I’m learning about Catholicism and I’ve gotten to the point about Mary.
I don’t understand how she’s sinless ? If she’s a human being then she could have potentially sinned? I don’t understand the point about her being with grace and that meaning she’s without original sin and therefore doesn’t have the capacity to sin?
I’m open to all answers and arguments to help me understand this better!!
It was a very early theological development that she was considered the new Eve (apparent as early as 2nd century).
Like Eve she was born without sin, however she retained her sinlessness by exercising her free will and being obedient to God.
Mary absolutely had the capacity to sin, but she was so intrinsically tied to following God's will.
just for my personal knowledge, which early church fathers spoke about Mary being the new Eve?
St. Irenaeus.
"In accordance with this design, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. Luke 1:38 But Eve was disobedient; for she did not obey when as yet she was a virgin. And even as she, having indeed a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless as yet a virgin (for in Paradise they were both naked, and were not ashamed, Genesis 2:25 inasmuch as they, having been created a short time previously, had no understanding of the procreation of children: for it was necessary that they should first come to adult age, and then multiply from that time onward), having become disobedient, was made the cause of death, both to herself and to the entire human race; so also did Mary, having a man betrothed [to her], and being nevertheless a virgin, by yielding obedience, become the cause of salvation, both to herself and the whole human race. And on this account does the law term a woman betrothed to a man, the wife of him who had betrothed her, although she was as yet a virgin; thus indicating the back-reference from Mary to Eve, because what is joined together could not otherwise be put asunder than by inversion of the process by which these bonds of union had arisen; so that the former ties be cancelled by the latter, that the latter may set the former again at liberty. And it has, in fact, happened that the first compact looses from the second tie, but that the second tie takes the position of the first which has been cancelled. For this reason did the Lord declare that the first should in truth be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16 And the prophet, too, indicates the same, saying, instead of fathers, children have been born unto you. For the Lord, having been born the First-begotten of the dead, Revelation 1:5 and receiving into His bosom the ancient fathers, has regenerated them into the life of God, He having been made Himself the beginning of those that live, as Adam became the beginning of those who die. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Wherefore also Luke, commencing the genealogy with the Lord, carried it back to Adam, indicating that it was He who regenerated them into the Gospel of life, and not they Him. And thus also it was that the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith."
https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103322.htm
St. Justin Martyr
"He became man by the Virgin, in order that the disobedience which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same manner in which it derived its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, having conceived the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God; and she replied, 'Be it unto me according to thy word." And by her has He been born, to whom we have proved so many scriptures refer, and by whom God destroys both the serpent and those angels and men who are like him; but works deliverance from death to those who repent of their wickedness and believe upon Him.:
Some great answers here but here's some great resources for you too from Catholic Answers:
https://www.catholic.com/qa/does-scripture-support-marys-sinlessness
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/hail-mary-conceived-without-sin
https://www.catholic.com/audio/tjap/mary-was-absolutely-sinless
These are the points I’ve found:-
In Catholic teaching, Mary was born without sin because of a unique grace given by God, not because she earned it herself. This doctrine is called the Immaculate 1️⃣ What “born without sin” actually means
It means Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her existence. • Original sin is the wounded state of human nature inherited from Adam and Eve • It is not a personal fault, but a condition we are born into • Mary was saved from this condition in advance
2️⃣ Why God did this for Mary
Because she was chosen to be the Mother of God
Mary was chosen to bear Jesus Christ, who is: • Fully God • Fully man • Absolutely sinless
It was fitting (not strictly necessary, but fitting) that: • The Ark who carried the Word made flesh • Be a pure dwelling place
As the Church often says:
God prepared the Mother before He sent the Son.
3️⃣ Mary was saved by Christ — just in a different way
This is very important.
Mary did not save herself. She was redeemed by Jesus more perfectly than anyone else. • We are saved after falling into sin • Mary was saved by being prevented from falling
This is called “prevenient grace” — grace given in advance.
So Mary still needed a Saviour:
“My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:47)
4️⃣ Biblical foundations (implicitly present)
While the Bible doesn’t use the phrase “Immaculate Conception”, the foundations are there:
📖 Luke 1:28
The angel greets Mary as:
“Full of grace” (Greek: kecharitōmenē)
This indicates: • A permanent state of grace • Not a momentary blessing
📖 Genesis 3:15
God speaks of: • Complete enmity between the woman and the serpent Total enmity implies no shared dominion of sin.
5️⃣ Why this does NOT make Mary equal to God
Mary is: • A creature • Entirely dependent on God • Holy only because God made her so
Her sinlessness magnifies God’s power, not her own.
6️⃣ Why it matters for Christians today
Mary shows: • What humanity was meant to be • What grace can do • What the Church hopes to become
She is the first fruit of redemption, not an exception that excludes us.
As Catholics affirm:
All holiness comes from Christ — Mary received it first and most fully. ✝️
How do you save someone from a car accident?
You get to the person after the accident, take them to the hospital, save their life.
Maybe you advise them to not get out of the house in the first place.
We are saved from the car accident after the accident. Mary was saved by staying at home.
But the thing is: Mary was free to get out of the house if the wanted to, but she trusted so much The One who told her she shouldn't leave, that she decided to stay.
I know it's not a perfect analogy. The original sin is not like a car accident, but I feel like people understand better when I explain this way.
I think about this, drinking is not sinful but drunkenness is a sin. In Mary’s life, should could have had a drink but would never have gotten drunk, so full of grace. She was given the same deal as Adam and Eve but did not break the covenant. That is why she is: the queen and first among the Saints. Like Jesus she was not without temptation but she crushed the adversary under her foot.
You know how God can lead us out of sin? He led Mary out of it before she was born. He didn't let her sin, as she was the most special of his creations and carried the most important role that a created being held. Carrying God. And that's why she is a Coredeemer (although I'm pretty sure there was a change to the title "Coredemptrix" for a reason I forgot)
Forgive me if I misrepresented something.
Co-redemptrix has been deemed ill-suited for modern usage because too many people think 'co' means 'equal', probably because of the word coworker.
Co-redemptrix does not mean she's equal to Jesus, but that she co-laborated with his mission.
She did have the capacity to sin. She chose not to.
Perhaps we should fish first
What do you mean? I think this is a valid question and it should be answered! The OP said that she/he is learning about Catholicism and now she/he is trying to learn more about Marian theology. It’s very important because it’s one of the truths in our Catholic faith. Shouldn’t we ask questions about important things?