Catholic 411 Catechism Prayer For Vocations Youth Update Archives Links
That Mary was immaculate in her conception and sinless in her life has been believed and taught by many saints and doctors of the Church from early times. For example, Saint Cyril of Alexandria says, "Whoever heard of an architect who built himself a temple and yielded up first possession of it to his greatest enemy?" In later years, especially in the Middle Ages, belief in Mary's exemption from original sin became an occasion of controversy. Saint Leo and Saint Bonaventure, for example, found it difficult to reconcile the doctrine with the dignity of Christ as the universal savior of all. Yet the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) has been celebrated in many part of the Western Church for more than a thousand years. It was solemnly defined as an article of faith in 1854. Four years later, it is believed, a lady appeared to a sickly and simple girl called Bernadette, in a little French village named Lourdes. Three times Bernadette asked the lady her name. At the third time of asking the Lady replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception."