guanophore;2249188:
He does not “need” us, but he has chosen to depend upon us. we are his feet, His hands, His voice in the world. The Teachings of the Apostles are that Mary was conceived without sin. That is how God chose to do it. I can’t say I understand it either, frankly, the proposal you make seems like it would work the same way.
This is exactly why Catholics say that Mary is our life and our hope. She has overcome, and is sitting down with the Father.
She has demonstrated what can be for all of us.
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Wrong! The Apostles taught fulfilled Scripture in Jesus Christ. There are no writings from the Apostles saying that Mary was conceived without sin. It is the catholic religion that put Mary there, not Jesus. Mary was simply a sinner saved by the grace of her divine Son.
This is what I call lack of trying at least to understand Catholic doctrine. We do not expect you to agree but you like every other
Protestants often say our intepretation is erroneous.
No, my friend. Catholic intepret Scripture what is called typology. That is the concept that NT revelation is hidden in the Old, and OT is revealed in the new.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is based on Traditions handed down unto us by Patristic sources and Scripture.
Here is an outlook on Scripture regarding the Immaculate Conception.
Luke 1:28 - “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” These are the words spoken by God and delivered to us by the angel Gabriel (who is a messenger of God). Thus, when Catholics recite this verse while praying the Rosary, they are uttering the words of God.
Luke 1:28 - also, the phrase “full of grace” is translated from the Greek word “kecharitomene.” This is a unique title given to Mary, and suggests a perfection of grace from a past event. Mary is not just “highly favored.” She has been perfected in grace by God. “Full of grace” is only used to describe one other person - Jesus Christ in John 1:14.
Luke 1:38 - Mary’s fiat is “let it be done to me according to thy word.” Mary is the perfect model of faith in God, and is worthy of our veneration.
From Patristic Sources:
II. Mary’s Immaculate Conception
“He was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle was exempt from putridity and corruption.” Hippolytus, Orations Inillud, Dominus pascit me (ante A.D. 235).
“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(A.D. 244).
“Let woman praise Her, the pure Mary.” Ephraim, Hymns on the Nativity, 15:23 (A.D. 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 (A.D. 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 (ante AD 373).
“Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” Ambrose, Sermon 22:30 (A.D. 388).
“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] (A.D.415).
“As he formed her without my stain of her own, so He proceeded from her contracting no stain.” Proclus of Constantinople, Homily 1 (ante A.D. 446).
Here is a source where I got it from. There is nothing wrong with the belief in the Immaculate Conception. If seem to me that people who do not understand this doctrine is because they don’t believe that God who created all things out of nothing, can create a woman, who will be the Mother of the Word of God can create her and perserved her from all sins, and kept her a virgin all her life. My friend, with God nothing is impossible with God. Mary’s being without sin is God’s doing. Not us. It was not invited. If you want to want to argue with this you can take it up with God himself when you go to the next life.
scripturecatholic.com/blessed_virgin_mary.html