Immaculate Conception Question

[garysibio]

This might be one of those “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” questions but here goes.

Did Mary never have original sin - was she preserved from receiving it at all - or did she receive it and get redeemed from it at the exact same moment? I thought it was the latter but someone said something on a Catholic radio program that made me wonder.

 

[Kopratic]

She was saved from it from the moment of her conception, but she never received it. Mary has always been without sin, including original sin.

 

[1ke]

This might be one of those “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” questions but here goes.

Did Mary never have original sin - was she preserved from receiving it at all - or did she receive it and get redeemed from it at the exact same moment? I thought it was the latter but someone said something on a Catholic radio program that made me wonder.

We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved** immaculate from all stain of original sin**, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful.

—Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854

 

[garysibio]

Thanks all

 

[Jozefo]

Thanks all

I just saw this question, and I found the answers fascinating.Preserved from original sin from conception suggests to me that it was a singular, plenary act of Grace by God to do this. Otherwise she would have been conceived in sin. That’s amazing to me.

The way I see it, mankind is morally bankrupt, having inherited Adam’s poverty of righteousness. And God could have chosen to forgive the sin debt that Mary would have inherited from Adam. But God preserved Mary from that fate. That means from conception, Mary was entitled to all the blessings entitled to Adam, right? She was conceived without sin.

Great question, and one worth pondering.

 

[ezeekl]

Ask any protestant if they really believe what is written in Matthew 7:9-11. They will, in all probability say, Yes. Mt 7:9-11 says this:

“[9]Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?[10] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?[11] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9 -11

So ask them if they really think that God would really give to them, sinners as they are, what they ask for. They will undoubtedly say yes. Then ask then how they can believe that God will give to sinners bread and not a stone or fish not a serpent yet give to His only begotten Son, who is sinless, a mother who is a sinner? In essence Jesus receives a stone or a serpent for a mother while the protestant sinners receive bread and fish… Would not Jesus rate the very best mother that the Father could provide?