"...We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful."
-In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed in his Bull Ineffabilis
The Immaculate Virgin Mary is the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle of the Divine Savior Jesus Christ, and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is called "Women" to signify she is the new Women; yet unlike Eve "Full of Grace".
Before the fall, Adam called his partner "Woman": The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
After the fall she was given a different name: Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. Our Lord refers to His Mother many times with the glorified title of "Woman" because she wrought Our Salvation with Her Fiat and at the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity became Flesh from Her Flesh! Every human on Earth references time, history and eternity on the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ. (AD: Anno Domini or BC: Before Christ) She is now Assumed Body and Soul into Heaven and is crowned "Queen of Heaven and Earth"! "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head." This "Woman" the Immaculate Virgin Mary will crush the head of the Serpent"! The Immaculate Virgin Mary was by grace what our Lord Jesus Christ was by nature!
"The most Holy Mother of God ...by virtue of the foreseen merits of Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, was never subject to original sin, but was completely preserved from the original taint, and hence she was redeemed in a manner more sublime." "The Fathers of the Church meditated on the fact that the most Blessed Virgin Mary was proclaimed "Full of Grace" by the Angel Gabriel when he announced to her the singular and solemn salutation that she was chosen to be Mother of God. The Mother of God became the seat of all the Divine Graces and was adorned by the Holy Spirit the new Ark of the Covenant. The Immaculate Virgin Mary was an inexhaustible abyss of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to such an extent that she was never subject to the curse of Adam and Eve and was together with her Son, the only partaker of perpetual benediction. Hence she was worthy to hear Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exclaim: "Blessed art thou among all women and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb" (Luke 1:42) Hence, it is the clear and unanimous opinion of the Church Fathers that the most glorious Virgin Mary, for whom "He who is mighty has done great things" was resplendent with such an abundance of heavenly gifts, with such innocence, that she is an unspeakable miracle of God, the crown of all miracles and truly the Mother of God and is nearer to God as is possible for a created being and that she is above all men and angels in glory!"
While all other men are cleansed from sin through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Virgin Mary was exempted from sin through the merits of her Divine Son!
-Pope Pius IX
"The Immaculate Virgin Mary let the veil fall over her face and crossed her hands before her breast. I saw her fervently praying thus for a long time, with her face raised to Heaven. She was imploring God for redemption, for the promised King, and beseeching Him that her prayer might have some share in sending Him.
She knelt long in an ecstasy of prayer; then she bowed her head on to her breast. But now at her right hand there poured down such a mass of light in a slanting line from the ceiling of the room. In this light a shining white youth, with flowing yellow hair, floating down before the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was the Angel Gabriel."
"The angel Gabriel gently moved his arms away from his body as he spoke to her. The words issuing from his mouth like shining letters; "Hail full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee; Blessed art Thou among Women" The Immaculate Virgin Mary turned her veiled head slightly towards the right, but she was humble and did not look up.
"But the angel went on speaking, "Fear not Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of His Kingdom there shall be no end." and as if at his command the Immaculate Virgin Mary turned her face a little towards him, raised her "veil slightly, and answered."
"How shall this be done, since I know not man"? The angel Gabriel answered her: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy Child which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God! And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also had conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God."
The Immaculate Virgin Mary exclaimed:
"Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your Word.
The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us!
The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us!
ET INCARNATUS EST DE SPIRITU SANCTO EX MARIA VIRGINE ET HOMO FACTUS EST
