Dear Marshall,
How positively sensational to have you on board, Friend in Christ!
How have you been?
The Feast of the Conception of St Anne is, in fact, the Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.
This is also the most ancient title for this feast that first appeared in England in the seventh century as the "Conception of St Anne."
The Anglican Church still keeps that title for the feast of December 8th.
When the Roman Church wished to underline its doctrine that Mary was "preserved from Original Sin" aka the Immaculate Conception, the name was changed to the "Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary."
The titles can either refer to the fact that the Virgin Mary was St. Anne's daughter and that this was therefore St Anne's Conception of Mary, or else, there is the reference to the particular grace imparted to the Virgin Mary at the moment of her Conception in the Womb of her mother, St Anne.
(If there is anything else I can make crystal clear and easier to understand, just let me know . . .).
But the ancient title, once used throughout the entire Church, East and West, is "Conception of St Anne."
Alex
