Baroque graffiti from Golden Age Spain on the Immaculate Conception

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is definitely a case of bottom up sentiment, stemming from the sensus fidelium of the faithful. So although it was defined by Blessed Dons Scotus in the 14th century the dogma was only formally defined in 19th century. In Golden Age Seville, a certain Dominican priory called Regina, after the Virgin no less, was popularly known to withhold its assent to this belief, especially a theologian named Marina or Molina (being a folk poem there are various versions). So the people wrote this graffiti in response:

Aunque no quiera Molina,
ni los frailes del Regina,
ni su padre provincial,
digan que fue concebida
sin pecado original.

Si quiso y no pudo, no es Dios.
Si pudo y no quiso, no es hijo.
Digan pues que pudo y quiso.


Though Molina denies it,

and the friars of Regina

the prior and the provincial

say: 'tain't so

The Virgen was conceived

sans sin original.


For if he tried and failed, He's not God the Father

and if he was able to do it and refused, He's not the Son

So let's just say He tried and succeeded

and leave it at that.

(Inspired by a blog of a modern day Andalusian Catholic poet: http://egmaiquez.blogspot.com/, I actually have translated the version posted by http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/laciguena.php a 60-something curmudgeon who blogs on affairs in the Spanish Church)