The Immaculate Exception to the Rule. Vocation of Christians in the Light of the Marian Dogma

Sławomir Zatwardnicki

Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7597-6604

Abstract

It is worthwhile to meditate the contents hidden in this Marian dogma, for the Mother of God’s unique vocation gives light to all the people’s vocation. The Immaculate Conception reveals the following truths: relation between the eternal will of God (predestination) and the will of man (freedom); relation between the divine grace and human cooperation; connection between temporality and eternity. The article also underlines an ecumenical aspect of the dogma’s contents. The author engages in polemics against the widespread (even among Catholics) opinion, according to which the Immaculate Conception should be an expression of the sola gratia principle.

Keywords:

God, man, Christ, Incarnation, Mary, Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception, will, time, eternity, history, predestination, freedom, grace, cooperation, redemption, vocation, ecumenism, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity, sola gratia