Catholics/immaculate conception

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 10/10/2007


Question
does this concept mean that jesus was born in a physical body free from any stain of sin. Also why is mary called the mother of god. how can the creator have a mother.and why is mary called the mediatrix and queen of heaven?

Answer
Hi, Raymond:
Thanks for the questions.
The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of the Virgin Mary in the womb of her Mother St. Anne by her father St. Joachim.  By a singular privelege of Grace, in view of the merits of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Blessed Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin.
Mary is called the Mother of God because her Son, Jesus the Messiah, is the incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity (the Son of God, the eternal Word); because God took His human nature from the BVM, she is his Mother by relationship of Mother to Son.  She is not merely the Mother of a human nature - she is Mother of the Divine Person of God the Son.  This makes her Mother of God.
Mary is called Mediatrix because she intercedes for us to Jesus her Son.  Look at the Gospel of John Chapter 2: she brings the request of the wedding party to her Son Jesus.
She is Queen of Heaven because her Son Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The Mother, not the wife, of the King in Hebrew tradition is the Queen; as her Son Jesus reigns in Kingly splendor, so she reigns with Him as Queen.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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