The Immaculate Conception: An Artistic Tribute

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Immaculate Conception was not defined dogma until 1854, but it was believed and defended by ordinary Catholics and great theologians many centuries before that. The doctrine was always based in the Bible verse (Lk. 1:28), “And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” It’s already an unusual greeting in that angels in the Bible usually appear and start issuing orders, rather than offering a respectful greeting. But it’s much more than a mere compliment.

Luke’s Gospel, of course, was originally written in Greek, and the word translated “full of grace” is kekaritomene (κεχαριτωμενη). This perfect passive participial form is rare in Greek, and unfortunately has no direct translation into English. The closest literal translation is “to have been fully perfected in grace in the past, a state which persists into the present.” This has long been explained by the Immaculate Conception—that is, through the foreseen merits of Jesus Christ’s salvific death, Mary was miraculously preserved from the original sin every human inherits, at the moment of her conception.

This was very fitting for the Mother of God. After all, Jesus was in Mary’s womb for nine months, and he got all of his human DNA from her—how would it be appropriate for her to be sinful? The early Church understood that insulting Mary insulted Jesus. Mary is only important because Jesus made her so, but Jesus made her the holiest person ever at her conception. That is why St. Elizabeth calls her “blessed among women” and Mary prophesies, “Behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” (Lk. 1:42, 48)

Jesus, God himself, showed unique deference to her as well. He did not wish to perform a miracle at Cana (John 2) but he did after she asked him to do so. All Christians believe in intercession, which is why we ask others for prayers. Whom better to ask than Jesus’ own mother, who conceived him through God’s power, gave birth to him, raised him and lived with him for 30 years, and stood beside him as he died? No one was or is closer to Jesus than Mary.