President Donald Trump gave a message Dec. 8 in honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, describing it as a day treasured by Catholic Americans and offering a reflection on the profound impact Our Lady has had on the country throughout its history.
“Today, I recognize every American celebrating December 8 as a Holy Day honoring the faith, humility, and love of Mary, mother of Jesus and one of the greatest figures in the Bible,” Trump said in the message published by the White House.
Citing the angel’s greeting to Mary in the Gospel of Luke, Trump noted that the Dec. 8 solemnity celebrates Catholic belief that Mary, as the mother of God, was born free from original sin.
“She first entered recorded history as a young woman when, according to Holy Scripture, the Angel Gabriel greeted her in the village of Nazareth with news of a miracle: ‘Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you,’ announcing that ‘you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus,’” Trump stated. “In one of the most profound and consequential acts of history, Mary heroically accepted God’s will with trust and humility: ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’”
“Mary’s decision,” the President said, “forever altered the course of humanity.”
Nine months after the Annunciation, Mary gave birth to Jesus, Who is both God and Man, Trump continued, adding that Christ “would go on to offer his life on the Cross for the redemption of sins and the salvation of the world.”
The President hailed Our Lady’s relationship to the U.S., recounting key moments in the nation’s history that are associated with her.
“For nearly 250 years, Mary has played a distinct role in our great American story,” he said.
He recalled how Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the country and a relative of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, consecrated the nation to the Blessed Mother in 1792.
“Less than a quarter-century later, Catholics attributed General Andrew Jackson’s stunning victory over the British in the climactic Battle of New Orleans to Mary,” he added. He noted that Catholics in New Orleans celebrate an annual Mass of Thanksgiving Jan. 8 “in memory of Mary’s assistance in saving the city.”
Throughout the years, he continued, “American legends like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Frances Xavier Cabrini, and Fulton Sheen, who spent their lives glorifying God in service to others, have held a deep devotion to Mary.”
Our Lady’s cultural footprint is widespread as well, as the President observed. He noted that the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., honors Our Lady and is the largest church on the continent, and that the hymn “Ave Maria” continues to be treasured by a countless number of citizens.
“She has inspired the establishment of countless churches, hospitals, and schools,” Trump continued, adding that almost 50 colleges and universities are named after her.
“And, just days from now, on December 12, Catholics in the United States and Mexico will celebrate the steadfast devotion to Mary that originated in the heart of Mexico — a place now home to the beautiful Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe — in 1531,” he said. “As we approach 250 years of glorious American Independence, we acknowledge and give thanks, with total gratitude, for Mary’s role in advancing peace, hope, and love in America and beyond our shores.”
Trump concluded by spotlighting the “Hail Mary” prayer and emphasizing the world’s continued need for Our Lady’s help in striving for peace.
He recalled how during World War I, Pope Benedict XV “requested and dedicated a majestic statue of Mary, Queen of Peace, bearing the infant Christ with an olive branch so that the Christian faithful would be encouraged to look to her example of peace by praying for a stop to the horrific slaughter. Just a few months later, World War I ended.”
“Today, we look to Mary once again for inspiration and encouragement as we pray for an end to war and for a new and lasting era of peace, prosperity, and harmony in Europe and throughout the world,” he said. “In her honor, and on a day so special to our Catholic citizens, we remember the sacred words that have brought aid, comfort, and support to generations of American believers in times of need:
“Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
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