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| Immaculate Conception Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1678 |
However, the homily at Mass today was quite wonderful. All about how Mary was conceived in the usual manner but given the gift of grace from her first moment of creation. She was conceived without Original Sin on her soul because God wanted her to be the perfect (Immaculate) vessel from which would be born the Son of God, the Savior of the world. God loved her and blessed her from that first moment.
What a wonderful grace, indeed!! "Hail, full of grace!" said the angel, "The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Luke chapter one tells us that the angel declared her Immaculate state. And, if you believe the words of Revelation, it is stated clearly there also. 19 Then the sanctuary of God in heaven opened, and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Then came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake and violent hail.1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (chs 11&12 NJB)
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| Immaculate Conception Peter Paul Rubens, 1628 |
Also, when we read John chapter 19 we see how Jesus gave His mother to John. "Behold your mother. Woman behold your son." Jesus gave Mary to be the mother of the Apostle and by extension of the mother of his brothers and sisters. Note what it says in Revelation: 17 Then the dragon was enraged with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, who obey God's commandments and have in themselves the witness of Jesus. Why was the dragon so enraged with the woman? Maybe, just maybe, because the Church teaching is correct--Mary was untouched by the sin that he had helped bring into the world (Original Sin). Maybe because he could not corrupt her (Mary's personal sinlessness). The Church Traditions about Mary, which date back to the first century of the Church, might just have some meaning after all, eh? This is why we call her our mother--Jesus gave His mother to be ours ("on the rest of her children, who obey God's commandments and have in themselves the witness of Jesus"). When looked at in the proper light, the light of Scripture and Tradition, it is pretty clear!
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| Immaculate Conception Francisco Pacheco, 17th c. |
Think about it.
Some Reading and Resources for those interested:
*National Catholic Register Article, "8 Things You Need to Know About the Immaculate Conception" by Jimmy Akin.
*The Immaculate Conception (An Explanation of the Dogma) New Advent/Catholic Encyclopedia
*The Immaculate Conception explained Just for Catholics
*The Immaculate Conception, devotional Catholic Harbor of Faith and Morals
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