Can Mary be Sinless and Intercede for you?

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Is there any place in Scripture where Mary either says she is holy or someone refers to her as holy? This would be necessary if Mary is indeed holy i.e. without sin. …
…Or not. Steve, humility is a gift from God. If Our Blessed Mother went around bellowing about how sinless She was, She wouldn’t now be sinless. It is because She meekly accepted this and focused on God and not on Herself, She is Holy, Blameless, Righteous, Sinless, and Blessed among all women.
 
Thanks for the data. For discussion sake i’d like to focus on the Sub Tuum

which says-
“This prayer was found on a 3rd century papyrus in Egypt, making it one of the oldest verifiable prayers to Mary. It emphasizes the Blessed Virgin’s role as intercessor, and is one of the few non-European prayers to gain popularity in the Latin Rite Church.”

As you can see this is at least a couple centuries removed from the apostles. Secondly, does it mean that just because it was found on a papyrus scroll that it was the universal teaching of the church at the time?

Thirdly, just because its popular does not mean its true. We see all kinds of things today that are popular but are false.
The false Protestant concepts of Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura are about 1500 years distant from the time of the Apostles. These concepts are not only unbiblical, but were never espoused and taught by the Church Fathers. On the other hand, beginning with Justin Martyr (A.D. 155) and Irenaeus (A.D. 180), the Church Fathers consistently taught Mary has a powerful intercessory role to play in salvation history as the New Eve and Mother of the Church. These ECFs could not have been consistent in their perceptions of Mary as the New Eve without a firm belief in her Assumption into heaven. The universal law of sin and the corruption of death does not apply to the free Woman of Promise first revealed in Genesis 3:15. And so the Church Fathers saw Mary as someone who has gone on ahead of us in glory as spiritual Mother to us all. True mothers are always there ready to assist their children any way they can through their loving and conscientious mediation.

The holy Fathers primarily taught and further articulated what was handed down to them through oral Tradition by way of Apostolic Succession, that Mary serves as a channel of God’s grace to the Christian community. Thus Catholics must have prayerfully solicited Mary on a universal scale since earliest times. The gospels of Luke and John do in fact support the teachings of the Church Fathers with respect to Mary’s intercessory role and participation in God’s plan of salvation.

The Sub Tuum Praesidium is a prayer, not a written doctrine. Like the ‘Hail Mary’ prayer it reflects a universal awareness and devotion of the Church. I’m sure there were many other similar forms of prayers circulating at the time but have been lost. Much early Christian literature was confiscated and destroyed by the Roman authorities during the great persecutions. What was hidden by the Christians has been lost - for now. The frescoes in the catacombs at Rome also reveal that the early Christians petitioned Mary for her help in their prayers to heaven during the great persecutions.

PAX :egyptian:
 
thank you, I get familial…

but…

How does Mary intercede for the 1000s say, that are praying to her at a given moment simultaneously on earth?
Well… speaking as a mommy myself… Sometimes I get swarmed by my children and husband all at once asking "mommy! Will you make dinner? Mommy! Mommy! Where’s my shoes? " (hehe my husband is sitting right next to me, and I don’t think he noticed that I slipped him into that statement lol!)

And even though I am just one mommy…one super tired, exhausted, bogged down, busy mommy…I still try to tend to all of my family’s needs because I love them so deeply.

Now…if I can do that… How about Mary? Not only is she WAY more patient and tolerant of demanding children than I am…but she is also in full, perfect communion with our Lord in heaven! She is fully transformed and sharing in eternal glory in the church triumphant… Heck, she has choirs of Angels to attend her! I think a few thousand children on earth tugging at her skirt is something she can handle:) I also know, as a mother, that no matter how many children my husband and I are blessed with…I will ALWAYS have room in my heart to love them each, individually, unconditionally.
I think it is the same for Mary:)
 
Originally Posted by Truthfaithlove
Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.
Is Mary, god? No. she’s a mortal. So how can she be good or sinless when Jesus says ONLY GOD IS GOOD?
You are clearly looking at this from a simple minded perspective. Jesus says that only God is Good because at the time Jesus was human and thus also burdened with the origional sin of Adam and Eve.

Mary is Good because her sins have been forgiven through the death and resurrection of Christ just as all of us Catholics can also be made Good or cleansed through confession and repentance and receiving of the eucharist. Good only means without sin. Mary was mortal but now she is in Heaven with God who through His grace has cleansed her of sin. Now that Mary is in Heaven she is Good. Full of Grace given by God. Grace simply means that even though you may not deserve it God has forgiven you. No one can be in Heaven with God until they are cleansed of their sin. God cannot be near uncleanly souls in heaven with Him. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to help mankind rid themselves of sin.

JFK once said " Many people afford the comfort of opinion without out the discomfort of thought". When I read your questions, I am afraid you are falling into this category . Quoting the Bible one sentence at a time removes the whole concept and clearly does not support your point. I will pray for you to have understanding my friend.
 
What do Mary’s intercessions do for a person? As a Christian already, how would I or anyone else benefit from her intercessions?
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5, 16


By approaching God on his terms, not on ours. What His terms are have been revealed through the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. In virtue of Mary’s intimate union with the Holy Spirit in the order of grace, God’s grace is channelled to the Christian community through our Blessed Mother’s solicitations. We receive many helping actual graces in our pilgrimage of faith by her prayers. She is the fulfillment of the Queen Mother of the ancient Davidic kingdom, our Gebirah. The New Covenant is a continuation of the Old Covenant. This is how God the Father has arranged things through the activity of the Holy Spirit. But everything rests on the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood.

“Let us entrust ourselves with all our soul’s affection to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin: let us all, with all our strength, beg her patronage, that, at the moment when on earth we surround her with our suppliant homage, she herself may deign in heaven to commend us with fervent prayer. For without any doubt she who merited to bring ransom for those who needed deliverance, can more than all the saints benefit by her favour those who have received deliverance.”
Ambrose Autpert, Assumption of the Virgin (ante A.D. 778)


PAX :tanning:
 
Good Fella;4398502]The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James 5, 16
By approaching God on his terms, not on ours. What His terms are have been revealed through the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. In virtue of Mary’s intimate union with the Holy Spirit in the order of grace, God’s grace is channelled to the Christian community through our Blessed Mother’s solicitations. We receive many helping actual graces in our pilgrimage of faith by her prayers. She is the fulfillment of the Queen Mother of the ancient Davidic kingdom, our Gebirah. The New Covenant is a continuation of the Old Covenant. This is how God the Father has arranged things through the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Where does this idea -“God’s grace is channelled to the Christian community through our Blessed Mother’s solicitations” come from? This certainly was not taught by the Lord Jesus or His apostles.
But everything rests on the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood.

Why do you need Mary to have direct access to the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood?
“Let us entrust ourselves with all our soul’s affection to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin: let us all, with all our strength, beg her patronage, that, at the moment when on earth we surround her with our suppliant homage, she herself may deign in heaven to commend us with fervent prayer. For without any doubt she who merited to bring ransom for those who needed deliverance, can more than all the saints benefit by her favour those who have received deliverance.”
Ambrose Autpert, Assumption of the Virgin (ante A.D. 778)
There is no grounds in Scripture for this kind exhortation.
PAX :tanning:
 
If by written Sacred Tradiition you mean the NT then you are incorrect. It never asserts with her. Nor sure how you can show that “Oral Tradition” supports this since you don’t know specifically what this was.
No, ja4 YOU don’t know what it is, because it can only be apprehended by faith, and you have refused it. The rest of it who have embraced the full Teaching of the Apostles have no trouble finding support for these things. 👍
How am i going to get the “real Church’s interpretation” of Scripture when your church has never produced such a work? i wish it did…🤷
You would receive the Teaching of the Apostles through the Church, which He founded and authorized to Teach it. God did produce this “work”. It is built upon the foundation of the apostles prophets, which Himself as the cornerstone.
If Mary prays for you at the hour of your death does that mean you will be saved from hell?
I certainly hope so!

When Mary went to Jesus because the wine ran out at the wedding, He changed ordinary water into the best wine ever! At her prayer, I would that my soul be “filled to the brim” with His New Wine! 👍
Is it necessary for her to pray for a catholic at this most critical time? What if a catholic does not ask for her help at the time of death?
No, it is just an extra benefit. God is not bound by the actions of His saints, but allows them to participate in His saving grace.
Thanks for the data. For discussion sake i’d like to focus on the Sub Tuum

which says-
“This prayer was found on a 3rd century papyrus in Egypt, making it one of the oldest verifiable prayers to Mary. It emphasizes the Blessed Virgin’s role as intercessor, and is one of the few non-European prayers to gain popularity in the Latin Rite Church.”

As you can see this is at least a couple centuries removed from the apostles. Secondly, does it mean that just because it was found on a papyrus scroll that it was the universal teaching of the church at the time?
Not any more so than the New Testament, which was scattered around on papyrus scrolls at the same tim.
Thirdly, just because its popular does not mean its true. We see all kinds of things today that are popular but are false.
I agree. An example would be the Bible, which is the most popular book, but was not put together until the fourth century.
Since such an exhortation is not taught in Scripture to pray to Mary at the hour of death do you know when this first started? Did Christians in the second century pray this?
I imagine that it started right around the time that Christ died. If you think for one moment that Mary was not at the foot of the cross praying her broken heart out as her Divine Son poured HIs blood out for us, you are gravely mistaken.
Where does this idea -“God’s grace is channelled to the Christian community through our Blessed Mother’s solicitations” come from?
Jesus is fully present in His Church, and it is through the Church that He manifests Himself in the world. Mary, as the very first Christian, has a very special place in His heart and His Church.
This certainly was not taught by the Lord Jesus or His apostles.
How could you know this, not having been present at the time? 😉 This is an awfully presumptive statement! If you have the mp3’s from the Tyrannus lectures, I will pay you top dollar! 😃
Why do you need Mary to have direct access to the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood?
It was God’s decision to purify Mary so that His blood could be formed from Her body. He made her an integral part of the salvation of mankind by His choice to “become flesh” within her.
There is no grounds in Scripture for this kind exhortation.
Well, we read it differently. 😃

Catholics believe that the more righteous the person, the more effective their prayers.
 
Why do you need Mary to have direct access to the merits of Christ’s Precious Blood?

There is no grounds in Scripture for this kind exhortation.
She does … she is a Jewish mother who has a Jewish son. What son does not heed his Mother’s request. My mother asks me to do something … and I do it … willingly … that relationship is the key. My mother asks me to talk to my brother about an issue and I do it … I intercede at her request … except the intercessor’s son happens to be God. Jesus said this at the time of his death … behold your son … behold your mother … John understood … why not you?

You have to think about this a lot to grasp it … you have to look at you and your mother to begin to see it.

This is why Scripture is not a cookbook …
 
Are you also a product of these RCIA classes? Do they teach you to think you can read minds over the net and draw your conclusions with people instead of real dialogue?
We are taught by the Catholic Church to test all things, just as your signature line states. We can observe your behavior over a long perid of time. As we read your posts, we can draw conclusions. RobHom has very clearly described these conclusions for you. 👍
You certainly do leap to conclusions.
It is no “leap” ja4. You have not been silent here about your anti-Catholic and evangelistic agenda:
There are many teachings in the Catholic church that are not the teachings of Christ.
Truth is never determined by authority but by the facts. If you don’t have the facts to back up a claim, you really can’t say you have the truth. Do you believe your church can ever be wrong?
I believe that the scriptures are the inspired word of God but i don’t always believe what your church or my church teaches is always right. In sense we must pick and choose what we will
believe to be the truth
. I’m would think even you have certain qualms about some issues in your church.
"justasking4:
My question is this: since the scripture never teaches such a thing like this about Mary, **is this not
a false teaching **since it cannot be grounded in the scriptures? If not taught in scripture, how would your church know this to be a fact about her?
If you can’t find clear support for a doctrine, then what you are left with is speculation. Speculation is not a foundation in which to build a doctrine on. Its like building on sand. Jesus promised in John 14:26 that the HS would bring “remembrance” of all He said. This would evenually lead to the writing down what they heard. What are the signs that the Holy Spirit is guiding the church?
It could just as easily be shown in some respects how quickly the church was allowing unbilical teachings into the church at a very early stage.

I would counter Newman with this: To know the Scriptures is to be Protestant.
I ask because the Scriptures command it. I Thes 5:21 is a case in point. Secondly what a person believes impacts there living and can also impact their eternal destiny. Questions also help to determine if something is true or not by the answers given. Questions also help us to grow in knowledge. Have you engaged a Mormon or a Jehovah witness on your doorstep? Asking them the right questions can tell you a lot about what they believe and if you know the truth you can help them see the errors in their beliefs.
Your agenda is quite clear, and your habit of asking all these questions is clearly motivated by a desire to point out our “errors”, not because you have any genuine interest in learning about our faith. You are right, it is a very good evangelistic approach.
 
Just Asking4 Why would you have so much trust in a Book put together in the 4th century by a church you obviously do not agree with or trust? But you do not believe things that were written in the first or second century that the same church takes as truth.

I don’t believe you are looking for the truth. It seems your mind is closed and you are just trying to shake the faith of catholics or trying to convert them to your faith.

After over 700 post, your not doing well. Even I, as a new catholic am not moved one bit by your arguments. After spending most of my life learning from the Bible and praying many times all during the day, listening to ministers from many different protestant faiths, too many to list, I have found the Catholic Church to be the only church that is really following the Bible.

As for praying to the Blessed Mother of God and the saints, I felt a little uneasy about that. But I knew God was leading me that way so I began to pray to him and ask that he help me with this if it was his will for me to become catholic.

He answered very quickly as the first few times I prayed the rosary, I felt more close to God than ever in my life. My eyes were opened to things in the Bible that I had read but never seen.
It was like, where did that come from. I read that so many times and never realize it said that.

It has been a awesome experience. The only thing that has been better is the time I have spent in Mass. Spending time before the Holy Eucharist is the greatest thing about being catholic.

I have been to many pentecostal services that would get you so emotional, but when you go before the Holy Eucharist in silence and come away feeling you have been at the feet of God, the emotional service can’t compare. You also know it was not a experience that was brought on by the right music, preaching, etc., The peace and joy you feel is something you could never experience anywhere but in presence of God in the Eucharist.

Even if I disagreed with the church on some issue, I know I can never be content without the Eucharist.

Please pray to God with an open attitude, ready to accept his truth even if it is completely different from what you might believe now.
 
I’m not ignoring you.:eek: How could i not like you???:confused:
Lets look at the meaning of this phrase and if it truly does mean without sin. Here is what the phrase means in Greek:
"Full of grace
χαριτόω charitóō; contracted charitó̄, fut. charitó̄sō, from cháris (5485), grace. To grace, highly honor or greatly favor. In the NT spoken only of the divine favor, as to the virgin Mary in Luke 1:28, kecharitōménē, the perf. pass. part. sing. fem. The verb charitóō declares the virgin Mary to be highly favored, approved of God to conceive the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. The only other use of charitóō is in Eph. 1:6 where believers are said to be “accepted in the beloved,” i.e., objects of grace.

Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G5486). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers"

If you look carefully there is no mention or hint of being sinless. Also note that this is the same word used for believers in Ephesians 1:6.
Couple this with Romans 5:12 where all men including Mary were under the sentence of Adam since she to was concieved of 2 human parents.
Okay how can you say to be highly favored approved by God mean she is full of sin? To be accepted and Loved to mean full of sin? Or consider full Of GRACE to mean sin of any kind?
 
Lets look at the meaning of this phrase and if it truly does mean without sin. Here is what the phrase means in Greek:
"Full of grace
??? charitó?; contracted charitó, fut. charitós?, from cháris (5485), grace. To grace, highly honor or greatly favor. In the NT spoken only of the divine favor, as to the virgin Mary in Luke 1:28, kecharit?mén?, the perf. pass. part. sing. fem. The verb charitó? declares the virgin Mary to be highly favored, approved of God to conceive the Son of God through the Holy Spirit. The only other use of charitó? is in Eph. 1:6 where believers are said to be “accepted in the beloved,” i.e., objects of grace.
bringyou.to/apologetics/a116.htm says this:
So, here’s what some modern, English-speaking scholars tell us “Kecharitomene” denotes, based purely on the definition of the word and its grammatical usage:
" ‘Highly favoured’ ( kecharitomene ). Perfect passive participle of charitoo and means endowed with grace ( charis ), enriched with grace as in Ephesians. 1:6, . . . The Vulgate gratiae plena [full of grace] "is right, if it means ‘full of grace which thou hast received’; wrong, if it means ‘full of grace which thou hast to bestow’ " (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament , p. 14)
“It is permissible, on Greek grammatical and linguistic grounds, to paraphrase kecharitomene as completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace.” (Blass and DeBrunner, Greek Grammar of the New Testament ).
However, Luke 1:28 uses a special conjugated form of " charitoo ." It uses " kecharitomene ," while Ephesians 1:6 uses " echaritosen ," which is a different form of the verb " charitoo ." Echaritosen means “he graced” (bestowed grace). Echaritosen signifies a momentary action, an action brought to pass. (Blass and DeBrunner, Greek Grammar of the New Testament , p.166). Whereas, Kecharitomene , the perfect passive participle, shows a completeness with a permanent result. Kecharitomene denotes continuance of a completed action (H. W. Smyth, Greek Grammar [Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968], p. 108-109, sec 1852:b; also Blass and DeBrunner, p.175).
 
ja4 just to be on the safe side. Eph 2:8 Romans 3:4 5:17 6:14 Titus 2:11. Grace is the total opposite of Sin. When we ask God to give us Grace are we asking for Sin? I think not. When we ask for God’s Grace that is what Grace is the power to turn us totally away from sin.
 
We are taught by the Catholic Church to test all things, just as your signature line states. We can observe your behavior over a long perid of time. As we read your posts, we can draw conclusions. RobHom has very clearly described these conclusions for you. 👍
It is no “leap” ja4. You have not been silent here about your anti-Catholic and evangelistic agenda:
 
ja4 just to be on the safe side. Eph 2:8 Romans 3:4 5:17 6:14 Titus 2:11. Grace is the total opposite of Sin. When we ask God to give us Grace are we asking for Sin? I think not. When we ask for God’s Grace that is what Grace is the power to turn us totally away from sin.
Grace may at times give you the power to turn from sin but that does not mean you are sinless or cannot sin again. Grace does not make one sinless if they were concieved in a fallen condition that all men inherit from Adam. See Romans 5:12
 
Okay how can you say to be highly favored approved by God mean she is full of sin? To be accepted and Loved to mean full of sin? Or consider full Of GRACE to mean sin of any kind?
The defintion has nothing to do with sin. The phrase “hail favored one” is a greeting because she was chosen by God to bring the Christ into world by God using her body to make it possible. There is no requirement on the part of Mary to be without sin to make this possible.
 
Grace may at times give you the power to turn from sin but that does not mean you are sinless or cannot sin again. Grace does not make one sinless if they were concieved in a fallen condition that all men inherit from Adam. See Romans 5:12
What does the Blessed Mother being FULL OF GRACE, have to do with Adam and Eve falling from Grace. I never said you could not fall from grace I said the Blessed Mother was Full of Grace which meant there is no room for sin. And again if the Blessed Mother was full of Grace as the bible states how could she have sin. And where in the world did it ever say she fell from Grace? And if you cannot show me where she indeed fell from Grace, she must have remained FULL OF GRACE the way the bible states which in part means sinless!
 
What do Mary’s intercessions do for a person? As a Christian already, how would I or anyone else benefit from her intercessions?
The same way that we benefit from anyone else’s. Mary is always there for us. She has adopted us into her family for the sake of her Son, Jesus, who wants to be our Brother (Jesus cannot be our Brother if Mary is not our Mother, though, right? Otherwise we’re just like a bunch of gangsters who say “brother” without really meaning anything real by that word).

But Jesus really is our Brother, so, that means Mary really is our Mother and loves us like a mother, and prays for us like a good mother prays for her children.

It’s a good thing. It can’t harm you.

Don’t be like someone who says, “I don’t need roses” and then whines because they never get roses. Accept the gift with humility and gratitude, even if you don’t know yet what you will do with it. :flowers:
 
The defintion has nothing to do with sin. The phrase “hail favored one” is a greeting because she was chosen by God to bring the Christ into world by God using her body to make it possible. There is no requirement on the part of Mary to be without sin to make this possible.
It’s not a requirement, but it is eminently fitting - and since when is our God a minimalist, doing only the least amount that is required? Our God doesn’t go after the D minus - He is an A+ God, who does all of the extras, and takes care of all of the details. 🙂
 
I really feel this must be said again.

Blessed be Her Holy Name. Blessed be Her Maidenhood. Blessed be Her Fiat. Blessed Be Her Motherhood.

We thank you, Father, for giving us Our Mother, who is the Matron of all Christians. Praise be to You for creating Her sinless and thank you for letting Her participate with You in salvation history and granting graces.

In Jesus Christ’s Name we thank you. Amen.
 
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