Mary Immaculate: Patroness of Seminary

It has been a long-standing tradition at Sacred Heart for the archbishop of Detroit to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with his seminarians. This year was no different. Most Rev. Allen Vigneron met with Sacred Heart's 116 seminarians for a private conference at 10:00 AM on December 8, followed by the celebration of solemn Mass in the main chapel during which the archbishop delivered the homily. He then joined the men for informal conversation at a hearty luncheon.

It is not well known the patronal feast day of the seminary is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the day the universal Church honors Mary being conceived in the womb of her mother, Anne, free of Original Sin. This day was chosen because the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls in June, after spring term has ended and the seminarians have dispersed for the summer. Another important reason the day was chosen: to continually point out the intercessory role that Mary, Mother of the Church and Mediatrix of All Graces, plays in the life of every seminarian.

Two other ceremonial events were linked this year to the December 8 feast day. Five seminarians took the opportunity after Mass to totally consecrate themselves to the Blessed Mother, according to the method of the French Marian disciple St. Louis de Montfort. The formal consecration ceremony, performed in a side chapel dedicated to Mary, has become a feast day tradition for the past decade or so.

After the Mass, as well, Archbishop Vigneron, joined by seminarians, faculty members, and staff, processed outside and blessed the refurbished vintage statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It had been installed before the main entranceway in November after being in storage for nearly thirty years. (See related stories.)