Mary Conceived in her soul before she conceived in her body

Today, July 16, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel we are first invited to reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Galatians (3:22 – – 4:7), entitled "Through faith we are the sons and heirs of God". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope. The Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the spiritual mother, protector, and model of all who seek to follow Christ. Mount Carmel is significant because it is the biblical mountain where the prophet Elijah defended the worship of the one true God and where later Christian hermits formed the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (more commonly known as the Carmelites), dedicating themselves to prayer under Mary's patronage. The memorial reminds the Church that, like Mary, Christians are called to listen to God's word, trust Him completely, and live lives of prayer and holiness. It also highlights the Brown Scapular as a sacramental that symbolizes Mary's maternal protection and our commitment to imitate her virtues, always leading us to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Saint Leo the Great (c. 400–461) was Pope from 440 to 461 and is one of only three popes honored with the title "the Great." A gifted theologian and courageous leader, he defended the true faith during a time of doctrinal controversy and political instability. His greatest contribution was clearly teaching that Jesus Christ is one divine Person with two complete natures, fully God and fully man The essential message of today's "treasure" entitled "Mary Conceived in Her Soul Before She Conceived in Her "Body," a sermon by Leo the Great, is that Mary first welcomed Christ by faith before she conceived Him physically. By freely accepting God's word at the Annunciation with her wholehearted "yes," Mary opened her heart completely to God's will. Her interior faith and obedience made her the perfect disciple even before she became the Mother of Jesus. The main takeaway is that every Christian is called to imitate Mary's faith by first receiving Christ into the heart. Saint Leo teaches that true discipleship begins with listening to God's word, believing it, and putting it into practice. Just as Mary conceived Christ spiritually through faith before she bore Him in the flesh, we too "conceive" Christ within us when we trust Him, obey His will, and allow His grace to transform our lives. Mary's example reminds us that faith is the foundation of all authentic Christian living. The teaching in our first reading from Galatians is that through faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism, we become adopted children of God and heirs to His promises. Saint Paul explains that Christ has freed us from the bondage of sin and the Law, making us members of God's family. Because we are His sons and daughters, God sends the Holy Spirit into our hearts, enabling us to call Him "Abba, Father." The passage reminds us that our identity is no longer that of slaves but of beloved children and heirs of God's kingdom, called to live in the freedom, dignity, and love that come from our relationship with Him.