On December 8th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under her title of “Immaculate Conception”, Mary was named the Patroness of America in 1846 by the US Bishops.
“Immaculate Conception” (c.1680) Murillo skillfully combines symbols from both the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption to convey Mary’s purity and heavenly exaltation. Symbols of the Immaculate Conception include the crescent moon under her feet, referencing Revelation 12:1 and her triumph over sin; lilies, symbolizing her purity and perpetual virginity; and roses, representing her spiritual beauty and divine love. The elements drawn from the Assumption include Mary’s upward, ascending pose, the bright light or divine radiance surrounding her, and the palm frond carried by a cherub, symbolizing her victory over death and her glorification in heaven. Together, these elements express a unified image of Mary as both the sinless Mother of God and the Queen of Heaven