The Conception of Christ

The whole Trinity effected the conception of our Lord’s body. But in a special way the conception is attributed to the Holy Ghost. For Christ came because of God’s great love for mankind. Scripture says (John 3:16): “God so loved theworld as to give his only-begotten son.” Hence, it is right that the conception of our Lord should be attributed to the Spirit of Love, that is, God the Holy Ghost.

We rightly say that Christ was conceived of the Holy Ghost. This suggests that the Holy Ghost is the active principle ofthe conceiving, and also that the One conceived is consubstantialwith its active principle.

However, it is not right to say that the Holy Ghost isthe father of Christ. St. Augustine (Enchir. xl) says,“Christ was born of the Holy Ghost, not as a son; he was born of Mary as a son.” In his eternal personality, Christ is the Son of God by the eternal generation of the Father. He, therefore,is eternally the Son of God; he was not made the Son of God by becoming man under the active power of the Holy Ghost.

In the conceiving of Christ, the Blessed Mother had no active part to play beyond cooperating by giving consent that God’s will should be accomplished in her. And Mary did cooperate in God’s will and work: “Be it done to me,“she said to the angelic messenger, “according to thy word.”