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No direct or categorical and stringent proof of the dogma can be brought forward from Scripture.
That in and of itself tells us all we need to know about this false doctrine that that catholic church continues to promulgate. The catholic church admits this false teaching cannot be found in Scripture. Nor can it be supported from Scripture. But that doesn't stop them from plowing ahead. The deception goes even deeper.
But the first scriptural passage which contains the promise of the redemption, mentions also the Mother of the Redeemer.
[The sentence against the first parents was accompanied by the Earliest Gospel ( Proto-evangelium ), which put enmity between the serpent and the woman : "and I will put enmity between thee and the woman and her seed; she (he) shall crush thy head and thou shalt lie in wait for her (his) heel" ( Genesis 3:15 ). The translation "she" of the Vulgate is interpretative; it originated after the fourth century, and cannot be defended critically.
Can the catholic appeal to "tradition"?
From this summary it appears that the belief in Mary's immunity from sin in her conception was prevalent amongst the Fathers, especially those of the Greek Church. The rhetorical character, however, of many of these and similar passages prevents us from laying too much stress on them, and interpreting them in a strictly literal sense. The Greek Fathers never formally or explicitly discussed the question of the Immaculate Conception.
What is left for the catholic to appeal to?
Proof from reason is all that's left. I will add, man's reason.
So it comes down to feelings and wouldn't it be a nice kind of thing for God to do for Mary. While a nice sentiment it doesn't meet the Biblical test for proof as attested to by the catholic church.
We can wish and say we hope there isn't a Hell....but we know there is as the Bible teaches this. We can wish and hope that none would ever wind up in Hell, but we know those who do not have faith in Christ will based on the Bible.
Too many false doctrines have been built upon man's reasoning and that's all that's left to the catholic regarding the immaculate conception.
This shows us what the false teaching of the immaculate conception is predicated upon. It is not in the Bible. It is based on a poor translation that cannot, by the catholic church's own admission, be defended. It comes down to man's reason which we know if subject to error.
I pray our catholic friends to examine this teaching critically and come out of the false teaching of the catholic church.
"Man's reason" was Luther's downfall. I'm sorry he's dragging you with him.
There are many things in the Bible which defy human reason and contradict some of our limited scientific knowledge. If each of us attempts to interpret the Bible our own way, we fall into confusion and error. As a Catholic, I choose to accept the Magisterium, that is, the teaching authority of the Church based on Scripture; tradition; the Early Church Fathers, and yes, the Successors of St. Peter. If you choose to believe sola scriptura, that’s your prerogative. Jesus gave Peter the Keys of the Kingdom: not to a gate, but to the teachings that would lead one closer to the fullness of the Faith. Right now, we all see, as St. Paul said, “through a glass darkly.” But I believe that the greatest measure of truth is found in the Roman Catholic Church.
Do you find comfort in Scripture? In your own faith? I would wager you do. Karl Marx stated in the Communist Manifesto that “religion is the opiate of the people,” a statement to which one who believes in God would react strongly. Yet I find in your posts criticism of our Catholic beliefs as of they were there simply to make us feel all warm, fuzzy, and Christmas-y! Aren’t you judging Catholicism specifically, as Marx judged all faiths? I believe you speak with the intention of enlightening your readers, and not to be unkind. St Paul says the greatest of the Spirit’s gifts is charity; please remember that your readers are also speaking of what they believe and treasure and hold onto as life itself. Hold on to your faith, keep learning, it is a great gift from God! But please don’t forget to open your heart to the infinity of God’s Knowledge and Wisdom beyond our understanding! Faith sees with the eyes of the heart, with love that never dies, while the senses and the mind can fade away! God bless you and keep you!
Nice work finding those. Interesting that the Catholic Church still promotes the lies and people still fall for them.