A short reflection on Mary and the Immaculate Conception after watching the Netflix betrayal
The grinning idiot “pastor” cum motivational speaker Joel Osteen, who was the executive producer of the Netflix fiasco, didn’t come close.
Image: Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato: The Virgin in Prayer (Wiki Commons)
Today marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a solemn day of immense significance in Catholic theology. It is an occasion that invites us to reflect on the singular privilege granted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the vessel through which God entered the world as man. Yet, this year, my contemplation has been stirred not only by the beauty of this feast but by the dissonance I perceive in modern attitudes toward Mary within the Church, compounded by my recent encounter with a deeply unsatisfactory cinematic depiction of her life.
In a moment of leisure, I watched Mary, a film now available on Netflix. I will refrain from an exhaustive review, but suffice it to say that I will neither recommend it nor allow my silence to imply any degree of endorsement. This production does little justice to Our Lady; rather, it diminishes her significance, lacking reverence, historical substance, and even a basic understanding of her role in salvation history. What unfolded on screen seemed not so much an exploration of the Mother of God as a shallow prequel from an uninspired Hollywood franchise, borrowing aesthetic cues but devoid of soul. While Scripture provides limited material on Mary’s early life, a richer narrative emerges when we consider Catholic tradition, apocryphal writings such as the Protoevangelium of James, and private revelations to mystics. From these sources, profound and beautiful insights into Mary’s holiness and mission can be drawn, yet the film ignored this wealth of tradition entirely. Consequently, it failed not only as art but also as a tool for catechesis or evangelization. Worse still, it left no imprint of Marian devotion on the soul, which ought to be the hallmark of any genuine portrayal of the Mother of God.
This experience brought to the fore a troubling observation I have made regarding a certain strain of modernism within the Church. Among those who favor progressive or overly intellectualized forms of Catholicism, Marian devotion is often absent. At best, it appears as a perfunctory exercise—a box to tick in the assertion of one’s Catholic identity. At worst, it is treated as unnecessary, even optional. A recent conversation crystallized this reality when an acquaintance stated, with alarming nonchalance, that Catholics “don’t have to be Marian.” This sentiment, though couched in various disguises, is not unfamiliar, and it reflects a deeper misunderstanding of Mary’s role in the life of the Church and the individual believer.
Such indifference is untenable for any Catholic striving to live in communion with the truths of the faith. The Church teaches that Mary is not incidental to the plan of salvation; she is integral. To dismiss her is to misunderstand not only her role but the nature of Christology itself. As the Mother of God (Theotokos), she holds a unique and exalted place in salvation history—a truth affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Through her Immaculate Conception, Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin, a singular privilege granted by God in anticipation of her role as the Mother of the Redeemer. This doctrine, solemnly defined in Ineffabilis Deus by Pope Pius IX in 1854, emphasizes that Mary was prepared from the first moment of her existence to be the pure and holy vessel through which the Word would become flesh.
The Immaculate Conception, celebrated today, is not an esoteric dogma detached from practical faith. Rather, it highlights Mary’s unique cooperation with God’s grace and her singular role in the defeat of sin. As Genesis 3:15 foretells, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” This passage finds its fulfillment in Mary, the “New Eve,” whose obedience and purity undo the disobedience of the first Eve. Her cooperation with God’s will paved the way for Christ, the New Adam, to bring redemption to humanity.
Tradition and private revelation have further illuminated Mary’s life, enriching our understanding of her holiness and mission. The Protoevangelium of James, an ancient apocryphal text, tells of St. Joachim and St. Anne, a devout couple whose prayers for a child were answered through Mary’s miraculous conception. From her earliest years, Mary was consecrated to God, presented at the Temple, and formed in an environment of prayer, purity, and divine instruction. Mystics such as Venerable Mary of Ágreda, St. Anne Catherine Emmerich, and St. Bridget of Sweden offer profound insights into Mary’s extraordinary grace, virtue, and closeness to God. These accounts, while not part of the deposit of faith, reflect the Church’s consistent understanding of Mary as chosen, prepared, and sustained by God for her singular vocation.
To disregard these traditions is to impoverish one’s faith. Marian devotion is not merely an optional practice; it is a means of growing closer to Christ. As St. Louis de Montfort teaches, Mary is the surest path to Jesus: “To Jesus through Mary.” Her role as spiritual mother, intercessor, and Mediatrix of graces is a gift from God, designed to assist us on our journey to salvation. This truth is affirmed in Christ’s words from the Cross: “Behold your mother” (John 19:27). In giving Mary to the beloved disciple, He gave her to the Church—to all of us—as a mother who nurtures, protects, and intercedes for her children.
Moreover, Marian devotion is a formidable weapon in the spiritual life. Throughout history, saints, popes, and exorcists have attested to Mary’s power against evil. The Rosary, in particular, has been hailed as a “weapon for our times” (St. Padre Pio), capable of securing victories both spiritual and temporal. As Fr. Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist of Rome, once revealed, the devil himself confessed that “every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head.” Mary’s humility, purity, and perfect obedience to God make her the antithesis of Satan’s pride and rebellion. To invoke her is to invite her maternal strength into the battles we face against sin and temptation.
For Catholics who dismiss Marian dogmas and doctrines as optional, it is worth remembering that these truths are inextricably linked to Christological and ecclesiological realities. To affirm Mary as the Mother of God safeguards the truth of Christ’s divinity. To profess her Immaculate Conception highlights the perfection of the vessel chosen to bear the Savior. To honor her perpetual virginity affirms the miraculous nature of Christ’s birth. These dogmas are not arbitrary; they are essential to the integrity of Catholic belief.
In conclusion, the Blessed Virgin Mary is not peripheral to the Catholic faith; she is central to God’s plan of salvation. Her life, as revealed through Scripture, Tradition, and the experiences of mystics, is a testament to the power of grace, humility, and obedience to God’s will. Marian devotion is not a quaint relic of a bygone era but a vibrant and necessary aspect of Catholic spirituality. On this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, let us renew our love for Our Lady, seeking her intercession and striving to imitate her virtues. To reject her is to reject the gifts God has given us through her. To embrace her is to draw ever closer to Christ, her Son, and our Redeemer.
The grinning idiot “pastor” cum motivational speaker Joel Osteen, who was the executive producer of the Netflix fiasco, didn’t come close. It lacked authenticity, depth, context and was void of meaningful theology. He should stick to “living his best life now”.
Does anyone have Mel Gibson’s number?
Ave, Maria!
Ave Christus Rex!
Recognise and Resist!
ALSO READ:
How the Novus Ordo can shipwreck your faith: "If you hang around a barbershop long enough…"
Update: How you can help Pope Francis convert to Catholicism
The Great Dilemma (Part II): Finding shelter in Traditionalism
Mayan Mass: One step closer to fulfilling Bible prophecy and mystics’ dire warnings?