[John O]

They lack the profound reflection of countless theologians and simple christians who have reflected on the role Mary played in our Salvation. Indeed, she was the first to carry the "Bread and Wine" of our Salvation. Her womb was the first Tabernacle.

I'll be brief as gamarob1 has already spoken the truth here.

Mary was just an ordinary woman who was chosen to bear the Christ. Any other interpretation contradicts scripture. Mary was a sinner.

Now, Why do you even bother pinging us protestants to these threads if all you are going to do is flame bait? We have better things to do than argue with you about these things. You will not change and neither will we. As I believe that you honor Jesus as your personal savior we'll have plenty of time to sort out this trivia when we get to heaven. Until then drop it. Lets get people saved instead of wasting time on trivia. (How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?)

[gamarob1]

Well said in all points, John O.

Mary needed Jesus' salvation as much as all of us. And you're also right, it's better to preach the gospel than to get wrapped up in this sort of thing

[NYer]

Why do you even bother pinging us protestants

I pinged only you. You were baptized Catholic.

"Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit." Jn 3:5

[NYer]

Mary was a sinner.

"The Most Holy Virgin Mary was, in the first moment of her conception, by a unique gift of grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin."  (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854)

Mary's sinlessness is not for her own sake, but for Jesus' sake.  She had to be holy in order to be a worthy vessel for her utterly holy Son.  So this doctrine upholds the holiness and deity of Christ.

Since Jesus Himself preserved her, Mary's sinlessness depends completely upon Him.  He is the Savior of all humanity, Mary included.  By preserving her from all sin, Jesus shows us that He can indeed save "to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25).

On the other hand, were Jesus born of a sinner as you claim, that would mean either

a) the Savior could not save His own Mother from contracting sin or
b) He refused to honor His Mother in every way he could.

So Jesus would be either a weak Savior or a trangressor of His own Commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). The Immaculate Conception is clearly a belief which exalts Jesus!