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Well, the canon of the New Testament wasn't there at the beginning either. Based on your logic, we should only read the Old Testament.[/B]
If it is not there at the beginning, it is a human creation. Put another way, not Apostolic.
...more than a millennium after Christ!
Interesting speculation. Nothing to make dogma out of, however.
Well, the canon of the New Testament wasn't there at the beginning either. Based on your logic, we should only read the Old Testament.
Actually, it was "realized" 9 months before Jesus was born. When the angel addressed her "Hail, full of grace".
And has been discussed in one way or another, since the Early Church, it just wasn't formal defined and decreed until 1854.
Peace be with you...Pam
You know, the word "Trinity" came much later too. Is that a good reason to deny the Trinity?
You should read Cardinal Newman's "Essay On The Development Of Christian Doctrine". In it, he explains the difference between authentic development of doctrine and invention of false doctrine.
Doctrine develops. The Church grows in understanding. We know more about the Trinity now than St Paul did, and we know more about Mary now than the Apostles did. This is not hard to understand.
It did take time for this doctrine to develop, but that has nothing to do with whether it is true or not. Two Franciscans, William of Ware and Blessed John Duns Scotus, helped develop the theology. They point out that Marys Immaculate Conception enhances Jesus redemptive work. Other members of the human race are cleansed from original sin after birth. In Mary, Jesus work was so powerful as to prevent original sin at the outset.
In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on Gods behalf, addresses Mary as full of grace (or highly favored). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Marys intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Marys whole life. The logic of piety helped Gods people to believe that Mary was full of grace and free of sin from the first moment of her existence. Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.
Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.
[/b]
If it is not there at the beginning, it is a human creation. Put another way, not Apostolic.
...more than a millennium after Christ!
Interesting speculation. Nothing to make dogma out of, however.
Apostolic Churches as a whole, with some members alone not agreeing, all hold to her sinlessness.
The deal with Mary is that she had to be born without sin and continued in her life without sin.
For that matter, how about the teaching that "marriage can exist only between a man and a woman". How come no one recognized that fact until the late 20th Century? No one ever uttered those words until then...Immaculate Conception - Why Did It Take 1,854 Years to Discover This Doctrine?
...Just out of curiousity, if Mary "was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin" (Immaculate Conception), why did it take 1,854 years after the birth of Jesus before anyone realized this? How come the Catholic church did not recognize this fact until 1854 AD? It wasnt until Pope Pius IX uttered those words on December 8, 1854, that this doctrine was issued.
For that matter, how about the teaching that "marriage can exist only between a man and a woman". How come no one recognized that fact until the late 20th Century? No one ever uttered those words until then...
That rationalization is often made, but there really is no reason why this would have to be. It might seem nice--like some topping on the cake for respect directed at the mother of Christ--but it's hardly necessary to God's plans, to the Incarnation, or to anything else.
And, on the other hand, we have scripture telling us that it didn't happen. So, both of those should pull us in the direction of discounting the Immaculate Conception or 'never sinned' theories that surfaced long after the time of Christ.
That is RC nonsense, of course. "Mary was baptized at conception by the Lord." Where do you folks come up with this offal?Mary has very much to do with salvation...
Through Baptism we are all justified before God all of our Sins are washed away. Orginal Sin and other sins. That is why the Church only teaches One baptism for the forgivness of sins.
Once Baptized you are a member of Christ's church. Mary was baptized at conception by the Lord. She was able to live her entire life from birth to death with out sin....
Mary is proof to any who wish to believe in the Power of Jesus christ and the purpose of his death and ressurection to not only forgive us of all of our sins but to all every man woman and child to be born again in Christ.
Mary is a role model of what a follower of Christ should be.... If anyone took a role like Mary's they too would be sinless....
Mary's role in salvation is showing that Man can be sinless in christ if we follow what he teaches and obey what he commands. This is the power of faith in Christ not to be helpless and sinful but to be alive and sinless.
Christ died to defeat sin... those who follow christ should reject all sin any sin commited is a rejection of Christ's death.
Mary is the example of a perfect Christian. She went through her entire life following God. We are called to be baptized and take up the same dedication to follow the Lord.
That is RC nonsense, of course. "Mary was baptized at conception by the Lord." Where do you folks come up with this offal?
I didn't write God could not do it. Why do you belittle the Son by trying to turn Mary into a second Jesus?Why do you belittle God saying that he couldn't have done this?
I didn't write God could not do it. Why do you belittle the Son by trying to turn Mary into a second Jesus?
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