The Immaculate Reception Reflects the Immaculate Conception

On December 23, 1972 football player Franco Harris made a stunning play that was amazing enough to be labeled: “the Immaculate Reception.” Our Lady, The Blessed Mother, Mary, is of course referred to as “the Immaculate Conception.” The Immaculate Conception feast day is celebrated every December 8. Mary is the patron saint of the United States of America.

Football has always included the culture of its players, many who happened to be Catholics. Since culture is a reflection of the morals and attitudes of a society, the fact that this event was coined after Mary's immaculate beginning tells us much about Mary's role in the United States and the American continent.

Harris' “Immaculate Reception” took place on the last play of a playoff game. The fans' hope to win the game was fading as quarterback Terry Bradshaw barely got the ball in the air. Then the football was deflected by a collision between Oakland Raiders player Tatum and Pittsburgh Steelers player Fuqua. Harris, being at the right place at the right time, made a low scooping catch of the football and ran it in for the game winning touchdown. The touchdown changed the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers and began their turnaround from a failing sports team to a Super Bowl winning Dynasty.

The nickname for this football event, “the Immaculate Reception,” stuck.

Of course the same may be said for the failing human race. We were a losing proposition in the game of eternity. Then along came Mary, and God deflected original sin from her soul. Mary scooped up a failing humanity into her arms and won the game of salvation. That's why Catholics revere her so much.

Now, we all know it was her son Jesus, the Christ, who died for us and rose from the dead and will be returning as our King. However, no one can deny the role Mary played in turning around our team humanity. We have to acknowledge the fortunate and game-changing event in human history--Mary's stunning beginning.

In this season of Advent where we prepare our souls for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is fittingly celebrated. God injected a human soul with the original innocence and resistance to sin that the first human beings enjoyed before the fall. Through God's grace, Mary was able to unite her will to God's so our Savior could arrive on Earth.

Which brings us to the feast of the Annunciation, which is when Mary said “yes” to God's will to bring Jesus to us and save us from our sins. This feast of Mary is celebrated every March 25—nine months before December 25.

As football fans never lose faith in their team, God never lost faith in humanity. We have a firm hope in God's promise to us that we can and will be saved from the horror of sin. Jesus came into time and space to give us a wonderful victory.

As with football's Immaculate Reception, when one stunning and unexpected event turned around the fortunes of a long-suffering team, bringing dignity and hope to them, so too does Mary's Immaculate Conception grant to all of us, her children, our original dignity and hope of salvation.