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COGWriter<\/a><\/p>\n December 8th is observed by Roman, as opposed to Eastern Orthodox, Catholics as the ‘Feast of the Immaculate Conception.’ It is an official holiday for certain countries in Europe and Latin America.<\/p>\n Here is some of what Pope Francis said about it before, from a translation posted by Zenit (a pro-Vatican news agency):<\/p>\n December 8, 2014<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters,<\/p>\n The message of today’s feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary can be summed up in these words: everything is a grace, everything is a free gift from God and his love for us. The Angel Gabriel calls Mary “full of grace” (Lk.1,28): in Her there is no room for sin, because God has always chosen Her as the mother of Jesus and has preserved Her from original sin. http:\/\/www.zenit.org\/en\/articles\/on-the-feast-of-the-immaculate-conception<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Despite the pontiff’s claim, the Bible shows that other than Jesus (Hebrews 4:15), “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23)-that includes Mary.<\/p>\n Here is some of what The Catholic Encyclopedia<\/em> says about this Catholic feast:<\/p>\n The older feast of the Conception of Mary (Conception of St. Anne), which originated in the monasteries of Palestine at least as early as the seventh century, and the modern feast of the Immaculate Conception are not identical in their object.<\/p>\n Originally the Church celebrated only the Feast of the Conception of Mary, as she kept the Feast of St. John’s conception, not discussing the sinlessness. This feast in the course of centuries became the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, as dogmatical argumentation brought about precise and correct ideas, and as the thesis of the theological schools regarding the preservation of Mary from all stain of original sin gained strength. Even after the dogma had been universally accepted in the Latin Church, and had gained authoritative support through diocesan decrees and papal decisions, the old term remained, and before 1854 the term “Immaculata Conceptio” is nowhere found in the liturgical books, except in the invitatorium of the Votive Office of the Conception…<\/p>\n Today the Conception of St. Anne is in the Greek Church one of the minor feasts of the year. The lesson in Matins contains allusions to the apocryphal “Proto-evangelium” of St. James, which dates from the second half of the second century (see SAINT ANNE). To the Greek Orthodox of our days, however, the feast means very little; they continue to call it “Conception of St. Anne”, indicating unintentionally, perhaps, the active conception which was certainly not immaculate. In the Menaea of 9 December this feast holds only the second place, the first canon being sung in commemoration of the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection at Constantinople. The Russian hagiographer Muraview and several other Orthodox authors even loudly declaimed against the dogma after its promulgation, although their own preachers formerly taught the Immaculate Conception in their writings long before the definition of 1854…<\/p>\n In the Western Church the feast appeared (8 December), when in the Orient its development had come to a standstill. The timid beginnings of the new feast in some Anglo-Saxon monasteries in the eleventh century, partly smothered by the Norman conquest, were followed by its reception in some chapters and dioceses by the Anglo-Norman clergy…<\/p>\n The “Martyrology of Tallaght” compiled about 790 and the “Feilire” of St. Aengus (800) register the Conception of Mary on 3 May. (Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved December 8, 2012 from New Advent: http:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/cathen\/07674d.htm)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n From the above we see that:<\/p>\n Thus, the ‘Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary’ was not an original Christian observance.<\/p>\n Basically, Catholic dogma, defined in 1854 teaches that Mary was conceived without ‘original sin’ and that she allegedly lived a completely sinless life. Since Catholic scholars realize that this was not the original position of their early theologians (which they normally call “early Church fathers,” but are called “older Fathers” below), The Catholic Encyclopedia<\/em> declares:<\/p>\n In regard to the sinlessness of Mary the older Fathers are very cautious: some of them even seem to have been in error on this matter… these stray private opinions merely serve to show that theology is a progressive science. (Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved December 8, 2012 from New Advent: http:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/cathen\/07674d.htm)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Notice that the so-called “Proof from Tradition” disproves the belief in Mary’s claimed sinlessness. And instead of this being a biblical or early tradition, it developed over time.<\/p>\n Here is some of what I wrote about this subject in the past (note: DRB is an abbreviation for Douay-Rheims Bible, which is a Catholic-approved version):<\/p>\n In the 19th century, there was a female apparition in France, known as the Lady of Lourdes. One of the statements she reportedly stated in 1858 was, \u201cI am the Immaculate Conception!\u201d<\/p>\n Now this is an unusual and biblically contradictory idea as the Bible teaches that all have sinned (Roman 3:23) except Jesus (Hebrews 4:15), as He is the only one who had a biblically immaculate conception, but not the Marian kind.<\/p>\n For non-Catholics, let me explain that what became an extra-biblical Catholic doctrine was that Mary was conceived unlike all other humans and free of what many refer to as \u201coriginal sin.\u201d Specifically this \u201cdogma\u201d has been explained in Dr. Ludwig Ott\u2019s 20th century book Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma <\/em>as:<\/p>\n \u201cMary\u2019s freedom of original sin was an unmerited gift of God, and an exception from the law that was vouchsafed to her only.\u201d<\/p>\n His book also teaches:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary is not explicitly revealed in scripture\u2026 Neither the Greek nor the Latin Fathers explicitly (explicite) teach the Immaculate Conception of Mary.<\/p>\n So where did it come from?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s have a look at some comparative religion. Before the birth of Christ, the Iranian goddess Aredvi Sura An\u0101hit\u0101, known as the Persian Diana, was called \u201cthe virgin, \u201c\u201cthe immaculate. \u201c Kore-Persephoneia was also the \u201cimmaculate Maiden\u201c and \u201cVirgin of the World\u201c who gave birth to a son for Zeus, and she is believed to be same goddess Diana. Hence, it appears that at least some <\/em>of the idea was part of paganism associated with \u201cDiana\u201c goddess worship.<\/p>\n Jumping forward to the 12th century, a British monk Eadmer began to promote the idea of an Immaculate Conception of Mary. When he did so, \u201cSt. Bernard of Clairvaux\u2026 (about 1140), warned the faithful that this was an unfounded innovation\u2026\u201d So was the Catholic saint Bernard wrong in condemning Monk Eadmer\u2019s heresy here? Of course not! Others, at least as late as the 17th century supported Bernard\u2019s position on this.<\/p>\n Yet, after claiming to see an apparition in Rue du Bac, Paris in 1830, the Catholic saint Catherine Labour\u00e9 claimed Mary \u201cwas conceived without sin.\u201d The extra-biblical teaching of the so-called \u201cImmaculate Conception\u201d did not become a type of Catholic dogma until December 8, 1854. It, thus, was not part of early apostolic tradition…<\/p>\n In a letter to her confessor dated June 12, 1930, L\u00facia {of Fatima fame} claimed that she was told the following on the night of May 29th-30th, 1930:<\/p>\n There are five kinds of offenses and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary: (1) blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception; (2) against her perpetual virginity; (3) against her divine maternity, refusing to accept her at the same time as the Mother of humankind; (4) by those who try to publicly implant in the hearts of children an indifference, contempt, or even hate for this Immaculate Mother; and (5) for those who insult her sacred images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Priest Andrew Apostoli, in his Fatima for Today <\/em>book, wrote:<\/p>\n Those who commit such blasphemies against our Lady are in grave danger of losing their souls, for these sins seriously offend God himself.<\/p>\n I was shocked to read the above.<\/p>\n Now if all <\/em>five of those statements are blasphemies, then many early Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saints are guilty of blasphemy by that definition. History records that recognized Catholic and\/or Eastern Orthodox saints such as Melito, Irenaeus, Theophilus of Antioch, Origen, Basil, Cyprian of Carthage, John Chrysostom, Ambrose, Hilary, Gregory of Tours, Bernard of Clairvoux, Bonaventure, \u201cAlbert the Great,\u201d and Thomas Aquinas all took one or more positions that the \u201cmessenger\u201d apparently considered to be blasphemous.<\/p>\n Since Priest Apostoli says that salvation may be lost for taking positions against those messages, does not this mean that he is challenging the validity of the sainthood of all Catholic-approved saints who took such supposedly \u201cblasphemous\u201d positions?<\/p>\n He surely does not intend to, but that is what some of the \u201cblasphemy messages\u201d really mean…<\/p>\n Teaching Against the Immaculate Conception<\/strong><\/p>\n It needs to be understood that the idea of an Immaculate Conception for Mary was not an early tradition of the church nor is it taught in scripture.<\/p>\n The Catholic Encyclopedia <\/em>article of the Immaculate Conception <\/em>clearly recognizes this:<\/p>\n No direct or categorical and stringent proof of the dogma can be brought forward from Scripture.<\/p>\n So, the doctrine is simply not provable from the Holy Bible.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One aspects of the belief in Mary\u2019s \u201cImmaculate Conception\u201d is that \u201cshe was immune from all sin, personal, or inherited.\u201d Yet, scripture states:<\/p>\n 23 For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God. 24 Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:23-24, DRB)<\/p>\n 15 For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin. 16 Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid. (Hebrews 4:15-16, DRB)<\/p>\n All, including Mary, sinned, and need redemption through Christ Jesus (and not Mary) according to the Bible.<\/p>\n Notice that the Catholic Encyclopedia <\/em>article of the Immaculate Conception <\/em>also teaches:<\/p>\n * Origen\u2026thought that\u2026for her sins also Christ died (Origen, \u201cIn Luc. Hom. Xvii\u201d). The book Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma <\/em>also admits that \u201cindividual Greek Fathers (Origen, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Cyril of Alexandria) taught that Mary suffered from venial personal faults, such as ambition and vanity, doubt about the message of the Angel, and lack of faith under the Cross\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Either those Catholic saints (or Orthodox saints in the case of Origen) were not committing blasphemy, they were not really saints, and\/or the messages that L\u00facia was told did not come from God.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Additionally, as late as the early 5th century, even the Catholic saint Augustine would not teach as dogma that Mary was without sin.<\/p>\n About 1140, the Catholic saint Bernard of Clairvaux warned the faithful not to believe the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary as it was an unfounded innovation.<\/p>\n The Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma <\/em>also teaches that \u201cthe leading theologians of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries (Petrus Lombardus, St. Alexander of Hales, St. Bonaventure, St. Albert the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas\u2026) rejected the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.\u201d<\/p>\n Thus, to teach that it is blasphemy or a serious sin against God to not accept the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (as being different than how other humans were conceived) does not seem to be a biblical or early historical truth\u2014even Catholic saints opposed the view.<\/p>\n Notice also what Jesus taught:<\/p>\n 32 And the multitude sat about him; and they say to him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. Jesus is showing that all who do God\u2019s will are His mother, brother, or sisters. If Mary was sinless or conceived differently, He would have not included His mother in those statements.<\/p>\n The Eastern Orthodox in their Patriarchal Encyclical of 1895 <\/em>declared:<\/p>\n XIII. The one holy, catholic and apostolic Church of the seven Ecumenical Councils teaches that the supernatural incarnation of the only-begotten Son and Word of God, of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, is alone pure and immaculate; but the Papal Church scarcely forty years ago again made an innovation by laying down a novel dogma concerning the immaculate conception of the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary<\/strong>, which was unknown to the ancient Church <\/strong>(and strongly opposed at different times even by the more distinguished among the Papal theologians).<\/p>\n Thus, the Eastern Orthodox have long taught that the idea of an \u201cImmaculate Conception\u201d of Mary was \u201cunknown by the ancient Church.\u201d386 And they correctly teach that Jesus alone is pure and immaculate, and refer to the Immaculate Conception teaching as a novel \u201cinnovation.\u201d An innovation adopted since the 1800s is not an original teaching\u2014true traditionalists cannot accept such late traditions as essential.<\/p>\n Since Pope Benedict XVI considers that those of the Eastern Orthodox are churches in \u201cthe proper sense,\u201d387 obviously the Pope does not believe that they are committing sin or blasphemy in denying the modern teaching of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Nor should anyone else based upon what the Bible teaches.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The pro-Vatican news source Zenit.com reported these two items:<\/p>\n ROME, DEC. 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Padre Pio said that “The Madonna is the shortcut to get to God.”<\/p>\n There is no doubt that in order to see the face of Jesus, we must turn to His Mother, and it is to Her who we look to heal our diseases, to turn our tears into prayer. http:\/\/www.zenit.org\/article-36131?l=english<\/p>\n\n
The feast of the Immaculate Conception<\/h2>\n
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Proof from Tradition<\/h2>\n
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\n*\u2026St. Basil writes in the fourth century: he sees in the sword, of which Simeon speaks, the doubt which pierced Mary\u2019s soul (Epistle 259).
\n* St. Chrysostom accuses her of ambition, and of putting herself forward unduly when she sought to speak to Jesus at Capharnaum (Matthew 12:46; Chrysostom, Homily 44 on Matthew).<\/p>\n\n
\n33 And answering them, he said: Who is my mother and my brethren?
\n34 And looking round about on them who sat about him, he saith: Behold my mother and my brethren.
\n35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother. (Mark 3:32-35, DRB)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Best Wishes for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception<\/h2>\n
Vatican City,