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Posted on 01/23/2025 1:39:28 PM PST by ebb tide
(TFP) — The following text on the Immaculate Conception is adapted from a lecture Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira [the founder of Tradition, Family, Property] 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. American TFP.
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.
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.
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. [Meanwhile], 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.
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.
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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, Concepción, Conceição or Concetta to consecrate them to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.
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.
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This article previously appeared on the PlinioCorreadeoOliviera.info website. Republished by request.
...because it is not true. Nothing in the Bible indicates such. The concept is a Catholic church construct.
Challenge accepted.
1. It's unBiblical. Romans 3:23 ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
There's no basis in the Bible for such a belief.
God has no mother. Jesus had a mother but the God side of Him did not.
Mary was kept free from original sin. It's in the Bible, but like all things pertaining to her, it is hidden, as is fitting and proper for womankind.
Too late; you came in second place!
don’t think they whore squawked for nothing
It is not an attack on Jesus’ mother to deny that she is the Immaculate Conception. She was obviously a Godly woman and obedient to God, but there is only one immaculate conception, just as there is only one Redeemer and that is Jesus. Show me in the Bible where Mary is the immaculate conception.
The Bible (for those who insist on wearing blinders) is full of supporting evidence. Those whose religion is resisting the Catholic faith will resist the biblical evidence as well.
Romans 3:23.
“For all [s]have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
No disrespect but all includes Mary.
The way you post is fascinating.
When you don’t want to allow disagreement, you use the ‘Caucus’ designation.
But when you want to stir up trouble, you leave it off.
You strike me as an egotist, and not a little vicious.
The counter arguments necessitate that every miracle (at the time) was documented in the NT, or prophesized in the OT. Furthermore, it’s humorous that the antagonists believe in every miracle except Immaculate Conception — and ironically a known scientific possibility that can more easily be achieved than a resurrection — well, that depends on the species I suppose...
God wishing... “if only it were possible to have my Son conceived immaculately”
First reason. It’s BS.
I obey the FR caucus rules.
If I had my way, I’d caucus every everything I post on the Religion Forum.
I think you could figure a way around it; but you enjoy this.
perhaps an intentional provocation, but I nonetheless appreciate the debates, which over the years has helped to shape and improve my POV on the non-Catholic perspective.
Show me in the Bible where “sola scriptura” is taught.
Of course I enjoy proclaiming the True Faith.
If I didn’t, I’d be ashamed.
That should read "all other CREATED beings". Lest anyone misinterpret or misrepresent ...
pope francis is the poster child for resisting the catholic faith...
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