Why did it take 1,854 years for the Catholic church to call Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, immaculate?

Question

I know that the decision to call Mary,the mother of Jesus Christ, immaculately concieved,was made by the whoever the pope was in 1854 A.D.,but,why did it take so long?Was it that divisive an issue in the Catholic church for that long?And,who decided that it should be taught as part of Catholic church doctrine?It's not in the Bible,but the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ is.1,854 years is an extremely long time to make up your mind about anything in my opinion. Maybe I'll try the Vatican's web site for further information.

Answer 1

Actually it comes from the bible. The angel addresses Mary, "Chaire! Kecharitomene!" Note the bible does not actually have punctuation in it.

Kecharitomene is the past perfect participle of charitoo. Literally translated into English it means "full of Grace." However, as the past perfect participle, for that statement to be true of someone unbaptized, they must always have been full of grace. For someone to be full of grace, then they would have to be like Adam and Eve before the Fall.

The Greek Church has been using essentially the same phrase for 2000 years, panagia to describe Mary.

It wasn't considered controversial, but most Catholic doctrines never get officially proclaimed. Rather, it was in defense of Luke's Gospel and the perceived misreading of it that it was proclaimed.

Most Catholic doctrine has never been dogmatically proclaimed. There is an argument, and a very good argument at that, that the proclamation was not dogmatic. For something to be dogma, failure to believe it must significantly affect your salvation. This does not really rise to that level. It might be doctrine, but it probably isn't dogma.

Answer 2

Catholics believed in the Immaculate Conception for most of the 1,854 years.

BUT, the Catholic Church doesn't make definitive statements about a belief until it becomes an issue.

It wasn't an issue until the Protestants stopped believing in it.

Then the Pope used Papal Infallibility (for one of the only two times in history it's been used) to make it a dogma and protect Catholics from the falsehoods that were beginning to be spread by Protestants about Mary.

Answer 3

Its a mystery.

Questions about Jesus, or Questions designed to convert or recruit people to Jesus (or even away from Jesus for that matter)are simply a waste of time. Ditto for being "saved" or trying to clarify minute points of scripture when there are so many different interpretations and editions of text. People have already decided for the most part if they believe in the fiction written in the bible. People who feel God talks to them have psychological problems because hearing voices is a psychological illness. All the major world religions have issues like this.

Answer 4

They are too busy making saints and gods that do not hear, see, talk, or feel.
It will probably be another 1000 years before they realize the Bible is the true word of God and that there is only one path to heaven through Jesus.
Come on catholics its time to wake up to the truth...there are also those that believe that the anti-Christ will come from Rome!!!

Answer 5

I would love to answer your question now, however, you said you will try to answer your question by yourself with the help of Vatican's website. Go find it and if you cant find the answer, try to contact me.

Answer 6

Try the website. If you can't find it I , too, will offer to help explain it.

Answer 7

Inventions are happening every day at the VATICAN!

Answer 8

women were not recognized as humans until recently---they were property.