Thomas Aquinal & Immaculate Conception

St. Thomas Aquinas and the Immaculate Conception Question from on 05-22-2007:

Dear Gentleman, I have heard that St. Thomas did not agree with the idea of the Immaculate Conception. To me, reason alone, that only an immaculate vessel could possible contain God, is sufficient enough proof. Could you tell me what St. Thomas was thinking? Thank You.

Answer by David Gregson on 06-05-2007:

St. Thomas found himself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he knew that Christ is the Savior of all, including His Mother. (As Mary said, "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior," Lk 1:47.) On the other, he assumed that if Mary was conceived immaculate, she wouldn't need a Savior. This latter assumption was faulty. It was Bl. John Duns Scotus who later proposed that she benefited from the Savior's work more than anyone, since preservation from sin was a greater work than cleansing from sin already contracted. She was preserved from sin in view of the foreseen merits of her Son.