Ineffabilis Deus: 8 December 1854 (Dogma of the Immaculate Conception)

EWTN ^ | 1854 | Blessed Pope Pius IX

[Pyro7480]

I thought I should post this 2 days in advance, so people can take their time reading it.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

8 December 2004 is the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

[Salvation]

A Prayer in Honor of the Immaculate Conception

ANT. This is the rod in which was neither knot of original sin, nor rind of actual guilt. V. In thy conception, O Virgin! Thou wast immaculate. R. Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son thou didst bring forth. Let us Pray O GOD, Who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, didst prepare a worthy habitation for Thy Son, we beseech Thee, that as by the foreseen death of that same Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate Most holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on the wretched who implore thy powerful patronage. The wicked serpent, against whom was hurled the first curse, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. Do thou, then, O Blessed Mother, our queen and advocate, who from the first instant of thy conception didst crush the head of the enemy, receive the prayers which, united with thee in our single heart, we implore thee to present at the throne of God, that we may never fall into the snares which are laid out for us, and may all arrive at the port of salvation; and, in so many dangers, may the Church and Christian society sing once again the hymn of deliverance and of victory and of peace. Amen. Ejaculations In Thy conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us to the Father, Whose Son, Jesus Christ conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth.

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

I have to admit as an incoming convert, this is one of the doctrines I have the most difficulty with. The other is of course, the Assumption.

[Pyro7480]

Here's an article on the theologian who, through the grace of God, solved the theological dispute over the Immaculate Conception: John Duns Scotus and His Defence of the Immaculate Conception

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

Thanks. I will read it right now.

[siunevada]

And here's another Franciscan, Maximilian Kolbe, who wished to disseminate the truth, declared to be a dogma of the Faith, to all mankind:

http://www.marymediatrix.com/features/kolbe/

[Pyro7480]

Thank you! I am a great admirer of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and I am a member of the Militia Immaculatae, which he founded in 1917.

[eastsider]

Excellent post.

O Marie concue sans peche
Prier pour nous qui avons recours a vous

[Pyro7480]

One thing that isn't widely known about the Miraculous Medal is that it was originally known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. The apparition at Rue de Bac took place 24 years before the solemn proclamation of the dogma. Also, the U.S. bishops declared that Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception would be the patron of the U.S. in 1846, 8 years before the solemn proclamation.

[Pio]

Yeah, George was no Catholic that's for sure.

[Pyro7480]

"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion"~George Washington, the *first president* and a founding father.

I thought Thomas Jefferson was the one who said that, in something concerning a North African country.

[Pyro7480]

thought Thomas Jefferson was the one who said that, in something concerning a North African country.

Yup, I was pretty close. It's from this treaty. Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796, Article 11

[Convert from ECUSA]

Thanks, Pyro!

Thank you Lord, for choosing and creating Mary to bring your Messiah into the World. Thank you for choosing and creating Mary to be our mother as well. And thank you, my sweet mother Mary, for being my mother.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

bump

[sojourner]

I am also new to Catholicism and in RCIA right now. I agree with you that this doctrine is a difficult one to understand and I appreciate this post. I've been trying to read about this feast in anticipation of mass on Wednesday.

To me, the Assumption is easy to believe IF you believe that Mary was without sin. Others were close to God and were taken up without dying (Enoch, Elijah and of course, Jesus). I can buy into the idea that if you didn't sin, or if you received a special cleansing from God, that you don't need to experience death. Getting to the "without sin" part with Mary has been the more challenging effort for me.

[CouncilofTrent]

Thank you!

[Pyro7480]

The difference between Jesus and the others you named is that Jesus ascended by His own power and authority. The others were taken up into heaven. Did you see the link I gave no_outcome above?

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

To me, the Assumption is easy to believe IF you believe that Mary was without sin. Others were close to God and were taken up without dying (Enoch, Elijah and of course, Jesus). I can buy into the idea that if you didn't sin, or if you received a special cleansing from God, that you don't need to experience death. Getting to the "without sin" part with Mary has been the more challenging effort for me.

I agree there. Part of the problem is that it is a very theologically complex doctrine. I can see Mary as being a great and Blessed Mother of God. I can accept readily that she made no habit of sin, or that God may have strengthened her spiritually in view of the Incarnation, so that she commited no sins. But the doctrine of Original Sin is itself complex, so I guess it is where I get confused.

Most protestant theologians explain that Jesus can be free of Adamic Sin since that is transmitted through the father's spiritual genetics. However, they might also be wrong, since the kingship of Israel of the Davidic line is also supposedly reckoned by fatherhood also, and Mary of course is female.

At any rate, If I can come from the Regular Baptist protrayal of the Mass as blasphemous idolatry to the correct understanding of worshipping Christ via the visible elements of His Body and Blood, I have come a long way so far.