The Immaculate Conception - The Negative and the Positive

So this morning an interesting thought hit me; the negative aspect of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. No, no, I'm not talking about negative as in "bad" - I am talking about the negative sin in the Blessed Virgin!

So basically, we have a Virgin conceived without sin. Put that thought away.

Now, let's define grace.

What is sanctifying grace? --Sanctifying grace is that grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God Himself.



1. By sanctifying grace, our souls are made holy and pleasing to God. It is an abiding or permanent grace, which we gain by baptism, and lose only by mortal sin. (My Catholic Faith)

So grace is none other than the life of God. What does that make sin? Sin is nothing other than the absence of grace, the absence of God's love. It is that simple!

So it necessarily follows that if Our Lady was conceived without sin, then she was conceived with grace. It is like an inverse proportion; the less one has sin the more one has grace. Or, the less one has hatred of God the more they must have love of God.

But not only was Our Lady conceived with grace, she was conceived full of grace! 

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1: 28)

This is an interesting mystery to ponder here. She is full of grace already, yet she continues to gain more. How mysterious are the ways of God!