Explanation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception - that Mary was redeemed from the first moment by being preserved from original sin in her Immaculate Conception. Mary was saved by Christ and in no way is equal to God. But simply because of his great goodness and generosity, God gave us Mary as Immaculate Virgin Mother.
Since childhood, Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti suffered from epileptic seizures which prevented him from serving in the military and nearly kept him from the priesthood. However, he promised Mary that he would do all he could to promote her Immaculate Conception, if only she would help him become a priest.
Giovanni was ordained, and eventually became Pope Pius IX - and then defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.
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