Immaculate Conception and Assumption in Brief
In Luke chapter 1 in the accounts of what Catholics call The Annuciation and the Visitation, Mary is greeted by the the Angel Gabriel as FULL of Grace. (Luke 1:28) Some translations render this "Hail favored one" or "Highly favored one" Notice that Gabriel does not call her by name but by a title....a title which Catholics believe capture the nature of God's gift to her. This is the only place in scripture where an angel addresses a human by anything other than that person's name. The Greek verb used here (and I am not a Greek scholar so I must trust others to tell this to me) carries with it the meaning that Mary has already been graced and is now "fully graced" but the angel cannot be referring to her forthcoming pregnancy (and thus, the presence of Jesus in her womb) because she has not yet consented to it. Even so, she is told "The Lord is WITH you"...present tense. And as I understand it, the Greek verb forms here differ slightly from those used to describe Stephan in Acts 6 in that it is a stronger assertion. So the angel's greeting implies that was not only filled with Grace in the past but is also in the present moment filled with Grace. All BEFORE being granted the privilege of carrying Jesus in her womb. I believe that Gabriel greeted her as such because He, like me, was is awe of God's amazing work in her life.
The contrast between the Annunciation in Luke 1 and the account of the birth of John in that same chapter is significant and part of the scriptural reason that Catholics believe that Mary retained her virginity throughout her life. The placement of these two accounts in Luke's gospel indicates that he intended to to highlight the differences between the two angelic announcements. Notice that Mary responds not with disbelief at the angel's statement but wonder "How this be, since I have no relations with man?" she does not say, I have not had relations with a man YET. Catholics believe that Mary was a Temple virgin and that her response to the angel Gabriel is indicative her her wonderment because even though she is betrothed she is a vowed virgin. Unless she is ignorant of the birds and the bees, her question makes no sense unless she never intends to consummate her forthcoming marriage. The angel answers her to reassure her that she is not to break her vow of virginity, that her child is to be miraculously conceived. And in fact the Dead Seas Scrolls show that this practice was far more common than previously believed.
And Zechariah says "How shall I know?" which expresses his disbelief (for which he is struck dumb).
Other passages that support the Perpetual Virginity of Mary:
Additionally, the fact that Jesus committed Mary to the care of John (John 19:26) is indicative that there were no brothers to care for her. It would have been illegal for Jesus to do this and for John to accept since by LAW Mary would have been cared for by any other children.
That Mary was perpetually Virgin is a long-standing (and not in the last 500 years sort of Tradition). Of course these are not scriptural references but I only provde them to show that defining a doctrine that has been around for about 2000 years does not make it new. Even the doctrine of the Trinity (which most but not all Protestants accept) was not defined until later in church history. I provide them to demonstrate my earlier assertion that Tradition (with a capital T) always comes from scripture and is supported by the understanding of those who have come before us.:
From the early church father regarding the Immaculate Conception:
Mary is believed to be in heaven (Assumption) because she plays a prominent role in the vision John had of heaven in Revelation 11:19-12:1. Catholics believe that she is the woman clothed in the sun because she is the Ark of the New Covenant [parallels to the OT Ark which contained the rod of Aaron (sign of priesthood); the stone tablets on which God himself wrote the commandments (the word of God); and manna (bread from heaven)....all of these are fulfilled in Mary who bore the Bread of Heaven, the Word made Flesh, and the Eternal High Priest]
The contrast between the Annunciation in Luke 1 and the account of the birth of John in that same chapter is significant and part of the scriptural reason that Catholics believe that Mary retained her virginity throughout her life. The placement of these two accounts in Luke's gospel indicates that he intended to to highlight the differences between the two angelic announcements. Notice that Mary responds not with disbelief at the angel's statement but wonder "How this be, since I have no relations with man?" she does not say, I have not had relations with a man YET. Catholics believe that Mary was a Temple virgin and that her response to the angel Gabriel is indicative her her wonderment because even though she is betrothed she is a vowed virgin. Unless she is ignorant of the birds and the bees, her question makes no sense unless she never intends to consummate her forthcoming marriage. The angel answers her to reassure her that she is not to break her vow of virginity, that her child is to be miraculously conceived. And in fact the Dead Seas Scrolls show that this practice was far more common than previously believed.
And Zechariah says "How shall I know?" which expresses his disbelief (for which he is struck dumb).
Other passages that support the Perpetual Virginity of Mary:
Additionally, the fact that Jesus committed Mary to the care of John (John 19:26) is indicative that there were no brothers to care for her. It would have been illegal for Jesus to do this and for John to accept since by LAW Mary would have been cared for by any other children.
That Mary was perpetually Virgin is a long-standing (and not in the last 500 years sort of Tradition). Of course these are not scriptural references but I only provde them to show that defining a doctrine that has been around for about 2000 years does not make it new. Even the doctrine of the Trinity (which most but not all Protestants accept) was not defined until later in church history. I provide them to demonstrate my earlier assertion that Tradition (with a capital T) always comes from scripture and is supported by the understanding of those who have come before us.:
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Originally Posted by St Peter Chrysologous
Where are they who think that the Virgin's conception and giving birth to her child are to be likened to those of other women? For, this latter case is one of the earth, and the Virgin's is one from heaven. This one is a case of divine power; the other of human weakness. The one case occurs in a body subject to passion; the other in tranquility of the divine Spirit and peace of the human body. The blood was still, and the flesh astonished; her members were put at rest, and her entire womb was quiescent during the visit of the Heavenly One, until the Author of flesh could take on his garment of flesh, and until He, who was not merely to restore the earth to man but also to give him heaven, could become a heavenly Man. The Virgin conceives, the Virgin brings forth her child, and she remains a virgin.
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Originally Posted by St. John of Damascus
The ever-Virgin One thus reamains even after her birth still virgin, having never at any time till death consorted with a man.
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Originally Posted by St. Leo the Great
The origin is different but the nature like: not by intercourse with a man but by the power of God was it brought about: for a virgin conceived, a Virgin bare and a Virgin she remained.
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From the early church father regarding the Immaculate Conception:
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Originally Posted by St Ephraem
Truly you, Lord and your mother are the only ones who are beautiful, completely so in every respect; for, Lord, there is no spot in you, nor any spot at all in your mother.
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Originally Posted by St. Augustine
We must except the holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question whien it touches the subject of sins, out of honor to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particuolar was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin. Well, then, if, with this exception of the Virgin, we could only assemble together all the forementioned holy men and women, and ask them whether they lived without sin while they were in this life, what can we suppose would be their answer? Would it be in the language of our author [Pelagius] or in the words of the Apostle John? I put it to you, whether, on having such a question submitted to them, however excellent might have been their sancity in this body, they would have exclaimed with one voice: 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us' (1 John 1:8) |
Mary is believed to be in heaven (Assumption) because she plays a prominent role in the vision John had of heaven in Revelation 11:19-12:1. Catholics believe that she is the woman clothed in the sun because she is the Ark of the New Covenant [parallels to the OT Ark which contained the rod of Aaron (sign of priesthood); the stone tablets on which God himself wrote the commandments (the word of God); and manna (bread from heaven)....all of these are fulfilled in Mary who bore the Bread of Heaven, the Word made Flesh, and the Eternal High Priest]
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