~Immaculate Conception~

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is the feast day where we celebrate the fact that Mary, Jesus' mother, was conceived without sin.

Just two points that sometimes people get confused about ( I know it took me a good few years to get them clear in my mind!):


1. This is not the same as the feast of the Annunciation, in which we celebrate the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit (also known by some as the Virgin Birth).

The Immaculate Conception is where we celebrate the fact that Mary herself was conceived without any original sin.

2. This doesn't mean that Mary's conception is the same as Jesus's!

Jesus is human AND God, and was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Mary is only human and was conceived in the natural way.

All men and women, being children of Adam & Eve, inherit 'original sin' -- that is, we have the taint of sin on our soul because of Adam & Eve's disobedience, and fall from grace.

At our baptism, that stain of original sin on our soul is taken away.
The only reason this is possible is because of Jesus's death and defeat over sin.

Well, in Mary's case she didn't need to be baptised to be freed from original sin.

The redemptive power from Jesus's death stretched 'back in time' and saved her from original sin from the very moment of her conception.

It is important not to forget that Jesus came to save ALL men, and the saving power of His death is not just for the people that would come after Him in history!


So Mary is fully human, but was without the stain of original from first moment of her existance. Because her soul was never subject to the corrupting effects that original sin has on us, she never committed any sins during her whole life.

Her will was beautifully in tune with God's

But note: that is different to how Jesus was sinless.

Jesus was sinless because He was God.
Mary was sinless because she was never exposed to the soul-corrupting effects of sin.



There are a couple of Bible passages for why the Catholic Church teaches that Mary was conceived without original sin, but for me the most special is where the Arcangel Gabriel comes to Mary and says:

"Hail Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee..."


The term "full of grace" that is used to describe Mary is very important.

"Grace" was exactly the thing that Adam & Eve lost in the Garden of Eden, so the fact that Mary is described as being "full of grace" shows that her soul is unique from other men's; she has an abundance of grace, which men don't have.

That is because original sin was never on her soul. Her soul was always pure and sinless, and rightly so.


(note it is a teeny bit more complicated than how I have explained it because there are different types of grace and stuff. But I think this is the essence.)
This is how I have read it and been explained it.
However I am no theologian so if I've made any errors please please please someone correct me!

you can read more here

~Oh Beautiful Mary Conceived Without Sin, Pray For Us Who Have Recourse To Thee~

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