“There is nothing like Mary! Nothing outside of God. It was fitting that such a venerable Mother should shine in holiness and achieve the most complete triumph over the ancient serpent.”
Newsroom (12/12/2022 09:33, Gaudium Press) The Blessed Trinity wanted to apply to Mary in the most glorious way the merits of Christ’s Passion, even before it was realized in time. “Thus she, always absolutely free from all stain of sin, all beautiful and perfect, possesses such fullness of innocence and holiness, that, after that of God, it is not possible to think of a greater one, and of whom, excepting God, no mind can comprehend the depth.”[1]
In Mary, human nature regained the ideal beauty that it had lost when our first parents left Paradise, punished by the most just hand of God; in her, the supernatural greatness that constituted Eve’s glory before sin reappeared, dazzling and even more gracious.
Through the Immaculate Conception, the beautiful days of Eden returned to the land of exile, making of it the most beguiling that so venerable Mother beautiful garden.
Good theologians are unanimous in admitting that the grace bestowed on Mary in the very act of her conception reached extraordinary magnitude precisely because extraordinary was the love that God, from the beginning, bestowed on the One who was to constitute the archetype of humanity together with Christ.
And no one dares to deny that on that occasion the Trinity bestowed on her all the infused virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit in a measure commensurate with the grace that adorned her. One would say that, after Jesus, it would be impossible to receive more.
That is why the feeling prevails among Mariologists that, already at the first moment of her existence, the Blessed Virgin enjoyed the use of reason, formed a high concept of God, and knew clearly the gift that was given to Her. Doesn’t St. Luke tell us in his Gospel that the little John the Baptist exulted with joy in his mother’s womb when he was sanctified by Mary’s voice (cf. Lk 1:41-44)? It was certainly a conscious act. Why then doubt that the Almighty favored his Mother in an even more eminent way?[2]
You are all beautiful and without blemish
“Mary was preserved from original sin. How, then, can we imagine that the thorns, the vile and evil plants that swarm over our souls, could have sprouted in her soul?
The honor of God, with whom she was to have such an intimate relationship, required that she be free from the stain of our first parents’ sin of disobedience; so could He allow her to become guilty by an act of her own will?
The spotless Angels would not recognize as their Queen a creature fallen by a fatal law; much less, therefore, a creature who had dishonored herself of her own free will.
Moreover, where would sin come from in a soul in which the submissive passions were meekly subjected to the rule of reason, in which provident grace was tirelessly preparing the dwelling of Eternal Wisdom?
No, no faults, however slight they may be! The oracle must be absolutely right, that the Beloved of God is all beautiful and without stain: “Tota pulchra es amica mea et macula non est in te – You are all beautiful, my Friend, and in You there is no sin” (Ct 4:7-8).
See how far the delicacy of the divine Guardian goes. The innocent Virgin can become the suspect of a crime when the miracle of her Maternity takes place. It is necessary to prevent human weakness, deceived by appearances, from disturbing with unjust accusations the peace of the blessed place, which the power of the Most High will cover with its shadow and the Holy Spirit will fecundate (Cf. Lk 1, 35).
Chaste nuptials will wrap this mystery with a protective veil. For the honor of his Mother, the Incarnate Word will consent to be called the son of the carpenter Joseph; and the Christian people will learn from the Virgin and her spouse that pure love, the union of hearts, mutual devotion, the emulation of virtues give marriage its true dignity, better than the vulgar confluence of passions and senses can give it.”[3]
[1] Cf. Pius IX. Ineffabilis Deus, n.2.
[2] Msgr. João Clá Dias. Mary Most Holy! God’s Paradise revealed to men. Part II.
[3] Fr. Jacques-Marie-Louis Monsabré, OP
