IMMACULATE MISCONCEPTION

I object to the insulting, anti-Christian tone of art critic Christopher Knight’s review of illuminated manuscripts (“They’re Still Glowing,” Dec. 4).

In his remarks about Fra Angelico’s portrayal of the Annunciation, Knight compared the virginal conception of Jesus to the plot of “Jurassic Park.” I am at a complete loss to understand why Calendar would subject its Christian readers to this snide affront to our Lord and our faith.

Knight demonstrates that he has not done his homework, thus compounding his sin, by his misuse of the term Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was preserved from all stain of original sin from the moment of her conception in her mother’s womb. (The Annunciation describes the archangel Gabriel asking Mary to consent to becoming the Mother of God while maintaining her virginity, as recorded in Luke 1:26-38.)

If there’s anything worse than a bigot, it’s an intellectually lazy bigot.

THE REV. GREGORY COIRO,

O.F.M.Cap

Director, Office of Public Affairs,

Archdiocese of Los Angeles

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Christopher Knight stands corrected. The angel Gabriel did whisper to Mary that she would bear the heaven-sent Messiah--and that occurrence is called the Incarnation.

Immaculate Conception relates to Mary’s birth (as child of Joachim and Anne). Mary, because of her future calling, was privileged to be born without the stain of original sin (disobedience to God), which we are all marked with on entrance into the world. (Stain removed by baptism.)

Nothing “hard to swallow,” Chris. Just a matter of “facts.”

RUTH WHELAN TREND

Del Mar

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From the point of view of Mary, it’s known as the Annunciation; from the point of view of Jesus Christ, the same incident is his Incarnation (taking human flesh) in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This dual event is commemorated morning, noon and evening by praying the Angelus, from the first words of Luke’s account: “In the sixth month (of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist) the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.”

THE REV. JOHN O’BYRNE

Torrance