Blessed John Duns Scotus (1265-1308 AD)
Feast Day: November 8
In Defense of the Immaculate Conception
Medieval theologians argued the Immaculate Conception. Historically, the Dominicans were strong opponents of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, largely due to the influence of St. Thomas Aquinas, who argued Mary needed to be redeemed like everyone else. The Dominicans clashed with the Franciscans who championed the doctrine. Blessed Duns Scotus was a Franciscan friar born in Scotland.
Duns Scotus’ defense of the Immaculate Conception:
There is a distinction between the order of nature and the order of time. According to the order of nature, all humans are born with original sin; however, according to the order of time, God’s grace can operate outside human time.
Christ the Redeemer could redeem someone even before sin, not just after sin. He could grant Mary this preservation from original sin at the moment of her conception.
It was fitting for the Incarnation (God becoming man) that the Mother of the Word be perfectly pure, a vessel without stain worthy for His divine conception.
Therefore, Christ gave His mother the gift of preredemption at the moment of her conception, which is a greater gift than being redeemed after sin. It was the most perfect redemption Christ could offer, fitting for His mother.
Potuit, decuit, ergo fecit
He could, it was fitting, therefore He did.