Today celebrates the
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For Roman Catholics (and some Anglicans
subscribing to this doctrine) it is a celebration of the Immaculate
Conception—wherein the effects of Original Sin are washed away from Mary at the
point of her own conception, thereby not putting Christ
(who is without sin) in direct contact with humanity in its fallen, sinful state. As a point of Dogma, this teaching is unique to the Roman Catholic Church.
While not an official teaching of the Anglican tradition, elements of it may be found in classical Anglican documents, along with many a hymn and carol referring to The Blessed Virgin as “blameless.”
The origins of this feast, however, have rather more to do with traditions (not found in Scripture, but in early Christian legend) about Mary's parents: Ann and Joachim (commemorated in the Church on July 26).
Childless and elderly, they represented the barren state of humanity separated from God by the gulf of sin. Like Elizabeth and Zechariah, the conception of their child was sign of a coming change, an engulfing of our condition by God's love, redeeming it from within. The Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is in its origins a harbinger of God's work to return us to our true destiny as children of God. Detailing the exact nature of Mary's conception, though certainly miraculous, was not the chief aim of this day. It was about the way God was bringing the Mystery of Salvation to pass.
While not an official teaching of the Anglican tradition, elements of it may be found in classical Anglican documents, along with many a hymn and carol referring to The Blessed Virgin as “blameless.”
The origins of this feast, however, have rather more to do with traditions (not found in Scripture, but in early Christian legend) about Mary's parents: Ann and Joachim (commemorated in the Church on July 26).
Childless and elderly, they represented the barren state of humanity separated from God by the gulf of sin. Like Elizabeth and Zechariah, the conception of their child was sign of a coming change, an engulfing of our condition by God's love, redeeming it from within. The Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is in its origins a harbinger of God's work to return us to our true destiny as children of God. Detailing the exact nature of Mary's conception, though certainly miraculous, was not the chief aim of this day. It was about the way God was bringing the Mystery of Salvation to pass.
One of the
characteristics of truly Anglican theology is a resistance to over-definition. That
characteristic is sometimes called “Anglican reticence.” This can be used in
faithless and destructive ways, of course, but at heart it is an extension of
the Early Church’s mindset, which reveres both revelation we have been
given—and the nature of the mystery before which we stand.
The cycle of feasts
associated with the Theotokos (God-bearer, as the Early Church came to call
her) are primarily connected to the restoration of our human nature in Christ.
Today’s feast is filled with an almost unspeakable joy that God invites us into
the very process of our redemption. While only God can renew what has been
damaged, only we can give assent to that process.
At the Annunciation,
the Theotokos was the first person to say “yes” to this restoration of broken
humanity; but, even that moment had been prepared for by God. Thy mystery of
our salvation is deeply connected to the synergy between God’s grace and human
response. We can never tell how that synergy is being prepared or worked out.
The feast of the Conception is part of that understanding and mindset, that
attitude towards faith and life. It is cause for celebration, and cause for
renewed openness to God’s redemptive work in our lives, and in the hidden lives
of others.
Collect for the
Conception of the Virgin Mary
Almighty and everlasting God, you lowered yourself to raise
our fallen race by the childbearing of blessed Mary; Grant that we who have
seen your glory manifested in our humanity, and your love perfected in our
weakness, may daily be renewed in your image, and conformed in the likeness of
your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God,
world without end. Amen.
Many thanks for this commentary on what is one of my favourite feasts. Your reference to "Anglican reticence" echoes what we might term an "Augustinian reserve" when it comes to the BVM.
ReplyDelete"Detailing the exact nature of Mary's conception, though certainly miraculous, was not the chief aim of this day. It was about the way God was bringing the Mystery of Salvation to pass" - I think this wonderfully sums up what the feast is all about. It's not about what sets Mary apart from us. It is about how we pre-eminently see in her the redeeming grace and purpose of the Triune God.
Dear BC:
ReplyDeleteMy sense is that the best of Anglican thought often finds itself at variance with the contemporary trend for putting everything in sound-bites or a simplified taxonomy. Many of the great (and lesser) feasts of the Church point toward this appreciative mindset, rather than what has come to predominate today. But, to live in that "Anglican reticence" (or the Augustinian reserve which is its forebear) takes an act of courage...something far too few seem to be willing to do. I am glad you found this post both useful and faithful to the "bigger picture" of our Faith.