The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December) is the feast day of the Leuven priory. But what is this feast about? And why is it relevant for us today?
A medieval statue of the Virgin Mary in the Schnütgen museum of Cologne (RS).
To begin with, the early Dominicans were no fans of the devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Thomas Aquinas did not think it was possible. Two hundred years later, some Dominicans warned against this devotion, denouncing it as heresy. Pope Sixtus VI disagreed, stating that it was a beautiful devotion that people were allowed to celebrate. And even the fathers at the Council of Trent (1554-1563) refused to deal with the question of Mary’s immaculate conception when they discussed the implications of the Fall.
It took until 1854 when Pope Pius IX tried to end the discussion by stating that it was a dogma from then on. But this solved not all questions. Even today, people still ask questions such as if Jesus and Mary were born without original sin, are they real human beings? Do they not lack an essential human trait and the associated experiences? And if God could intervene so Mary was born without sin, why is Christ still needed to save us?
The bigger picture
Let's take a step back. What does this dogma about Mary try to say? Marian dogmas usually try to clarify who Jesus is and why Jesus is different from us. And that being differently different is expressed in who His mother is. Yet, when we read the gospel, we notice how Mary, too, is different in a different way. A good example can be found in the annunciation story we heard today.
Notice how Mary responds to the Angel Gabriel and his message announcing the birth of Jesus. Now, let us compare this response to the reaction of Zechariah, John's father, to Gabriel’s message on the birth of John the Baptist.
Zechariah was in the temple when he met Gabriel (Luke 1: 5-24). And he is overcome with fear. This is understandable, yet also a bit strange. He is in the temple of God. He is a priest, so should he not be open to the possibility that a messenger of God can appear in the temple of God?
The first thing Gabriel says to Zechariah is 'fear not', to reassure him. On the other hand, Mary is at home when Gabriel visits her (Luke 1: 26-38). She is not startled by Gabriel but by his words. It is not the messenger that is foreign to her but the message.
A second example. After Zechariah hears the message about his son John, he argues with the angel, giving a rebuttal. 'How can I know,' he says (Luke 1:18). Mary does not question whether it is true. She does not counter Gabriel’s message with a counter-argument. She looks ahead. How could this divine plan come about?
A third example. Zechariah’s unbelief results in him being silenced. He can no longer speak. It looks as if God wants to say, ‘you shut up for a while so that you can think carefully about what has just been said to you, and why, note, in God's temple, as a priest of God, you thought you knew better than God himself.’ After the angel answers her question, Mary says, 'let it be unto me according to thy word’. She agrees. She is not silenced. On the contrary, she talks, visits Zechariah and Elisabeth and sings with all her heart and soul, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour' (Luke 1:46-55).
Throughout the ages, people have pondered why there is such a big difference between Zechariah, a priest in God's temple, being startled by a message from God, trying to contradict it, and finally being temporarily silenced. Meeting an angel in her own home, Mary is disturbed by the message but not by the messenger. She does not contradict the angel but wants to know “how”? Mary surrenders herself to God's plan and finds freedom and joy.
What does it mean for us?
I think that Dominicans, if they are honest, in the same situation would have been more like Zechariah, wanting to enter into a discussion when we are presented with something that we believe is impossible. Isn't that very human?
On the other hand, Mary shows what a person is called to when God speaks to her or him. Mary’s way of doing demonstrates that in her, the redemption that her Son will bring is already at work. The kingdom of God has already begun. Zechariah does not yet want to see it and cannot yet hear it. Mary does.
In the middle of Christmas consumerism and soccer worship, we try to be differently different, like Mary, waiting for Christ. What about you?
From a sermon preached at the priory of Leuven on 8-12-2022.