The universe rejoices with new and indefinable loveliness. Not only does it feel the unseen presence of God himself, its creator, it sees him openly, working and making it holy. These great blessings spring from the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb.
Saint Anselm of Canterbury, bishop.
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Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I will not give a full meaning for the Feast Day and its significance in the life of the Church, the history of the Dogmatic pronouncement, nor will I try to lay out or elaborate the theological significance of this teaching of the Christian Church, relating it to original sin or sanctifying grace.
In truth, I think “immaculate conception” is this one moment where many Roman Catholics receive it all too easily, many Protestants reject it all too easily, and somewhere in between there is gift of wrestling theologically with what it really means to be born immaculate by the grace of God.
I will, however, simply point back to St Anselm above, who I believe said it best: “Not only does [the universe] feel the unseen presence of God himself, its creator, it sees him openly, working and making it holy.”
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is one of the many ways God has made this fallen world holy in preparation and anticipation for the coming of the Λογος, the Word of God, who is Son of God and Son of Mary.
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im·mac·u·late,
adj., free from stain or blemish; pure.
[Middle English immaculat, from Latin immaculātus (in- + past participle of maculāre, to blemish (see macula, spot).]
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