Three Reasons the Church’s Enemies Hate The Immaculate Conception

TFP ^ | 12.08.06 | Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

[Coleus]

The following text is adapted from a lecture Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira gave on June 15, 1973.  It has been translated and edited for publication without his revision.  Note, in this text, he uses the words Revolution and Counter-Revolution as he defined them in his book Revolution and Counter-Revolution.  In this sense, the Revolution is a centuries-old process, motivated by pride and sensuality, and therefore egalitarianism and liberalism, that dominates the modern world and seeks to destroy Christian civilization.  Counter-Revolutionaries are those dedicated to defeating this process and defending the rights of God. –Ed.

…One of the truly Counter-Revolutionary acts of Pope Pius IX’s pontificate was the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception. 

There are three reasons the definition of this dogma was especially Counter-Revolutionary and therefore hateful to the enemies of the Church.  

First Reason: An Anti-Egalitarian Dogma
As you know, this dogma teaches that Our Lady was immaculate at her conception, meaning that, at no moment, did she have even the slightest stain of Original Sin. Both she, and naturally Our Lord Jesus Christ, were exempt from that rigid law that subjugates all other descendants of Adam and Eve.  Thus, Our Lady was not subject to the miseries of fallen man.  She did not have bad influences, inclinations and tendencies.  In her, everything moved harmonically towards truth, goodness and therefore God.  In this sense, Our Lady is an example of perfect liberty, meaning that everything her reason, illuminated by Faith, determined as good, her will desired entirely.  She had no interior obstacles to impede her practice of virtue.

Being “full of grace” increased these effects.  Thus, her will advanced with an unimaginable impetus towards everything that was true and good.  Declaring that a mere human creature had this extraordinary privilege makes this dogma fundamentally anti-egalitarian, because it points out an enormous inequality in the work of God.  It demonstrates the total superiority of Our Lady over all other beings.  Thus, its proclamation made Revolutionary egalitarian spirits boil with hatred.

Second Reason: The Unsullied Purity of Our Lady
However, there is a more profound reason why the Revolution hates this dogma.  The Revolution loves evil and is in harmony with those who are bad, and thus tries to find evil in everything.  On the contrary, those who are irreproachable are a cause of intense hatred.  Therefore, the idea that a being could be utterly spotless from the first moment of her existence is abhorrent to Revolutionaries.  For example: Imagine a man who is consumed with impurity.  When besieged by impure inclinations, he is ashamed of his consent to them.  This leaves him depressed and utterly devastated.

Imagine this man considering Our Lady, who, being the personification of transcendental purity, did not have even the least appetite for lust.  He feels hatred and scorn because her virtue smashes his pride.  Furthermore, by declaring Our Lady to be so free from pride, sensuality and the desire for anything Revolutionary, the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception affirmed that she was utterly Counter-Revolutionary.  This only inflamed the Revolutionary hatred of the dogma all the more.

Disputing the Doctrine: A Counter-Revolutionary Struggle

Declaring that Our Lady was so free from pride, sensuality and the desire for anything Revolutionary, affirmed that she was utterly Counter-Revolutionary and inflamed the Revolutionary hatred of the dogma all the more.

For centuries, there were two opposing currents of thought about the Immaculate Conception in the Church.  While it would be an exaggeration to suggest that everyone who fought against the doctrine was acting with Revolutionary intentions; it is a fact that all those who were acting with Revolutionary intentions fought against it.  On the other hand, all those who favored its proclamation, at least on that point, expressed a Counter-Revolutionary attitude. Thus, in some way the fight between the Revolution and Counter-Revolution was present in the fight between these two theological currents.

Third Reason:  The Exercise of Papal Infallibility
There is still another reason this dogma is hateful to Revolutionaries: it was the first dogma proclaimed through Papal Infallibility.  At that time, the dogma of Papal Infallibility had not yet been defined and there was a current in the Church maintaining that the Pope was only infallible when presiding over a council.  Nevertheless, Pius IX invoked Papal Infallibility when he defined the Immaculate Conception after merely consulting some theologians and bishops.   For liberal theologians, this seemed like circular reasoning.  If his infallibility had not been defined, how could he use it?  On the contrary, by using his infallibility, he affirmed that he had it.

This daring affirmation provoked an explosion of indignation among Revolutionaries, but enormous enthusiasm among Counter-Revolutionaries.  In praise of the new dogma, children all over the world were baptized under the name: Conception, Concepcion or Concepta to consecrate them to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

Pius IX: Bringing the Fight to the Enemy
It is not surprising that Pius IX so adamantly affirmed Papal Infallibility.  Very different from those who succeeded him, he was ever ready to bring the fight to the enemy.  He did this in Geneva, Switzerland, which then was the breeding ground of Calvinism, which is the most radical form of Protestantism.  When Swiss laws changed to allow a Catholic Cathedral in Geneva, Pius IX ordered that a statue of the Immaculate Conception be placed in the middle of the city, to proclaim this dogma in the place where Calvinists, Lutherans and other Protestants denied it more than anywhere else.  This is an example of Pius IX’s leadership in the fight against the Revolution. It is therefore entirely proper that all Catholics entertain a special affection for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which is so detested by the enemies of the Church today.

To read another commentary on the Immaculate Conception, click here.
To read Fr. Saint-Laurent's commentary on the Immaculate Conception, click here.
To order your free copy of a picture of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, click here.

[DungeonMaster]

The Gospel was the "Good News" that the prophecies had been fulfilled.

The gospel is the "teachings of Christ and the Apostles". That is an awful lot of things to confirm in the OT. They were not going to go confirm anything about the position of Mary because it isn't there. They can confirm thousands of things about Jesus though.

[nanetteclaret]

Well, I used to be Presbyterian. I got a thorough grounding in the Scriptures (except for the parts always ignored by Protestants, like John Chapter 6.) Then I became Episcopalian, after reading a lot of Church History. Now I'm Roman Catholic and it finally all makes sense. :)

[blue-duncan]

"the traditions that St. Paul told us to hold fast to - that were just as important as the written word."

He said beware of the traditions of men so what were the traditions that Paul said were just as important as the written word?

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ

[xzins]

To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy

That's the part I wanted you to expound upon. Can you tell me what the above words mean?

[trisham]

Well, I used to be Presbyterian. I got a thorough grounding in the Scriptures (except for the parts always ignored by Protestants, like John Chapter 6.) Then I became Episcopalian, after reading a lot of Church History. Now I'm Roman Catholic and it finally all makes sense. :)

**************

Wow. I guess you did get a thorough grounding! I'm sure you've heard it before, but welcome!

[kawaii]

show me where in Holy Scripture it exempts infants?

Mark 16:16 states that all must baptise and beleive to be saved. That means even were it possible to not sin at all one still needs to be saved. thus saved from what?

[xzins]

It's obvious to me, after looking at verses that use the word "tradition," that the Bible is speaking of practices (especially behavior) that have arisen in the religious community..

The bible rejects those practices that are of human origin.

It accepts those that have a solid Biblical basis or a basis in the life of Jesus or of the Apostles.

How do we hear from the Apostles and Jesus?

From their own words.

Where are those?

Scripture.

How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring Good News.

[nanetteclaret]

2 Thessalonians 2:5
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

[kawaii]

theres a reason its called Holy Tradition, and not something we came up with.

Holy Traditions are the traditions of the church which Christ established, the one which the Holy Spirit guides, as Christ promised.

[nanetteclaret]

Thanks for the welcome. It was on Christ the King Sunday, 2005. This past year has been amazing!

[nanetteclaret]

Are arguing with St. Paul?

2 Thessalonians 2:5
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

[blue-duncan]

Great, the traditions are the traditions. Now, what are the specific traditions that Paul said we are to "stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."?

[kawaii]

I'm guessing it'd be the ones St Paul taught through speaking or writing in epistles.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

but I don't remember any icons.

There is this mention of them...

"He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" -- Isaiah 44:14-20

"Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?"

[xzins]

Paul says they received some traditions from him. That is past tense. They already had them.

What were they?

[xzins]

he roasteth roast, and is satisfied

Sounds good to me. Maybe wifey will hear this for Sunday afternoon.

With squished taters and gravy, of course.

And then a Sunday afternoon nap. (My modern-day Sabbath rest.:>)

[xzins]

What are those traditions that they already had been taught?

[blue-duncan]

"I'm guessing it'd be the ones St Paul taught through speaking or writing in epistles."

And they are?

[kawaii]

The One's the Orthodox church keeps till this day.

It's only folks who've broken with these traditions who try to ignore who gave them to the church.

[trisham]

"To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy"

That's the part I wanted you to expound upon. Can you tell me what the above words mean?

****************

If you read the Gospel according to Saint John, you may understand. God is almighty. It is beyond human comprehension to know the mind of God, but we can hope to gain some inkling of it through the Bible, the writings of Saints and teachings of our Church.

1 Before the festival day of the pasch, Jesus knowing that his hour was come, that he should pass out of this world to the Father: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And when supper was done, (the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,) 3 Knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and goeth to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments, and having taken a towel, girded himself. 5 After that, he putteth water into a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 He cometh therefore to Simon Peter. And Peter saith to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered, and said to him: What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him: He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly. And you are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who he was that would betray him; therefore he said: You are not all clean. 12 Then after he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, being set down again, he said to them: Know you what I have done to you? 13 You call me Master, and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. 14 If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=50&ch=13&l=3&f=s#x