Q&A: I once heard that Mary had to be baptized in order to become a member of the Church, even though she was conceived without sin. Is this really the teaching of the Church?
Fr. James McMillan, SMM
Submitted by: Q.H., Lafayette, Indiana
MARY BAPTIZED?
Here is how the Church de-scribes Baptism:
“Baptism, the gate to the sacraments, necessary for salvation in fact or at least in intention, by-which men and women are freed from their sins, are re-born as children of God and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated in the Church, is validly conferred only with washing with true water together with the required form of words.” (Canon #849)
Baptism Does More Than Take Away Sin
As you can see from this explanation, Baptism does more than take away sin. By it, we become children of God, are made members of Christ’s mystical Body and become one with Him in His Church. If sin, either original or personal, is present, Baptism will remove that sin.
There never was any sin in Our Lady, since she had been granted the unique privilege of the Immaculate Conception. However, she underwent Baptism, as did the Apostles and disciples of Christ, because Christ had instituted the Sacrament of Baptism for the other purposes mentioned above, and not only for the remission of sin.
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Mary, Most Holy: American Artist and Painter: Charles Bosseron Chambers: 1930s
This is an amazing “portrait” of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a child. In the painting, Mary is portrayed as a girl of about five years of age.
C. Bosseron Chambers (1880 – 1964) was a painter, illustrator and teacher. One publication describes Chambers as the “Norman Rockwell of Catholic art”.
M1984.07
