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Today, the Church universal celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Ever Virgin Mary. “Thou art all beautiful and the original stain is not in you” (Song of Songs 4:7).
The doctrine of the Early Church Fathers
- St. Ambrose: “Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled, but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free from every stain of sin.” (Exhortation to Virginity)
- St. Augustine: “We must except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I dare not raise any question when it touches the subject of sin, out of honor to the Lord. For from Him we know what fullness of grace was conferred upon Mary” (On Nature and Grace)
- St. Ephraim the Syrian: “Only you, Jesus, and Your Mother, are more beautiful than everything. For there is no blemish in you, nor any stains upon Your Mother.” (Hymns on the Nativity)
- St. Cyril of Alexandria: “Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, sacred treasure of the world, the unfailing light, born immaculate.” (*Homily IV, on the Mother of God)
Sacred Scripture testifies – “She shall crush the head of the serpent” (Genesis 3:15) – “Hail, full of grace (kecharitomene), the Lord is with thee” (Luke 1:28) – Mary, the New Eve – Mary, the Ark of the Covenant
In her apparition to St. Bernadette of Lourdes, Our Lady introduced herself as “I am the Immaculate Conception.” She did not only say “I was immaculately conceived”, but “I am the Immaculate Conception.” In her very person, Mary exemplifies conception, openness to life, to receiving the gift of God, and she brings forth the Incarnate Word while preserving her virginity. The Church is called to imitate Mary’s maternal and feminine existence, bearing the divine life to a world fallen under original sin.
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Indeed, the early Church Fathers held Mary in high esteem, recognizing her as the pure vessel chosen by God to bring forth the Savior into the world. As it is written in Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel greeted her saying, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Her unique role in God’s salvation plan made her a figure of reverence and admiration.
The scriptural and patristic testimonies you’ve shared underscore the Church’s understanding of Mary’s Immaculate Conception – that she was conceived without original sin, a concept later affirmed by the Church in 1854.
As the Mother of Jesus, Mary becomes for us a model of faith, obedience, and love. She accepted God’s will with humility and courage, and her ‘yes’ to God brought forth the Word incarnate. As the Church, we are encouraged to be like Mary, receptive to God’s word and willing to bring Christ to the world. As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:28)
Mary’s immaculate nature doesn’t put her above humanity, but instead, she stands with us as the highest exemplar of God’s grace at work. As Jesus said in John 15:5, “apart from me, you can do nothing.” It is by God’s grace alone that any of us, including Mary, can participate in His redemptive work.