WHAT is the IMMACUALATE CONCEPTION???

 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ...

WHAT IS IT???

WOW, there is a lot of misunderstanding about what Immaculate Conception is... so I thought I should address this topic since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated DECEMBER 8th.

NO, this is not about Jesus being Conceived in Mary's womb...We celebrate that on March 25th called the Annunciation of the Lord.

The Immaculate Conception is the realization that God the Father made Mary perfect without stain of sin... she was "Immaculately Conceived."  How can anyone think that God would allow his true goodness and purity -- His Only Begotten Son -- to enter a sinful body????    In my simple little faith -- I can see this as truth, can't you??

I read somewhere (if I find the text I'll add it), that God the Father, knowing that He would send His Son had Mary Immaculately Conceived through the future merits that Her Son would achieve in His Passion and Death on the Cross.  

 

Church Fathers

Throughout the centuries Church Fathers have professed this as fact, but it wasn't until  Pope Pius IX, on December 8, 1854, would declare it a dogma.

"...We turn to the early Fathers of the Church. First, many, not all of them, make sweeping statements about her holiness. That could imply an Immaculate Conception. Secondly, very many of them speak of her as the New Eve. They could have reasoned: the first Eve had an immaculate start in life--no sin was yet committed. So the New Eve, who was to share in undoing the harm of original sin, should have also an immaculate start. However, none of the Fathers actually followed this line of reasoning. (A few Fathers even tried to find sins she had committed, e.g. St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on John 21. PG 59. 130ff)." 

(for full text go to http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya2.htm)

 

Pope Pius IX

In the Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX wrote that 

"We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful." 
http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/f/Imm_Concept_FAQ.htm

There are many writings about the Immaculate Conception just 'Google' it...you will find them all there.  and also check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church for further explanations and doctrine.