Immaculate Conception December 8, 2020
Fr. Albert St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette
Mary, did you know? If you’re not familiar, that is the title of a popular song that circulates around this time of year. After centuries of being almost anti-Marian, it is encouraging to see many protestants take another look at Mary with the affection that we hear in this song. It makes for some pretty music and many people want to hear it at Church and while they’re out and about during this run up to Christmas.
For all its merits, however, what it misses is significant. For one thing, it seems to be unaware of what scripture says. Right here in the gospel, most of these questions are clearly answered. Did you know he would save our sons and daughters? Yes, the angel tells her to name him Jesus, which means “God saves.” Did you know he would rule nations? Yes, Gabriel tells her that “of his kingdom there will be no end.” Did you know that you kiss the face of God? Yes, the angel tells her that he is the Son of God and later, when she visits Elizabeth, her cousin – inspired by the Holy Spirit – calls her the “mother of my Lord.” Perhaps a deeper understanding of Scripture would have led to better questions.
The other mistake the song makes is easier to understand. We don’t really expect a non-Catholic songwriter to know about the mystery that we celebrate today, the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The song asks Mary if she knew that “this child that you delivered, will soon deliver you.” The problem is that Mary was conceived without Original Sin – she had already been delivered. And yes, she knew that her son was the reason for it because, again, the angel told her and Joseph that Jesus was going to save his people from their sins.
The attraction of this song, besides it melody and sentimental value, is the fact that it asks questions and invites wonder. Sadly, the wonder that it invites is relatively shallow and short-lived because the answers are there in the Gospel. The real mystery to wonder at starts with the answers and asks even deeper questions. For instance, how can we say that Mary was delivered from sin before Jesus was even born? Scripture tells us that only Jesus saves us from sin. So, how?
Because Jesus is God, as Mary learned from the angel. As God, as the second person of the eternal trinity, he exists outside and beyond time. We can only think and act in time, so we cannot truly conceive of what this reality means. Yet, by virtue of the fact that God transcends the limits of time, He can – and did – choose to save her from sin even before Jesus was born. Actually, plenty of people in the Old Testament like Abraham, Moses, and David were made holy even before Jesus was born. Yet, only Jesus Christ can make someone holy. That means God applied the grace of Christ in some way to them even before he arrived. All of those figures were sinners who were justified by faith. Unlike them, Mary was preserved from sin from the very first moment rather than justified later. It is why she alone in all of scripture is called “full of grace,” as in there was no room for sin.
Yes, I know this can be confusing and raise a lot of questions, but that is the nature of the mystery. Rather than asking hypothetical questions that have clear answers, this doctrine of the Immaculate Conception – like a lot of other doctrines – doesn’t have a simple answer. No, they invite an encounter and, when accepted with faith, they can lead us into real contemplation and wonder at the power of God, which goes beyond our understanding.
This is why, for nearly two thousand years before that popular song was written, the Church has collected countless other hymns dedicated to the mystery of Mary. Hymns that make use of biblical language like Ave Maria Gratia Plena – Hail Mary, full of grace – ones that incorporate the time-tested theology of many saints as with Salve Regina – the Hail Holy Queen – and Alma Redemptoris Mater – Loving Mother of the Redeemer.
So, it’s fine if you like the song “Mary, did you know” for it’s beauty and because it invites a little prayerful pondering. But, on this wondrous solemnity, I urge you not to stop short. Go ahead and ask those questions but realize that they are answered. Drink deeply of those answer in scripture and tradition and allow them to draw you to deeper questions, to genuine spiritual contemplation of heavenly mysteries. Seek those mysteries which, unlike the passing emotion of a pretty song, do not fade, do not grow old, that never bore those who seek them sincerely. Because these mysteries – like the Immaculate Conception of Mary – are not simply a search for information, but an exalted expression of wonder at the love of a person, the Divine Person Jesus Christ who loved us enough to save us from sin. Who loved us enough to specially set aside Mary so he could come to live among us. Who gave us this same sinless mother to be our mother, our intercessor, our loving queen who desire nothing more than that we know and love her son.