Both Justin Martyr and Irenaeus made statements of implicit faith in the Immaculate Conception by drawing the Eve and Mary (New Eve) parallel. Justyn Martyr was the first to make this parallelism, and Irenaeus was influenced by him.
“He became man by the Virgin, in order that the disobedience which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same manner in which it derived its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, having conceived the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God; and she replied, ‘Be it unto me according to your word.’ And by her He has been born…and by whom God destroys both the serpent and those angels and men (offspring) who are like him; but works deliverance from death to those who repent of their wickedness and believe upon him.”
Justin Martyr, ‘Dialogue with Trypho, 100’ [A.D.155]
“By disobeying, Eve became the cause of death for herself and for the whole human race. In the same way, Mary, though she also had a husband, was still a virgin, and by obeying, she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race…”
Irenaeus, ‘Against Heresies, 3:22’ [c.A.D. 180]
In accord with Sacred Tradition, Origen draws the same parallel between Eve and Mary, the New Eve, by focussing on the purity of the Blessed Virgin.
“And I think it in harmony with reason that Jesus (the New Adam) was the first fruit among men of the purity which consists of chastity, and Mary (the New Eve) among women; for if it were not pious to ascribe to any other than to her the first-fruit of virginity.”
Origen, ‘Commentary on Matthew, 10:17’ [A.D. 244]
“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]
Origen believed that Mary was a holy virgin who had to overcome personal faults such as vanity (Homily on Luke 17, 6-7).
Please elaborate on how Irenaeus and Origen had major disagreements with regard to the Virgin Mary. What documents can you provide to support your claim? Still keep in mind that the teachings of individual Church Fathers do not constitute official Church doctrines. Individual theological speculation on the part of individuals, including the Pope outside his Office, at a given instant is fallible in nature. Aquinas was wrong when he rejected the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, but he was free to piously dissent, since this teaching was not yet declared dogma in his life time.
The fall of man was brought about by Adam and Eve’s intent to reject the will of God. It was no accident. But God did not intend that they should sin. If he did, then our first parents would have had to be pre-programmed to sin, and so they could not have been morally responsible for their disobedient act. It was not necessary that Adam and Eve should sin, but their fall from grace made it necessary for us to be saved. It was not necessary that Mary should sin, but God’s grace was sufficient for her to fully co-operate with God’s will by her free consent. She had the power to reject God’s helping grace, but instead she refused to be mastered by the devil and succumb to the slavery of sin. Mary was at complete enmity with the serpent and his offspring together with Jesus who had a human nature just like hers.
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