Many people, including Catholics, are confused about the Immaculate Conception. Some think that it refers to when Christ was conceived in Mary’s womb without the involvement of a human father (however, that is the Incarnation). Others believe that it refers to Mary being conceived in the same manner as Jesus (but that is not right either, for Mary was conceived by natural means).
Instead, the Immaculate Conception refers to how Mary was conceived without Original Sin. That is, not only was Mary sinless throughout her life, but she had been freed from Original Sin since conception. Original Sin is the inherent nature or sinful disposition with which we are all born as a result of Adam’s first transgression.
In Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX defines the Immaculate Conception, making it Church dogma: “We declare…that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception…was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful.”
There are several misconceptions surrounding this belief. One is that Mary’s immaculate status was necessary so that Original Sin was not passed on to Christ, but this is not true. Instead, her purity is a result of Christ’s redemption of man, as well as a sign of God’s love for Mary and His anticipation of her accepting His will.
Other arguments include that this dogma is not explicitly stated in Scripture. This is the objection from Sola Scriptura (the belief that doctrine should come from the Bible alone). Some refer to the line in Scripture that states “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). If this is true, then how could the Immaculate Conception be valid?
Church teaching and exegetical (or critical) reading reveals that God has made exceptions, and evidence for Mary’s sinlessness is found within the Scriptures. For example, the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary begins with the words, “Hail Mary, full of grace.” Kecharitomene, or “full of grace” indicates that this state of being free from sin is a characteristic of Mary and is continual—thus present since her conception.
On another note, some are puzzled over whether Mary would need a Savior as a stainless woman. The answer is yes: Mary, too, needed a Savior. Yet God gave her a special grace not granted to any other. The following analogy might help: a man is walking on the street and falls into a deep pit, out of which someone pulls him; whereas a woman is walking the same path, but just as she is about to fall into the pit, a saving hand keeps her from falling at all. So it is with Mary.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated every December 8, reminds all the faithful that Mary is the most perfect creature, the New Eve, and the New Ark of the Covenant—more willing and able to come to our need than any other saint.
Featured image: The Virgin in Prayer by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato
Lourdes Macaspac, graduate of the class of 2021, wrote for The Torch as a C101 writer during her first three years and as a Faith Feature Columnist during her senior year. At BC, she majored in a bunch of things, enjoyed giving her time to service, and cared greatly for her friends. Through the fleeting sweet and sometimes chaotic moments, she rediscovered the meaning of her life: sanctity.
- What Is True Love? - February 28, 2022
- Thanksgiving Reflections and the Single Life - December 25, 2021
- My Good Friend, St. Therese - November 2, 2021