The [[Roman Catholic]] doctrine of the '''Immaculate Conception of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]]''', as defined by [[Pope]] [[Pius IX]] in 1854, states that "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by [[God]], in view of the merits of [[Jesus Christ]], the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin." | The [[Roman Catholic]] doctrine of the '''Immaculate Conception of the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]]''', as defined by [[Pope]] [[Pius IX]] in 1854, states that "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by [[God]], in view of the merits of [[Jesus Christ]], the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin." |