Divine Definitions: (1) The first; the original Being; (2) Not deriving from something or someone else; authentic; (3) The ruling authority; (4) The most important one; standing alone; prominent; (5) The highest and best value; premier; (6) The source; the beginning; the first cause; (7) The one who prepares the stage; (8) Unspoiled; pristine; beautiful
Comment: The First Source and Center is primal in all domains: finite and infinite, personal and impersonal, actual and potential, static and dynamic. Everything and everyone in existence is dependent upon the Prime Reality.
IMMACULATE
Human Definitions: (1) perfectly correct; pure; innocent; (2) spotless; unstained; without flaw, blemish, fault, or error
Derivation: Late Middle English, “free from moral stain”
Quotes:
• Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience. — Thomas Merton (1915–1968) American Trappist monk
• The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. — Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (1469-1527) Italian cynical philosopher
Note: Jesus could see, and therefore show, the person aspiring to be virtuous what immaculate virtue looked like by living it every day to the end.
Comment: Although it would be impossible for an adult to honestly consider themselves to be immaculate, it is none-the-less a worthy ambition.