CONCEPTION, Immaculate, of the Holy Virgin, a feast estab-
lished in honour of the holy Virgin, particularly with regard to
her having been conceived and born immaculate, or without
original sin. It is held in the Roman Catholic Church on the
8th of December. The immaculate conception is the great
head of controversy between the Scotists and Thomists, the
former maintaining and the latter impugning it. The con-
troversy is at present (1854) under the consideration of the
pope, and will in all probability be settled by the issuing of a
bull in favour of the doctrine. This feast is also celebrated
in the Greek Church on the same day, under the title of the
Conception of St Anne (the mother of Mary).