A common confusion I run into. Not that it makes the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception entirely palatable:
Another misunderstanding is that by her immaculate conception, Mary did not need a saviour. On the contrary, when defining the dogma in Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX affirmed that Mary was redeemed in a manner more sublime. He stated that Mary, rather than being cleansed after sin, was completely prevented from contracting Original Sin in view of the foreseen merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race. In Luke 1:47, Mary proclaims: "My spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour." This is referred to as Mary's pre-redemption by Christ.
From, of course, Wikipedia.
4 comments:
This of course, illustrates the idea that we are saved by Grace given by God. This has always brought up a tough question for me. Because I was under the impression that there can be no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood or atonement.
But yet we have illustrated throughout the gospels Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic, the theif on the cross, etc... all before his atoning work on the cross.
I wouldn't want to think that this in any way diminishes the power of the cross. But what are these acts saying about the nature of salvation.
Brett, the answer lies, I think, in the fact that Christ is "the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world".
A miracle appearance of the Virgin Mary.
www.holymarylamp.com
HAHA... Lava Lamp Mary. Have any miracles happened other than it looking like Mary? Like healings... Isn't that what they need to classify it as a true Marian appearance?
frgregacca- Interesting insight. I would love if someone would delve into that more sometime. I just don't want to say God can do whatever He wants and be on the slippery slope of universalism.
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