concepcion. Also, he named an island La Concepcion. Father John Carroll became the first bishop in the United States and he was consecrated on August 15, 1791, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As bishop in his pastoral letter, Bishop Carroll wrote, "I shall only add this my earnest request, that to the exercise of the sublimest virtues, faith, hope and charity, you will join a fervent and well-regulated devotion to the Holy Mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; that you will place great confidence in her in all your necessities. Having chosen her the special patroness of this Diocese, you are placed, of course, under her powerful protection; and it becomes your duty to be careful to deserve its continuance by a zealous imitation of her virtues and a reliance on her motherly superintendence."
The reason for this acclamation in 1846 was written in several early U.S. documents and explained, "to gratify a pious desire pervading the whole United States." It was later that the bishops of the US sent a letter to the Pope declaring the devotion of the faithful citizens, "We take this occasion to communicate to you the determination, unanimously adopted by us, to place ourselves and all entrusted to our charge throughout the United States, under the special patronage of the Holy Mother of God, whose Immaculate Conception is venerated by the piety of the faithful throughout the Catholic Church. By the aid of her prayers, we entertain the confident hope that we will be strengthened to perform the arduous duties of our ministry, and that you will be enabled to practice the sublime virtues, of which her life presents the most perfect example."
Within a year Pope Pius IX sent a response to the bishops of the United States, "our Holy Father Pius IX most willingly confirmed the wishes of the Council that has selected the Blessed Virgin, conceived without sin, as the patroness of the Church in the United States of America" (Letter of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith).
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX communicated ,"the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin." This had been believed for a long time in the Catholic Church, and now it was made a dogma of the Catholic Faith.
Confirming Pope Pius IX's declaration was the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France. She appeared to St. Bernadette and announced herself as, "I am the Immaculate Conception" in 1858.
The early colonists left for the New World in search of freedom from political and religious persecution. They came to find a new world away from poverty, wars, famine and disease. Missionaries came to convert the natives to Catholicism. The new colonies were built on hope and a strong faith in God and a love for the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary who was conceived without sin.
Let us pray for our Blessed Virgin Mother, Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to intercede for our country; for us to return to the beliefs and moral values that our forefathers lived and to whom they consecrated us. "O, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
God bless the United States of America!
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