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 Dogma of the Immaculate Conception Issued: 05/26/1954 Perforation: 13 Values: L3,L4,L6,L12.L20,L35 On May 26, 1954, in celebration of the first centenary of the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the Vatican issued a set of six stamps: three of Pope Pius IX and three of Pope Pius XII. The stamps were issued to publicize the Marian Year, which Pope Pius XII proclaimed on December 8, 1953. The Marian Year also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Vatican City State. Pope Pius IX (May 13, 1792 – February 7, 1878) issued the Papal Bull “Ineffabilis Deus” which proclaimed that the Blessed Mother was conceived without original sin and was, therefore, “truly full of grace”. During the papacy of Pope Gregory XVI (September 18,1765 – June 1, 1846), who was the Pope prior to Pope Pius IX, many bishops were advocating for a teaching of Mary’s purity and sinlessness. Pius IX appointed a commission to study the matter. From this study and the encouragement of the faithful the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was pronounced on December 8, 1854. According to this infallible dogma: “Mary was conceived without original sin and was, therefore, truly full of grace…. We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful…… This is the extraordinary truth: Christ was the redeemer of his Mother and carried out his redemptive action in her in the most perfect way, from the first moment of her existence”.Shortly after the proclamation, from February 11 to July 16,1858, Saint Bernadette Soubirous, in Lourdes, experienced 18 apparitions of the Blessed Mother. At the apparition on March 25, 1858 the Blessed Mother identified herself as the "Immaculate Conception", confirming of the dogma “Ineffabilis Deus”. REFERENCES: |
