"There is some irony in the choice of Mary Immaculate as our patroness. One of the hallmarks of our society is self-reliance, getting the job done on your own, being independent and doing things your own way. The meaning of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception is that Mary was always totally dependent on God, that her mission in life was given to her, and that she never did anything on her own but always did things God's way."
"Mary Immaculate is our patroness. She speaks to us of God's initiative in her life and ours; she witnesses to the primacy of grace in her life and ours. She tells us, proud of our own initiatives, to do it God's way."