Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Life wisdom teaches us all that prevention is better than cure. We know how complicated the healing process can be. 

Today’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is the most striking example of God’s extraordinary preventive help, as the angel said: “Full of grace.”

On December 8, the entire Western Church celebrates the feast of the Virgin Mary c, received without the stain of original /today t, the term original/ sin is more commonly used. Many believers believe the Immaculate Conception refers to how the Virgin Mary conceived Jesus. However, this is a mistake – this is how the Virgin Mary herself was conceived. That is why the Immaculate Conception is also celebrated precisely 9 months before the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which is commemorated every year on September 8. The Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception results from many centuries of prayer and theological development, during which the understanding of the Virgin Mary’s role in the history of salvation has continued to grow. 

Already, the Fathers of the first century were developing the theology of Mary as the new Eve. It begins around the beginning of the fifth century, mainly thanks to St. Augustine, to more precisely formulate the doctrine of hereditary /original/ sin. Of course, the theologians immediately began to ask themselves how it was with the original sin in Mary. Was she subjected to him, too? The Franciscan Bl also asked this question. John Duns Scotus. He taught that, according to him, Mary, due to her natural origin, was subject to the law of sin like any other person. She, too, needed redemption, just like all humans. However, by God’s special preventive intervention, she was saved from the stains of any sin, so she entered earthly life already in a state of grace. Therefore full of grace. She, too, was redeemed by Christ, but in a more perfect way than other people, because she was freed from sin in advance, that is, preventive, while others are freed from the injury of the already existing one. This way of redemption is a unique privilege that God granted as an undeserved gift only to Mary because she was to become the mother of the Redeemer. 

To understand this secret, let’s use an analogy: Imagine a person who falls into a bottomless pit. Someone else walks by and pulls him out of the pit. He will free him. That man was saved from the pit. Let’s imagine then that another woman is walking around. She, too, is about to fall into the pit, but just then, someone else catches her so she doesn’t fall into the pit. She was also saved from the pit, but obviously in a better – preventive way: she was not only subsequently pulled out of the pit, but someone prevented her from falling into it and getting injured by the fall. Christians have used this simile for centuries to explain how Christ saved Mary. By receiving Christ’s grace at her conception, she received this grace before it could be defiled by original sin and guilt. So, even here, prevention is better than subsequent treatment and strenuous recovery.

On this day, we also remember that life has been sacred from conception. That is why we Christian believers are against abortion. This well-known example from history also strengthens our conviction.

 A professor at a well-known medical school presented an ethical problem to the students: “The father suffers from a venereal disease, and the mother has tuberculosis. Four children were born to them – the first was visually impaired, the second died, the third became deaf, and the fourth inherited tuberculosis. However, the mother became pregnant again and together with the father, she would come to you for advice. If they were considering an abortion, what advice would you give them?” Students formed consultation groups and consulted. Finally, they all decided to recommend abortion. “Congratulations,” said the professor. “You just killed Beethoven.” Even if someone objected that this is a popularized and exaggerated story, the fact remains that Beethoven’s mother was very poor and sickly, worked as an ordinary maid, and his father – although a musician – was a notorious alcoholic, an obscene and cruel person. Nevertheless, the mother accepted each child, and thanks to this, we can listen to many of his musical works. Life is sacred because it comes from God.

Only one thing really destroys a person’s life—sin. Even today’s holiday shows us that God wants to help us in every possible way to break free from the slavery of sin. It’s hard work. He gives us his whole life. He gives us all the means for this, including the intercession of the spiritual mother, Mary. Let’s use these means to save ourselves.