Mary is the new Eve

OPINION

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende

On December 8, the Catholic Church celebrates a very important feast in salvation history, known as the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It centers on the belief that Jesus' mother was conceived without sin. It was proclaimed a dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854. The feast marks nine months before the Nativity of Mary, on September 8. 

In the times in which we live, where truth is under attack, it is good to remind ourselves of the truth that is inherent in the Catholic Church. So, before we delve more into the Immaculate Conception, we need to better understand the general meaning of dogma.

Dogma means a principle laid down by an authority as undeniably true. The Catholic position is that the content of dogma has a divine origin. It is considered to be an expression of an objective truth that does not change. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (see Matthew 24:35).

A common example of Christian dogma is that while God is only one (monotheism), He is also three persons: "God the "Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit." The persons of the Trinity are co-equal and co-eternal, one in essence, nature, power, action, and will.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (see John 14:26). In fulfillment of this promise, the Church declares doctrine or dogmas. All dogma is doctrine, but not all doctrine is dogma. This distinction appears in 1 and 2 Timothy and in Acts 16:4.

Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church that states that, in virtue of the promise of Jesus to Peter, the Pope is preserved from the possibility of error "when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians: "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (see Matthew 18:18). The pope only testifies to what the Church has received and leads the faithful to believe in it.

Many people confuse the Immaculate Conception with the "virgin birth"; the belief that Mary gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin. They are not the same thing. The Immaculate Conception does not mean that Mary was conceived without sexual intercourse. She was born of biological parents.

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace".  In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace. So, Mary was immaculately conceived as part of her being "full of grace".

Adam and Eve were both created immaculate. They fell from grace, and through them mankind was bound to sin. Christ and Mary were also conceived immaculate. They remained faithful, and through them, mankind was redeemed from sin. Christ is thus the New Adam, and Mary the New Eve. (see 1 Corinthians 15:45).

Because of the way redemption was applied to Mary at the moment of her conception, she not only was protected from contracting original sin but also from personal sin. Mary never sinned. The Church describes Mary as "the most excellent fruit of redemption". By giving Mary this grace from the first moment of her conception, God showed us an image of our own destiny. He shows us that this is possible for humans by his grace.