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It really makes no difference to me as a Catholic. But I know that many have coverted to Christianity because of apparitions from the Virgin who basically reminds us to "Listen to her Son". my friend converted from Jehovahs Witness after her 5 year old daughter the Blessed Mother several times. She decided to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France where a little girl also had visions In the 1800's. The only reason the church validated her appararitions is because the woman (Blessed Mother) told her that her name was "the Immaculate Conception". That concept was something only the Vatican knew about and they were considering accepting that doctrine.

http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?goto_centre=ru&contexte=en&id=417&id_rubrique=417

My friend also saw the virgin in Lourdes, and experienced personal miracles.

Her newly found deep faith and devotion to Jesus and Mary puts my cradle Catholic faith to shame. The church has a long history of Marianic visitations like the Virgen of Guadalupe, all around the world and she continues to evangelize. Only those who have some idea of the real version of our long church history understand most concepts. Most Catholics, like myself just understand things intuitively.

For me, as a Protestant Evangelical, the Immaculate conception (regarding original sin) I can see having an impact on theology. The Virgin Birth, obviously is important. But I don’t grasp the theological implications of the perpetual virginity of Mary being necessary.

My PhD is in Medieval History (Church history) and I’ve read the Catechism books, websites, apologetic sites ad nauseum.

Academically I understand the differences in the three doctrines but I still don’t see why Mary STAYING a Virgin is that important, even theologically. It doesn’t (IMO) change the person, work or nature of Christ in the least, since I fully believe Mary was a virgin when she conceived and bore Jesus.

her name was "the Immaculate Conception"

The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church maintaining that Mary was kept free of original sin from her moment of conception and is not to be confused with the virginity of Mary or the virgin birth of Jesus.