Fast Fact  - The Immaculate Conception

 

Defense of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

 

     

    The Virgin Mary was conceived without the stain of Original Sin. It is important to remember that the Immaculate Conception refers to Mary’s conception, not her Son. Also, that it does not mean that she was born from a Virgin Birth. Only Christ was born without an earthly father.

    (The hyperlinks will open an online NAS bible to the chapter referenced)

  • Scripture

    • Major Texts

    Prophesied in Genesis 3:15 – "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

    Recognized as fulfilled in the New Testament:

    Jesus’ mother is called "woman" – John 2:4 and John 19:26

    Mary is called "full of grace" - Luke 1:28

    Elizabeth sees both Mary and her child as equally blessed – Luke 1:42

  • History / Tradition
    • "This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God, is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one." (Origen, Homily 1 written AD 244).
     
    "Let woman praise Her, the pure Mary." (Ephraim, Hymns on the Nativity, 15.23 written in AD 370).
     
    "Thou alone and thy Mother are in all things fair, there is no flaw in thee and no stain in thy Mother." (Ephraem, Nisibene Hymns, 27:8 written in AD 370).
     
    "O noble Virgin, truly you are greater than any other greatness. For who is your equal in greatness, O dwelling place of God the Word? To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin? You are greater than them all O Covenant, clothed with purity instead of gold! You are the Ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides." (Athanasius, Homily of the Papyrus of Turin, 71,216 written ca AD 373).
     
    "We must except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin." (Augustine, Nature and Grace,4 2[36] written in AD 415).
     

  • Summary

    • Mary is the New Eve conceived pure and without the stain of Adam and Eve’s Sin. She retained this purity throughout her life (CCC 490-493)

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