At a celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at Herbert House in Freshfield, Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool reflected on Mary as “full of grace,” stressing that her holiness lay at the heart of God’s plan to redeem humanity. Speaking to the community, he linked the day’s readings to the enduring question of how evil and suffering entered the world, noting the Genesis account of disobedience and the human tendency to cast blame. Yet, he said, from the beginning God promised a Saviour who would conquer evil, a hope echoed in ancient legends and the unfolding of the Old Testament. The Archbishop explained that Mary, preserved from original sin, was chosen to bear Christ as the new Adam, and her titles in the traditional litany—such as Ark of the Covenant and Mystical Rose—highlight her perfection and role in salvation. He encouraged the faithful to trust in God’s grace, which can overcome human weakness, and to seek the freedom to respond more fully to God’s will in daily life.
