Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Hail, Full of Grace

Over the past few years, our Protestant brothers and sisters have been holding Mary in higher regard than in the past. For some, however, it is still a very sticky point of doctrine they just don’t want to wrap themselves around.

For Mary to be born without original sin is, in particular, difficult for them to understand, or for that matter, want to believe. Even many Catholics today do not understand this doctrine. Far too many Catholics think today’s celebration is about Jesus being conceived without sin. And, some even think it means Mary was conceived “by the power of the Holy Spirit”, which she was not.

For Mary to be immaculately conceived means that from the moment of conception Mary was preserved from the stain of Original Sin. Mary had the potential to be born with Original Sin, but God stepped in with the redeeming grace of Christ. He is God, after all, and is perfectly capable of doing this.

We hear this most plainly when the Angel Gabriel says to Mary; “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Many of the recent translations say something wimpy along the lines of “highly favored one.” Yes, Mary was highly favored, but “full of grace” tells us so much more. For Gabriel to recognize her as “full of grace” lets us know that this indwelling of sanctifying grace had already happened.

One of the main objections to the Immaculate Conception is Rom. 3:23 where we are told, “all have sinned.” Furthermore, Mary said in Luke 1:47; “ My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” If she had no sin why would she need a Savior?

As to “all have sinned” we know a little baby cannot commit a sin. You have to have an awareness in order to sin, which a baby is incapable of having. St. Paul was most likely referring to Original Sin in this passage. So, we have come full circle. We are all subject to Original Sin, even Mary. At the moment of conception, however, Mary was kept spotless - a perfect vessel for Our Lord and Savior.

This woman who was cast in the role of Mother of God is also our Mother. She is someone you can turn to in times of need. She is someone who loves and understands you, and she is the one who teaches you the true meaning of obedience. When Mary said, “be it done unto me according to Thy will”, she gave us a vision for a way of life we all should be striving to live.