The idea of the Immaculate Conception has had a long and
controversial history. The belief is not found explicitly in Scripture,
although the dogmatic definition calls upon certain texts which seem implicitly
to support it. These texts include the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary as
“full of grace” (Luke 1:28); her cousin Elizabeth’s tribute “blessed are you
among women” (Luke 1:42); and the promise made to Adam and Eve after the Fall
that the serpent’s head would be crushed (Gen 3:15). The belief was also
unknown throughout the early Christian centuries, although the way theologians
set up Mary’s contrast to Eve, the one obedient and bringing in life, the other
disobedient and bringing in death, set minds working in this direction.
(Elizabeth A. Johnson, “Immaculate Conception,” in The Modern Catholic
Encyclopedia, ed. Michael Glazier and Monika K. Hellwig [Collegeville,
Min..: Liturgical Press, 2004], 395-96)
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