Sinlessness of Mary


The sinlessness of Mary refers to the doctrine in which Mary, mother of Jesus chose not to sin. It is upheld by the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as by high church Lutherans.

Eastern Orthodoxy

The Eastern Orthodox Churches teach that while Mary "inherited the same fallen nature, prone to sin" as with other humans, "she did not consent to sin through her free will." Due to being conceived in ancestral sin, Mary still needed "to be delivered by our Savior, her Son" according to Eastern Orthodox teaching.

Lutheranism

taught the lifelong sinlessness of Mary, a doctrine inherited by those of the high church Lutheran tradition. The Smalcald Articles, a Lutheran confession of faith, declare "that the Son became man in this manner: he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, without the cooperation of man, and was born of the pure, holy, and ever-virgin Mary." Lutheran writer Kristofer Carlson in explicating the Book of Concord, writes that "When Lutherans confess Mary as pure & holy, it is a reference to the chastity and sinlessness of Mary."

Comparison with Roman Catholic dogma

The Catholic Church teaches the Immaculate Conception, that Mary was conceived without original sin. Kenneth Baker writes that:
The Encyclical Mystici Corporis from Pope Pius XII holds that Mary was also sinless personally, "free from all sin, original or personal".