immaculate Conception QUESTION from Philip Viera October 28, 1999 What is the immaculate conception? Is it when Mary conceived Jesus thriough the power of the holy spirit or is it when Mary was conceived by her mother?
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius on November 5, 1999 Dear Mr. Viera:
The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary's conception, not Jesus.
It is the dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary was perserved, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of God omnipotent and because of the merits of Jesus Christ the Savior of the human race, free from all stain of original sin (Pope Pius IX, declaring the dogma, December 8, 1854
The sinlessness of Mary, however, had been taught by the Father of the Church, and the doctors of the Church throughout the centuries. The Church Fathers often appealed to texts of Scripture such as Genesis 3:15 and Luke 1:28.
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