Great Minds Don't ALWAYS Think Alike

Mary Ever Patient 

It is necessary (not only inevitable) for theologians of every age to engage in a battle of reason in order to express, clarify, or elaborate on Church teaching for the people of their time. Catholics, particularly philosophers and theologians, like a good argument. (Good here means well thought out and expressed, not loud and competitive). The gift and beauty of theological arguments, and the right that each has to think and study the truths of the faith, is learning from your "opponent" by understanding their viewpoint. This does not mean that we concede to falsehoods, but in giving response and conceding certain points, the truth becomes evermore clear and ultimately loved.

St. Thomas' position on the immaculate conception was not what the Church currently knows to be true. However, he taught that Mary was freed from original sin before birth, though after animation, and received the grace to avoid all actual sin. Quoting St. Augustine (On Nature and Grace xxxvi) he wrote:

“In the matter of sin, it is my wish to exclude absolutely all questions concerning the holy Virgin Mary, on account of the honor due to Christ. For since she conceived and brought forth Him who most certainly was guilty of no sin, we know that an abundance of grace was given her that she might be in every way the conqueror of sin." 

Therefore, while he did not lay out a teaching on the immaculate conception, St. Thomas was as wonderfully reasonable as ever.  His arguments with and against the theologians (not the Church!) of his time allowed for the development of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.  St. Thomas clearly laid out that Christ is the sole Redeemer, Original Sin is a habit or disposition, and that Mary did not commit actual sin. Neither "camp" debated these points, the clear expression of which was gladly accepted, and a very solid foundation was built for the full development of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. 

Who was on the other side? Primarily the Franciscans. Tomorrow we will look at the "Golden Thread" woven through their history. 

Novena to the Immaculate Conception