No Macchiato.

Mary - always ready with open arms, carrying blessings!

Where did the word Immaculata come from? Why does St. Maximilian make such a "big deal" (this is a serious understatement) of the title? 

I've already given it away. It is not a "title."  It is a name, because it identifies specifically and definitively who she - the Mother of God - is in her essence and therefore the eyes of God.  She's the one, without stain or blemish or the slighest odor of sin. She is the Immaculate. 

This is what makes the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception such a big deal. It means that she was named (as we all are) by God from the moment of her conception. She was simultaneously redeemed and purified by God's saving grace, and brought into the world through the love of Ann and Joachim. Amazing. 

In the beautiful "Tota Pulchra," there is a line that sings "et macula originalis non est in te." 

"Macula" doesn't mean sin, it means stain. Let's break it down a bit more:

Im - is similar to the English "un." It means "not" or "without." 

Macula - means  stain. An authentic, italian macchiato is literally a shot of espresso "stained" with the slightest bit of milk. Starbucks has it all "wrong" judging by Italian (and Latin) standards. 

Therefore, Immaculata means "without stain," not even the slightest - not at conception and not afterwards. 

We'll talk more about her name this week. We'll answer questions like: Isn't God the only one who is really Immaculate? Why do we celebrate the feast on December 8? St. Thomas didn't teach the Immaculate Conception, I thought he was smart? And more... much more. 

The novena to the Immaculate Conception can be found here: www.kolbemission.org/en 

Listen to "Tota Pulchra" here: www.facebook.com/FKMissionaries