Did Mary, Jesus’ Mother, Ever Sin?

The Catholic Church teaches two errors with reference to Mary’s alleged sinlessness:

1. It argues that the mother of Jesus was conceived "immaculately," meaning she did not inherit, as others supposedly do, the guilt of Adam's "original sin."
2. The Roman Church also contends that Mary never committed an actual sin.

Both of these views are false.

It is true that Mary did not contract the guilt of Adam’s original sin, because nobody has. Mary’s conception was no different than anyone else's. Guilt simply is not inherited. The child does not bear the iniquity of the parent (Ezekiel 18:20). Human beings go astray; they are not born that way (cf. Isaiah 53:6). People are spiritually dead because of their personal sin, not because of the sin of others (Ephesians 2:1).

Further, it is not true that Mary never committed an actual sin. In her magnificent psalm, while carrying the Christ child, she exclaimed, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:47). Notice that she referred to the Lord as “my Savior”—not merely “a Savior” or “the Savior.” No sinless person needs a Savior. Clearly, this statement implies that Mary recognized she was a sinner, just like the rest of us (Romans 3:23).

Doubtless, she was one of the noblest ladies ever to grace this planet. Nevertheless, she was not without sin (cf. 1 John 1:8, 10).