Ever since the Son of God, the second Person of the blessed Trinity, God Himself, became a human being, many people have refused to believe Jesus is God. They find it difficult to believe that God Himself could have been conceived by Mary through normal sexual intercourse. They are partly right, for Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary and not by sexual intercourse (Lk 1:35). The virgin-conception and virgin-birth of Jesus is an indication of His divinity.

Likewise, many deny Jesus' divinity because they can't see how a woman with our fallen, defective human nature (see Gn 3:13) could possibly conceive the all-holy, all-perfect, infinite God. Once again, they are partly right, for Mary was not conceived having our fallen nature. She was conceived immaculately by the saving power of the Son of God before He also became the Son of Mary. The Church teaches: "To become the mother of the Savior, Mary 'was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role' " (Catechism, 490).

This glorious feast of Mary's Immaculate Conception is especially about Jesus' divine conception. Mary was immaculately conceived to prepare her to conceive Jesus, Who is divine. The most challenging argument against Jesus' divinity is His humanity. Mary's immaculate conception partially answers that argument and proclaims Jesus as Lord and God (Jn 20:28).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001