Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-15
THE 1MS SACJLsTE CCSCEPTIoE OF
The VIRfIy MhRY

The belief was early entertained in the
Catholic Church that the Virgin Mary
4" the Mother Of God," was without tbt
stain of original sin but it was regarded
as one of the points as to which latitude
of opinion might be entertained withou
danger of the heresy that involved eternal
damnation. Thus in the 18th century,
the csnons of Lyons took the affirmative;
and st. Barnard took the negative. Sub.
sequently vehement controversy was
carried on On this point between the
Scotlsts and the ThomiSts. The cele.
brated Council of Trent resolved so fan
as that the doctrine of the conception OF
all men in original sin was not intended
to include the Virgin Mary.
The vehemencs of the controversy
seemed rather to increase than diminish
with the lapse of years and special en-
basSles were sent to Rome requesting
that bull might terminate the contest,
but in vain. So high uid the dispute
run that in Spain. knights in entering
some of the military orders vowed to
maintain the doctrine; and so prolific
has it been of writ ng that Petrus de Alva
ct Ortorya, who died in 1867, printed
more than forty volumes on this subject.
1t was in l7Oo that Pope, clement XT !,
appointed feast to be celebrated in
honor of the Immaculate Conception, and
since that time the Catholics have z, ne
rally held to it as an opinion, but not
held to it as an article of faith
This brief sketch will give all idea of
the importance given to this subject i'll
the Catholic world IL was to make a
auietus of this matter that the late great
assemblage of bishops was held at Rome.
This council decided in favor of making
an old opinion to be a new article of
the church creed. On the Sth of Decem-
Der this was completed, and proclaimed
in due form, on the anniversary of the
old festival day established by Clement
in 1908, and at the church of St. Feters.
This was great occasion. Two hun
dred full robed ecclesiastical dignitaries
from all parts of the Catholic world, with
innumerable ficc,bcarers, assisted in
the gorgeous ceremonies. 1t is said that
more remarkable assemblage has not
been convoked since the present century
1.-The grand procession" letter in the
Newark Advertiser says, was formed at
the Vatican at 81 o'clock in the morning.
1t included the popes choir, the civil au-
thorities of the city, and the whole papal
household, in costume. with the candles
and various other insignia Of festal occa-
sions, and moved in solemn state to the
cathedral, chanting the prescribed litany.
A long line of officials preceded the rich
baldachin of the pontiff A more sump-
tuous cortege could scarcely be con-
ceived."
The spectacle in the. church was of the
grandest order of Orientalism. After the
solemn service of reading and chanting,
Cardinal Macchi, las doyen of the sacred
college," and in their name standing
among full robed prelates At the foot of
St. Peters throne, presented the follow
ing petition:
''That which for long time, . Most
Holy Father, has been ardently desired
and with full voice dema ded, by the
Catholic Church, viz: the definitive de-
cision, by your supreme and infallible
judgment, of the Immaculate Conception
of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother
Of God, for augmenting her praise, her