We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. The Virgin Birth and Immaculate Conception can be commonly confused, yet are quite distinct. While the doctrine of the Virgin Birth teaches that Jesus was born of a virgin mother and, thus, was without an earthly father, the Immaculate Conception refers to the earthly origin of Mary herself.
Believers in the Immaculate Conception have found support for it in Genesis and Luke Clearly, though, it grows primarily out of subsequent Christian tradition rather than out of the biblical data. Already St. Justin Martyr d. Irenaeus d. Andrew of Crete d. John of Damascus d. It appeared in Naples and perhaps also in Ireland by the ninth, and it entered England in the 11th century.
The grace of Christ the Redeemer acted in her in anticipation, preserving her from original sin and from any contagion of guilt. This is an ancient teaching, but it remains controversial to some Protestants because it is not explicitly referred to in the Bible.
Early Protestant thinkers were more devoted to Mary than some of their successors. Martin Luther , for example, was a firm believer in the Immaculate Conception:. The infusion of Mary's soul was effected without original sin From the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin. A report by Anglican and Roman Catholic theologians found common ground for this belief when it stated that:. In view of her vocation to be the mother of the Holy One Luke , we can affirm together that Christ's redeeming work reached 'back in Mary to the depths of her being, and to her earliest beginnings.
This is not contrary to the teaching of Scripture, and can only be understood in the light of Scripture. Roman Catholics can recognize in this what is affirmed by the dogma - namely 'preserved from all stain of original sin' and 'from the first moment of her conception.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed as infallible by Pope Pius IX in the bull formal proclamation Ineffabilis Deus in , and thus is an important article of faith for Roman Catholics. Regardless of religious background, most of us have heard of the immaculate conception. However, many do not understand what this phrase means and have misunderstood it for referring to the virgin birth of Jesus. Music describing the event is played in malls, people put nativity scenes under their Christmas tree and on their lawns.
Even the well-known Peanuts gang proclaims the true meaning of Christmas in the movie a Charlie Brown Christmas. The virgin birth is rejoiced in by angels and humans. Jesus, the newborn King is the only person to ever walk the earth who deserves glory.
He came to bring peace on earth and mercy to sinners like you and me. Ultimately, the virgin birth is the moment in time that began reconciliation between God and sinners. So if Christmas is the celebration of the virgin birth, then what is the immaculate conception? Is there a difference? And why does the virgin birth matter? Should Christians hold one belief more closely than the other?
The answer is a resounding yes: Christians should hold to one belief, the virgin birth. The immaculate conception is the belief that Mary was conceived without sin. Because of this immaculate conception, the Catholic doctrine teaches that she remained sinless, or in perfect relationship with God throughout her life. Pope Pius IX first declared the doctrine of the immaculate conception infallible in , where he stated:.
A good distinguishing factor between the immaculate conception and the virgin birth is the traditional date of celebration. It might be that it refers not to absolutely everyone, but just to the mass of mankind which means young children and other special cases, like Jesus and Mary, would be excluded without having to be singled out.
If not that, then it would mean that everyone, without exception, is subject to original sin, which is true for a young child, for the unborn, even for Mary—but she, though due to be subject to it, was preserved by God from it and its stain.
The objection is also raised that if Mary were without sin, she would be equal to God. In the beginning, God created Adam, Eve, and the angels without sin, but none were equal to God. Most of the angels never sinned, and all souls in heaven are without sin. Sinning does not make one human. They are under the impression that no doctrine is believed until the pope or an ecumenical council issues a formal statement about it.
Actually, doctrines are defined formally only when there is a controversy that needs to be cleared up or when the magisterium the Church in its office as teacher; see Matt. The definition of the Immaculate Conception was prompted by the latter motive: Pope Pius IX, who was highly devoted to the Blessed Virgin, hoped the definition would inspire others in their devotion to her.
The Assumption is the doctrine that says that at the end of her life on earth Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven, just as Enoch, Elijah, and perhaps others had been before her. Christ, by his own power, ascended into heaven.
Mary was assumed or taken up into heaven by God. The Church has never formally defined whether she died or not, and the integrity of the doctrine of the Assumption would not be impaired if she did not in fact die, but the almost universal consensus is that she did die. It is easy to document that, from the first, Christians gave homage to saints, including many about whom we now know little or nothing.
0コメント