Blogger Priest

All debate would be laid to rest when the consensus of the Church was confirmed with a papal declaration in 1854 by Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus:

“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of Her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”

Those born in sin must struggle with such truths, both about Jesus and Mary. Even if we repent and abide in the forgiveness of God, sin still has had its impact upon us. Both in terms of concupiscence and memory we must live with what we have done and struggle to avoid future sin. We can know God’s mercy but cannot escape the fact that our sins played a part in the murder of God’s Son. Believers may all the more become fatalistic and complacent about their sinfulness. How many times have we heard someone acclaim, “I am no saint!” The desire to be holy as Mary was holy is frequently absent. Although the apparition in Lourdes in 1854 is within the jurisdiction of private revelation, many judge the Virgin Mary’s message to Bernadette Soubirous as a heavenly confirmation of the dogmatic title. She says, “I am the immaculate conception!”

Filed under: Mary, Uncategorized |