Q&A: I am an Evangelical Christian. During my stay here in Washington, D.C., I visited the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Many things about the shrine disturb me, but most especially its name. If Mary is immaculately conceived, then she is not a member of the human race since she is not redeemed. Catholics give me the impression of adoring Mary.
Father J. Patrick Gaffney, SMM
A member of the pro-life group, Washington, DC.
Is Mary Human?
Mary is, as Vatican Council II teaches, “of the race of Adam . . . united to all those who are to be saved”. (The Church, 53). She is, as Paul VI declares, our sister (On Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, 56). She is definitely a member of the human race, in no way to be adored since adoration is due to God alone.
Mary not redeemed? That’s not Catholic doctrine. Again, Vatican Council II authoritatively teaches; “redeemed in a more exalted fashion by reason of the merits of her Son”. (The Church, 53). There are two ways of rescuing someone from a ditch; first, preserve them from falling into it; second, liberate them from the ditch once they have fallen into it. Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a preservative redemption. Ours is liberative. Both are redemption through the merits of the death / resurrection of Jesus our God.
The Immaculate Conception is rooted – implicated in the Scriptural portraits of Mary and becomes more distinct and conspicuous through the Church’s prayerful living and proclaiming of the word of God.
The fundamental problem you raise is not in the field of Mariology. Rather, it concerns the meaning of Scripture itself. You’ll find a detailed answer to this question in the Mary in the Gospel of Mark series within The Queen.
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