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.
On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Catholics celebrate what they believe to be Mary’s freedom from original sin as the mother of God. 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.”
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 forever altered the course of humanity. Nine months later, God became man when Mary gave birth to a son, Jesus, who would go on to offer his life on the Cross for the redemption of sins and the salvation of the world.
For nearly 250 years, Mary has played a distinct role in our great American story. In 1792, less than a decade after the end of the Revolutionary War, Bishop John Carroll — the first Catholic bishop in the United States and cousin of signer of the Declaration of Independence Charles Carroll — consecrated our young Nation to the mother of Christ. 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. Every year, Catholics celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in New Orleans on January 8 in memory of Mary’s assistance in saving the city.
Over the ages, 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. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located in the heart of our Nation’s Capital, honors Mary as the largest church in North America. The timeless hymn “Ave Maria” remains beloved by countless citizens. She has inspired the establishment of countless churches, hospitals, and schools. Nearly 50 American colleges and universities bear Mary’s name.
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. 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.
More than a century ago, in the midst of World War I, Pope Benedict XV, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, commissioned 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.
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.
From the White House
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Monsignor Eric Barr posted the Trump-Mary story on Facebook and got many comments, including a couple of negative ones. Here are two of his responses to the critics:
Laurie Koopman he has owned it and it comes from his office and you have to admit it is a beautiful statement that we would not have gotten from either President Obama or President Biden. So don’t let TDS keep you from appreciating a really good affirmation of Catholic spirituality from him. even people we don’t like can have the best intentions.
Bill Dorgan give yourself some peace and don’t bother reading my posts
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See the negative reaction from Reddit followers here.
I’m a Trump supporter, but this declaration is just stupid and unnecessary. Does anyone really believe Trump gave this declaration himself? A staffer wrote it and he or the autopen signed it. Don’t fall for the pandering. Be objective and intelligent. Don’t let people play you.
You don’t understand. This is not a personal statement of religious faith from a Catholic politician elected as an American President. This is an important acknowledgement of our Nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage, in the Biblical roots of many Americans who founded this Nation, a heritage that has been a guiding light for many, including many of America’s great leaders, throughout American history. Mary is the holy Mother of Jesus Christ, and deserves recognition. America officially celebrates Christmas and Easter– dates of Christ’s holy birth and death– as National Holidays– each year. This is not a political statement– it is recognition of Christ’s holy Mother. Several of our former Presidents– including President Ronald Reagan, in recent history– have made outstanding speeches on Christmas, honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. Bible reading, school prayer, and religious Christmas celebrations, were once customary in American public schools– and many political and educational leaders have been seeking to re-establish this, not as a religious practice– but as a valuable and importsnt part of our American heritage.
A Mass was offered at the White House by a Catholic priest yesterday, Dec. 8, 2025, in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All American Catholics should be very proud! There are today, about 60 million Catholics who are Americans, nearly a quarter of America’s population. Catholics are the largest single religious group in America.
Given the Muslim advances in this country thanks to Democratic immigration policies, methinks such an affirmation is timely and necessary. Bravo Trump. Keep schooling the bishops–or shaming them–until they develop a backbone and make such statements on their own.
5/6 people raised Catholic have left the faith. of the 60 million you state, only about 10 million attend weekly Sunday Mass.
America has been growing in population during the post-WWII era and beyond– the Catholic population in America has also increased. But the percentage of practicing Catholics has been sharply decreasing, since Vatican II. A recent report stated that of about 60 million American Catholics, only about 31%– 28-31 million of them — attend Sunday Mass, and perhaps daily Mass, too. In 1960, reportedly, about 75% of the 42+ million American Catholics attended Sunday Mass. About 55% of the then-50 million American Catholics in 1975, attended Sunday Mass.
And about 70% of those still attending Sunday Mass are Boomers, at least in my parish and in others I’ve visited. When the Boomers have all died, Catholic churches are going to be empty because the young people have left.
No, the Catholic Church will not die when the Boomers all die. There is a growing number of young orthodox Catholic families who have many children, and most are in homeschooling programs, and attend Cardinal Newman Society-endorsed, authentically Catholic colleges and universities. Some become priests and nuns. The rest tend to marry young, and have their own large Catholic families. This trend started right after the end of the Council, when the Catholic Church and its schools collapsed. They are the future of the Church.
Beware! All through the ages, the Catholic Church has gone through many ups and downs. At times, some of her clerical leaders have been corrupt. The Church is too vast, too connected to the world, and to world leaders and their agendas. Follow Christ and His teachings– and beware of any corrupt clerics. You will find all types of prominent clergy and laymen– holy and unholy– in the ancient, huge Catholic Church, always. The clerical leaders in the Vatican know all of this well, and it doesn’t bother them much — the Catholic Church will go on and on, regardless.
Those who are leaving the Church are leaving the Vatican II Mass. The Vatican II Mass is the Mass of failed parishes that close.
More on this article from Catholics for Catholics: https://cforc.com/2025/12/trump-first-us-president-to-issue-official-message-for-immaculate-conception/
The bishops may want to avoid positive comment for fear that they would be seen as being played by Trump like a fiddle. But to avoid positive comment is to serve notice that they are nothing more than angry curmudgeons. All in all, an interesting place the bishops are in. As men of God, I am sure they will come up with an appropriate response.
Why the extreme closeup pic? It’s unnerving
Apparently, in my Diocese, December 8 is not a Holy Day of Obligation.
Our Lady of Loreto on your Feast Day pray for us.
Things are so bad I can’t even recommend that fallen-away siblings and friends return to Mass or to parish community life. At least 80% of Catholic parishes are terrible — lousy liturgy, bad catechesis, poor preaching, and anemic community life — and I won’t recommend anything of bad quality to anyone because then I lose credibility. The Church has brought this on herself by failing to provide quality output. I don’t blame lapsed Catholics at all. I consider lapsing myself, things are so bad where I am.
For centuries, many devout Catholics have just gone to Mass, alone, and then lived their Christian life as best they could, during difficult times, on-their-own. You can pray and read the Scripture readings for Mass each day, say your Rosary, say parts of the Divine Office, go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, do good works, offer little penances, pray Novenas, do religious devotions, whatever you want to do. Ask God to guide you. Christ’s promises of Salvation are for all of His true followers, regardless of difficult circumstances.
The fallout from bad catechesis and wayward priests has hit me hard. My daughter’s best friend was having an “affair” with her parish priest when she was 17. This was in San Diego. Since then, my daughter has had a jaundiced relationship with the Church. Her innocence was also stolen because of it. I can’t even explain to her that he was just one bad priest, because she has tuned out. I’m just as bewildered, but at least I had a solid religious formation whereas our younger generations didn’t.
Was your daughter’s best friend female or male?
Did your daughter’s best friend make a report to the Diocese, and join other clerical sex abuse survivors in a big lawsuit? What a totally horrible thing! Even worse if the poor girl got pregnant— and worst of all— had an abortion! OMG!! When will all of this horrific clerical sex abuse ever end?
The Vatican II Mass is like a business that is called Vatican II Motors. Vatican II Motors builds cars that cost $80,000 and last only 1,000 miles. The only reason Vatican II Motors is still in business is because the government makes it illegal for anyone to compete against Vatican II Motors.
Reply to “M or F” – my daughter’s friend was female.
The priest then fled to his home country when he was about to be censured.
I was taking my daughter to her dance lessons and along the way she said she had to tell me something. She then blurted it out. I was so upset and incensed that I had to pull over to the side of the road. My daughter told me that a man would drop her friend at the mall where my daughter would meet her. She thought the man was the girl’s uncle. It was the priest. Her friend then told her that she loved the priest and they were “lovers”. I did everything in my power to counsel my daughter and to tell her that what the priest did was so wrong and immoral and that he had violated his vows. By that time he had been found out and the girl went into counseling. What that priest did also chipped away at my own faith.
Lots of things the church does today chip away at my faith.
Jesus wept