Mary, Model of Holiness and Grace – Dec 09 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 09, 2024, on how the Immaculate Conception of Mary shows her unique role as the New Eve and model of holiness, helping us to live in God’s grace.

Father explains the Catholic teaching on the Immaculate Conception of Mary, emphasizing that she was conceived without original sin. This doctrine underscores the perfection of Christ as Redeemer and Mary's unique role as the New Eve, contrasting her immaculate state with humanity's fallen nature due to original sin.

Original Sin: Father begins by discussing original sin, referring to Genesis where God created human nature as good but acknowledges the disorder introduced through Adam's disobedience (Genesis 1:31 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1?31). This sin spiritually impoverished humanity, akin to an ancestor squandering an inheritance. The consequences include a tendency toward sin and physical death.

Mary as the New Eve: In contrast to Eve, Mary, as the New Eve, was preserved from sin, a truth foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15 (Genesis 3:15 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?15), where God declares enmity between the serpent and the Woman. Father explains that Mary's Immaculate Conception was a preventative redemption, reflecting God's perfect plan. Blessed John Duns Scotus provided theological grounding for this belief.

Mary and Christ's Role: Mary is the mother of the New Adam, Christ, who refounded humanity. Christ offers the grace and immortality lost through Adam. Just as Eve was called "Mother of all the living," Mary, through her Immaculate Conception, becomes the true Mother of eternal life.

Living the Call to Holiness: The second reading (Ephesians 1:4 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1?4) calls believers to be holy and "immaculate." Father highlights Mary as a model of virtues such as faith, charity, and obedience, urging the faithful to imitate her and live a life of grace that opposes sin.

Further Reading
Genesis 1:31 NAB - God's creation was very good - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/1?31
Genesis 3:15 NAB - Enmity between the serpent and the Woman - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3?15
Ephesians 1:4 NAB - God's call for us to be holy - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1?4
Catechism of the Catholic Church 491 - The Immaculate Conception defined - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p2.htm#491
Catholic Answers - What the Early Church Believed: Original Sin - https://www.catholic.com/tract/what-the-early-church-believed-original-sin
Catholic Answers -  What Is the Immaculate Conception? - https://www.catholic.com/tract/immaculate-conception-and-assumption

00:00 - Introduction
00:12 - Immaculate Conception and Original Sin
01:06 - Human Nature and Society's Role
01:47 - Adam's Sin and Spiritual Poverty
03:27 - The New Eve and Christ's Role
04:38 - Mary as Immaculate Conception Explained
06:59 - Mary as Model of Holiness
09:22 - Conclusion: Living a Holy Life

Ave Maria!

Mass: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120924.cfm
1st: gen 3:9-15, 20
Resp: psa 98:1-4
2nd: eph 1:3-6, 11-12
Gsp: luk 1:26-38

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=5876

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