Fr John Edwards SJ: "It took a long time for the Church to work out how the Immaculate Conception could have happened. (After all, Our Lady was redeemed like all of us, but how could Jesus have redeemed her before as man he existed?) Heaven took a hand in nudging the Church towards the right conclusion, especially when it was given the “Miraculous Medal” in 1831 (“Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”) At last in 1854 the Church was clear enough in its mind to define the doctrine, and to say that rightly understood you could work it out from Scripture. And then heaven intervened again. At Lourdes in 1858 Our Lady said “I AM the Immaculate Conception.” Let’s honour Our Lady, and praise her beauty, and thank God that we welcome the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, and its consequence, the Redemption, and accept the fact of original sin; and are grateful that the Church which teaches us the truth with Christ’s authority clarifies what is obscure in Scripture." Visit Totus2us.com for lots more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.