The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

You will not find a story of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the Bible. The Bible does not tell us much about Mary. What the Bible does tell us about Mary points us to Jesus.

Just because the Bible does not include a story of Mary’s conception does not mean it didn’t happen. In fact, we know that Mary had to have been born just like us. To be born, she first had to be conceived in her mother’s womb. There can be no doubt that this happened.

So how do we know that Mary was immaculately conceived?

While we do not find in the Bible explicit words telling us that Mary was immaculately conceived, using the faith and reason that God has given us, it flows from the words that we do find in the Bible that Mary was conceived without sin.

How so?

In today’s gospel, we hear the story of the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. This story happens at the time of Jesus’ conception. (This leads some people to think that it is Jesus’ conception that we celebrate today. His conception we celebrate on March 25th, nine months before his birth on Christmas.)

Yes, Jesus, as the Son of God, was conceived without sin. For Mary to be worthy to carry the Son of God in her womb, she had to be conceived without any sin. In today’s gospel, Mary asks how she could be with God since she has had no relations with a man but she does not doubt. She trusts. Ultimately, she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Mary says yes to being the mother of Jesus. For this she is abundantly blessed.

For this, she is immaculately conceived. But wait! How could she have been conceived without sin through God’s grace before she said yes at the Annunciation?

God is not bound by time. He knew from the very foundation of the world that Mary would say yes. Thus, when the time came for Mary to be conceived in her mother’s womb, God bestowed prevenient grace upon her to be conceived without sin. Prevenient Grace is a special gift given by God before the event, in this case Mary’s yes, that leads to the grace.

God has always known the role Mary would willingly play in his plan for our salvation. Even as Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the original sin, by eating the forbidden fruit, God knew how He would redeem the human race. Our redemption would come from Jesus sacrificing his life for us on the Cross. As Eve “became the mother of all the living,” God knew our redemption would come in Jesus, born of Mary would become our mother.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff