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 By solemnly  proclaiming  the  dogma  of  Mary's immaculate  conception,  the  Church  confirmed anew the  fundamental  principles  of  Christianity which in  our  times  are  so  frequently  attacked, derided, or  forgotten. God reserved  the  solemn proclamation of  this  dogma,  which  seemingly  has no practical  bearing  on  the  Christian  life,  for  our age, to  recall  to  our  mind  the  doctrines  resulting from it.

The most  important  of  these  doctrines  is  that of original  sin,  which  to-day  is  rejected  by  many as a  debasement  of  human  nature,  and  is  forgotten by  others  as  having  no  practical  influence  on our  moral  state. By the  promulgation  of  the doctrine of  the  immaculate  conception  of  the Blessed Virgin  Mary,  the  Church  solemnly  declares and  defines  as  an  article  of  faith,  that  the Blessed Virgin  Mary  is  conceived  without  the stain of  original  sin  by  a  special  privilege  and grace of  God. If, then,  Mary's  sinlessness  is  an exception,  the  general  rule  remains  in  force,  and all other  human  beings  enter  this  world  in  the state of  original  sin.

Thus, by  the  proclamation  of  the  dogma  of the  immaculate  conception,  the  Church  combats human pride  and  sensuality,  the  foremost  vices  of the  age.