Dogma of the Immaculate Conception

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin from the very moment of her own conception. In other words, she was uniquely purified by God's grace from the very beginning of her existence, allowing her to be a pure and holy vessel to bear Jesus. This belief emphasizes Mary's special role and purity, and it was officially declared by the Catholic Church in 1854. It does not imply that Mary was divine, but that she was exceptionally sanctified from the start of her life.