The [[Roman Catholic]] doctrine of the '''Immaculate Conception of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]]''', as defined by [[Pope]] [[Pius IX]] in 1854, states that "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by [[God]], in view of the merits of [[Jesus Christ]], the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on 8th 8 December.
The Immaculate Conception is often erroneously linked to the Conception of Jesus rather than Mary. Jesus would have had no need for an Immaculate Conception, assuming his deity. According to this doctrine, Mary, being human, was given the grace of perfection before her birth so as to serve as the vessel of the Lord.