- Ineffabilis Deus
"Ineffabilis Deus" (
Latin for "Ineffable God") is the name of anPapal bull byPope Pius IX . It defines "ex cathedra " thedogma of theImmaculate Conception of theBlessed Virgin Mary . The decree was promulgated on December 8, 1854, the date of the annualFeast of the Immaculate Conception .The decree surveys the history of the belief in Christian tradition, citing its roots in the long-standing feast of the Conception of Mary as a date of significance in the Eastern and Western churches. It also cites the approval of Catholic bishops worldwide who were asked in 1849 to offer their opinion on the matter.
The dogmatic statement is expressed near the end of the document:
We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of
Jesus Christ , theSavior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain oforiginal sin , is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.The entire decree is also worded to suggest that Mary's Immaculate Conception was not in any sense a logical necessity, but rather a divine gift to Mary as
Mother of God .ee also
*
Immaculate Conception
*List of papal bulls
*Papal infallibility
*Marian papal encyclicals and Apostolic Letters References
*The Decree [http://www.ewtn.com/LIBRARY/PAPALDOC/P9INEFF.htm]
External links
* [http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_pi09id.htm Complete text of the decree.]
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