* February 7 – Blessed Pius IX, Pope of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception (d. 1878)  * The Blessed Virgin Mary herself confirmed this dogma  --- An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association February 7 – Blessed Pius IX, Pope of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception (d. 1878)  The Blessed Virgin Mary herself confirmed this dogma  Pope Pius IX was born in Senigallia, Italy, on May 13, 1792. He died at the Vatican on February 7, 1878, at the age of 85. His 31-year pontificate is the longest in the history of the papacy, after that of Peter, according to tradition. Pius IX is also the pope who proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the bull Ineffabilis Deus, published on December 8, 1854, Pius IX solemnly declared, by virtue of his apostolic authority, that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived free from original sin. This dogma of the Immaculate Conception is often confused with the virginal conception of Jesus at the Annunciation. Three years later, between February 11th and July 16, 1858, a young, illiterate girl from Lourdes called Bernadette Soubirous affirmed that she saw "a beautiful lady" in the small grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, France, who told her in the local Gascon Occitan dialect: "Que soi era Immaculada Concepciou." (I am the Immaculate Conception.) Pius IX also convened the first Vatican Council, which defined papal infallibility. He was declared "blessed" by the Catholic Church in 2000. The Mary of Nazareth Team www.mariedenazareth.com Bl. Pope Pius IX [Wikipedia] Let’s pray together  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 death. Amen.