A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages Volume 3

The book explores the evolution of the theological doctrine surrounding the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Initially accepted as a sinner, the perception of the Virgin shifted significantly by the twelfth century due to the rise of Mariolatry, leading to a belief in her complete freedom from sin. It examines the challenges faced by theologians, like St. Anselm, in reconciling this new view with traditional beliefs about sin and the nature of Christ's birth.