Path: christian Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian From: daven@vx.acs.umn.edu (David Nieters) Subject: Immaculate Conception Organization: University of Minnesota CIS Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [I'm not really anxious to restart the past discussion on this topic, but this articles contained so much useful factual information that it seemed worth posting (and saving for my FAQ collection). --clh] I tried posting this a couple of weeks ago, but I do not think it made it to the news group. My appoligies if you already read this. I hope the following can answer some of your questions on the Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. It is part of a paper I wrote for my girlfriend who is a Protestant. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Throughout history, there had been great debate over whether or not Mary was conceived without sin. In the twelfth century, Anselm of Canterbury denied it as well as St. Bernard, St. Thomas Aquainas and his Dominican followers. The Franciscans, following Duns Scotus argued for a "sinless conception". In 1483, Pope Sixtus IV intervened in the quarrel declaring that both beliefs should be tolerated since the matter had not yet been decided by the Roman Church and the Apostolic See. In 1840, French bishops petitioned Pope Gregory XVI to proclaim a dogmatic definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Pope Gregory XVI did not do this, however, because the opposition from theologians and bishops in countries where Catholics were a minority was too strong. In 1848, there was political turmoil and revolutions throughout Europe. The papacy left Vatican and took shelter under the protection of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte along with French Catholics. It was while he was in exile in France that Pope Pius IX announced his intention to proclaim the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In 1849, while in Gaeta, France, in an Encyclical Letter, Pope Pius IX called for the opinions of all bishops upon the subject of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A large majority - about two-thirds of those who made answer - replied as the Pope desired; but others, including German and French bishops, expressed themselves on the other side. On December 8, 1854, in the presence of about 200 bishops, Pope Pius IX, in his Papal Bull entitled Ineffabilis Dens ("Ineffable God") declared it to be a revealed truth that the Blessed Virgin, from the first instant of her conception was preserved free from all stain of Original Sin. The stating of the Papal Bull is as follows: "We, with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and with Our own, do declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which hold that the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by the singular grace and privilege of almighty God and in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is the story behind the "revealed truth". It involves an apparation of Mary to a young visionary. It has been investigated and judged worthy of belief by the Catholic Church as have been other apparations of Mary through history. St. Vicent de Paul founded the Congregation of the mission of Lazarists in 1625 and the Sisters of Charity in 1633. He died in 1660. The remains of St. Vincent de Paul, `Father of the poor' were being transported from Notre-Dame to the Vincentian chapel of St. Lazre in Paris on April 25, 1830. A military band and companies of guards and policemen accompanied the reliquary. King Charles X was there in person to venerate the relics. Catherine Laboure, a 24-year-old postulant of the Sisters of Charity was in the crowd. The night after the ceremony, Catherine saw St. Vincent's heart hovering above a case containing his small relics at the mother house in the rue de Bac, Paris. The heart appeared to her at three different times, three days running. At first it appeared white in color announcing peace, calm, innocence and unity. Then it was red like fire lighting the flame of charity in people's hearts. Then it was red-black which brought sadness to Catherine's heart. The heart appeared once more in a light shade of red and an inner voice said to Catherine, "The heart of St. Vincent is a little consoled. He has obtained from God, through the intercession of Mary, that his two families shall not perish in the midst of these calamities, and that God will make use of them to revive the faith in France". On June 6, 1830, as she was taking Holy Communion, Christ appeared to Catherine. His form was seen through the Host as it was held out to her lips. The host turned black, filling Catherine with foreboding of the dethronement of King Charles. On July 18, 1830, Catherine was awakened from her sleep sometime before midnight. Her guadrian angel, a golden-haired little boy was there and led Catherine downstairs to the chapel. She wasn't there long before she heard a faint rustling of a silk gown. She lookup up and saw a lady of wonderous beauty enter the sanctuary and sit down. Mary told Catherine that misfortunes will come crashing down on France. The throne will be toppled. The archbishop will die. The cross will be despised and trodden underfoot. The side of Our Lord will be pierced anew, and the streets will run with blood. Mary also told Catherine a secret which was never revealed. Days later, Charles X abdicated the throne to his grandson, the Duke of Bordeaux. Revolutions followed and on August 7, Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orleans, was proclaimed King. On November 27, 1830, Catherine was summoned to the chapel. Mary made her appearance at 5:30 pm. She was wearing a white silk robe. Her fingers were covered with rings which emitted beams of light. "These rays of light," Mary told Catherine, "are a symbol of the graces which I obtain for those who ask them of me." Mary was standing on a globe which represented the whole world and France in particular, and everyone in it. Mary then stretched out her arms, and an oval frame formed around her. On the frame, in golden letters, was written, "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." A voice told Catherine to have a medal struck depicting the vision. Those who wear the medal will receive great graces. Mary appeared to Catherine for the last time in December, 1830. She told Catherine, "You will not see me anymore, but you will hear my voice during your prayers." Mass production of the medal was approved by Archbishop de Quelen and began in 1832. Within seven years, ten million copies were in circulation as far as the U.S.A., China, Russia, and Abyssinia. Approval was given by Rome, and more than 1 billion medals were struck within Catherine's own lifetime. The medals have been attributed to many miracles. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a side note, I would like to know what Protestants believe and or think of the visions of Mary at such places as Fatima, Lourdes, and present day Medjugorie. To my surprise, my girlfriend had not even heard of them. If anyone is interested, I can post what I have written about those as well. I have included only the Immaculate Conception to keep this post short. David Nieters University of Minnesota daven@vx.acs.umn.edu