'STAND FAST IN THE FAITH’

New Zealand Tablet, 10 December 1914, Page 9

' STAND FAST IN THE FAITH ’

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the N.Z. » Tablet by Ghimel.)

QUESI lONS .AND ANSWERS

Questions: (1) Explain the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. (2) How should I answer the old objection that the attributing of such a favor to Mary lessens the dignity of our Lord? (3) What reasons could I advance for the dogma ? Answers: (1) The doctrine was always part of the Church’s belief, but it was not defined, that is, put into set terms, until the year 1854. On the Bth of December, 1854, Pope Pius IX., after consulting the Bishops of the world on their own belief and that of their subjects, defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved ’exempt from all stain of original sin ’ (Constitution, ‘ Ineffabilis Deus’). To explain.. Adam, as the head of the human race, sinned for. all children, and we speak of the stain of this sin on the soul as original sin. All men stand in need of redemption, and redemption comes through the merits of our Saviour, these merits being applied and taking effect after birth. Such is the general law. But Mary’s case was different, as indeed we might ‘expect. The application of the Redeemer’s merits to her soul was anticipated: she was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin at the first moment when her soul was created and infused into her body, and sanctifying grace (which keeps out sin) was given to her before sin could have taken any effect in her soul. To put it in another way : whereas in the case of others the stain of original sin is removed by baptism, in hers it was absolutely excluded. But this privilege means a good deal- more than the mere absence of sin. ‘ Simultaneously with the exclusion .of sin, the state of original sanctity, innocence, and justice, as opposed to original sin, was conferred upon her, by which gift every stain and fault, all depraved emotions, passions, and debilities, essentially pertaining to original sin, were excluded.’ She was, as the angel proclaimed, full of grace. She was not, however, exempt from the temporal penalties of sin sorrow, bodily infirmities, and death. In this respect she is like One far greater than herself. Answer (2) r This singular grace came to Mary simply and solely through the merits of the Saviour of the human race. Being a child of Adam she should, under ordinary circumstances, have been subject to sin, but as the Redeemer of men was to receive His body through her, God determined to make an exception in her case and to keep her soul free from the taint of original sin. He carried out His purpose through the merits of Christ, and her redemption has been justly called ‘ the very masterpiece of Christ’s redeeming wisdom.’ The central doctrine of our Christian religion is that of the Incarnation, but round this source of divine light the dogma of the Immaculate Conception moves like a brilliant planet, deriving, indeed, all its radiance from it, and yet adorning it in return. So far, therefore, from this doctrine being derogatory to the honor of Christ, the One Mediator, it is, on the contrary, a grand tribute of respect to His Person, and recognition of His power.

Answer (3) : The simple explanation of this teaching of the Church at once commends the doctrine to our minds and hearts. It seems so reasonable that we say: How could it be otherwise! Still, it may be useful to set down the more obvious grounds of its reasonableness. ‘ That God could, thus exempt a soul from contracting the stain of Adam’s sin, no one can deny that He should have wished to do so in the case of the most highly favored among . His . creatures, was most perfectly suitable to His infinite goodness and wisdom. What Christian father would not, if He could, bestow

such, a favor on his favourite child ? What dutiful son would refuse to exempt his mother from the > disgrace of becoming a bondwoman to his bitterest enemy ? What honorable man would not share his own stainless honor with his beloved spouse ? And is not Mary the favorite daughter of God, the Father; the Blessed Mother of God, the Son ; and the beloved spouse of the Holy Ghost? Was it to be expected that Christ, Who came to destroy sin, should leave the stain of it to defile for a time His own Mother’s soul ? As He was a totally sinless Man, so, as was most proper, He made His Blessed Mother a totally sinless woman.’ (Father Coppens.) v