Preservative redemption or preservative grace is, in

Catholic theology Catholic theology is the understanding of Catholic doctrine or teachings, and results from the studies of theologians. It is based on canonical scripture, and sacred tradition, as interpreted authoritatively by the magisterium of the Catholi ...

, the doctrine that people can be preserved from future sin and temptation. This doctrine was first developed by

Duns Scotus John Duns Scotus ( ; , "Duns the Scot"; – 8 November 1308) was a Scottish Catholic priest and Franciscan friar, university professor, philosopher and theologian. He is considered one of the four most important Christian philosopher-t ...

in the 13th century, who believed that the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

was preserved from

original sin Original sin () in Christian theology refers to the condition of sinfulness that all humans share, which is inherited from Adam and Eve due to the Fall of man, Fall, involving the loss of original righteousness and the distortion of the Image ...

(the

Immaculate Conception The Immaculate Conception is the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. It is one of the four Mariology, Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Debated by medieval theologians, it was not def ...

). This means that Mary was the object of perfect redemption, as if fashioned by the

Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creati ...

, which was merited by Jesus. Whether or not Mary was ever tempted is speculated by theologians. The

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

has developed the doctrine of preservative redemption to include the

Eucharist The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in ...

, teaching ever since the

Council of Trent The Council of Trent (), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento), now in northern Italy, was the 19th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation at the time, it has been described as the "most ...

that a fruit of Holy Communion is preservation from future temptation and future mortal sin. This is because the soul is enkindled with divine love, so that the more of Jesus one receives the harder it becomes for one to be tempted and commit sin. A commonly held pious opinion is that the prophet Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and according to some St. Joseph were sanctified from original sin in the womb, but not at their conception.New Advent: Immaculate Conception
/ref> Saint Faustina claimed to have received the grace of freedom from temptation against purity. Criticism of preservative grace includes asking why God does not make every human and angel sinless and how the Immaculate Conception makes sense if Mary is not redeemed from original sin.

Catholic Church

Official teaching

Immaculate Conception

The Council of Trent, in Canon XXIII of Session VI, teaches the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is the dogma that the Mother of God enjoyed the grace and privilege of freedom from original sin and personal sin since the moment of her conception. This means that Mary was the object of perfect redemption, as if fashioned by the Holy Spirit, which was merited by Jesus. Whether or not Mary was ever tempted is speculated by theologians.

Holy Communion

When a Catholic receives the Eucharist worthily (free from

mortal sin A mortal sin (), in Christian theology, is a gravely sinful act which can lead to damnation if a person does not repent of the sin before death. It is alternatively called deadly, grave, and serious; the concept of mortal sin is found in both ...

, i.e., in

sanctifying grace In Western Christian beliefs, grace is God's favor, and a "share in the divine life of God". It is a spontaneous gift from God – "generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved" – that cannot be earned. In the Eastern Orthodox Chur ...

), among the fruits received is preservation from future temptation and from future mortal sin. This is because the Eucharist enkindles divine love in the soul, so that the more a person receives Jesus the harder it becomes to be tempted and commit sin.

Unofficial teaching

Pious Opinion

A commonly held pious opinion is that the prophet

Jeremiah Jeremiah ( – ), also called Jeremias, was one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah authored the Book of Jeremiah, book that bears his name, the Books of Kings, and the Book of Lamentations, with t ...

John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...

, and according to some St. Joseph were sanctified from original sin in the womb, but not at their conception.

Private Revelation

Saint Faustina claimed that Jesus told her she "will never be subject to temptations against purity."

Criticism

A criticism is how the Immaculate Conception can make sense if redemption requires a person to be redeemed from original sin, rather than original sin being prevented altogether.Marian Studies, Article 9. Juniper B. Carol, Reflections on the Problem of Mary's Preservative Redemption (1979).
/ref>

References

{{Reflist Anglican Mariology Articles containing video clips Immac Immac Immac Immac Immac Immac Scotism Western Christianity Christian saints