Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of Portugal, Spain, Brazil and several other countries. She is also known as the patroness of the United States under the title of Immaculate Conception. His feast is celebrated on December 8th.
The story of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception dates back to the 15th century, when the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was debated by theologians. In 1483, King D. João II of Portugal ordered that the Feast of the Immaculate Conception be celebrated throughout the country. The king himself was a strong advocate of the doctrine and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1646, Pope Innocent X officially recognized the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and declared it a holy day of obligation for the entire Catholic Church. This helped spread devotion to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception across the world.
The prayer of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is a popular Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here is an example of the prayer:
O God, who through the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary prepared a worthy home for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of Your Son You preserved her from all stain, so You would also allow us, purified through Your intercession, we would come to You. By the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
