Luke 1:47 (WEB)
My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 1:47 (KJV)
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Key words
- τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μουtō theō tō sōtēri mou · Greek
- 'God my Saviour' — Mary calls God her Saviour; the Immaculate Conception is a saving act.
Why it matters
Mary rejoices in 'God my Saviour' — the most common objection to her sinlessness, since one who needs a Saviour must have sinned. Pitre answers with Pius IX's definition (p 40): Mary was preserved from sin 'by a singular grace' and 'in view of the merits of Jesus Christ.' She is saved by Christ like everyone else, but in advance, by prevention rather than cure; that is why she of all people can call God her Saviour.