Tota Pulchra Es

Tota puchra es, Maria, et macula originalis non est in te.
Thou art all fair, O Mary, and the original stain is not in thee.

This evening, Gareth, Father Justinian, Father Anthony and I attended an Advent Service at Scotus College. Being Advent and the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception and one of the celebrations marking the five hundredth anniversary year of the death of Blessed John Duns Scotus, there was a Marian dimension to the service. Afterwards, we were offered mulled wine and mince pies in the seminary refectory. This used to be a day of fast and abstinence when I was young but, as the mince pies were ordinary ones, we went ahead.

Was the Blessed Virgin conceived in sin? The answer is no, for as Augustine writes: “When sin is treated, there can be no inclusion of Mary in the discussion.” And Anselm says: “It was fitting that the Virgin should be resplendent with a purity greater than which none under God can be conceived.” Purity here is to be taken in the sense of pure innocence under God, such as was in Christ.
(Blessed John Duns Scotus)