Challenges with Marian doctrine

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StephenBales

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So I’m a Baptist. Technically (More info on my situation here). I picked up a copy of St. Augustine’s Confessions, I’ve been reading and researching lots, I’ve been consuming content from The Coming Home Network, and I’ve even been praying the Rosary (very nearly) daily. Which brings me to my question: the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Intellectually, I have no problem believing all the doctrines on Mary. I’ve investigated a lot of the positions the CC holds that I would have otherwise reeled from, before I became convinced of its authority. All the things I used to vehemently disagree with in Catholicism, I actually accepted pretty easy. But the Protestant in me still can’t quite accept Mary’s role and position. All of it makes sense; her place as Holy Mother of the King and the connection to Jewish tradition there, seeing her in Revelation, et cetera. But something in me says no, and I don’t know what to do about that. I try to be sincere when I pray the Rosary, but when my heart wants to go along fine only with everything not directly concerning Mary, it’s difficult. Especially when 55 of the 81 prayers that make up the Rosary directly concern Mary!

Any other former Protestants who had this issue? How did you get past it?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Ask yourself this question

Is Mary the mother of Jesus? Did she carry Him for 9 months, give birth and feed and nurture Him?

Then

Who is the Word incarnate? Is this Jesus

Is Jesus part of the Trinity.
 
Mary was created by Jesus to be His mother. He brought her to flesh so that she could, in turn, give her flesh to Him for the salvation of the world. Her “Fiat!” or “Let it be done to me” was her giving fully of herself so that the salvation of mankind might be accomplished through her - in Christ her Son. She was with Him from virgin womb to virgin tomb.

As Christ honors His mother, and as she is the mother of all the faithful (Rev 12), she is your mother and mine. Remember that Jesus gave her to John at the cross - and John’s birth mother was there! So, there is a significantly greater purpose in that giving.

She bought Him to the world and now leads the world to Him.

Surf on over to the Coming Home Network and watch some vids on Baptist conversions to Catholicism. Listen to their reasoning. My favorite is Glen Allen’s story. Compelling reasoning. Give it time and …

Go to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Ask Him, in His presence, to illumine your heart to His mother’s role in the economy of salvation.
 
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You’re not required to pray a rosary ever in your life.

Accept the doctrine, thats all that’s required of us.
 
She is my spiritual mother, and like my earthly mother, she looks and cares for her children.

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

How does Mary protect and look after her children?

I would believe she would go the her Son, the King of King’s.
 
StephenBales said:
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The Hail Mary contains scriptural words of angel Gabriel and of Elizabeth which are about the Lord: the action of the Holy Spirit.

And then is asked for so often: “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”

Our Lady is more more honorable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim: angelic beings, yet the angelic beings offer our prayers.

Revelation 8
3 And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. 4 And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it on the earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings, and a great earthquake.
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I’m not a convert, but my relationship with Our Lady was always more in the intellectual realm when I wanted it to be in my heart. I tried doing the 33 Days to Morning Glory, mostly to no avail.

Reading “Redemtoris Mater” was a game changer for me. I finally understood her and understood myself in a whole new way. I suddently couldn’t contain the love for her that was bursting from my heart.
 
Former Baptist coming home.

Yes, Mary was and is a bit of a challenge to me. Here is what has helped.
  • Everything that makes Mary so honored and loved really has to do with her son. Even the Hail Mary itself isn’t so much about her as it is about the child she was carrying. “Hail, full of grace”: the angel greets her and recognizes her for what she is. “The Lord is with you”: It’s not hail you are so awesome. Instead, it’s Hail you have the Lord with you and that makes the difference. “Blessed art thou amongst women”: why? Because she is was chosen by God and will said yes! “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus”: Christ is at the heart of the prayer. Stop and meditate on that. She carried him, he is the center. “Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us…”: she is an intercessor not a mini God. So, ultimately, what is her role? To lead us to her Son. It all points back to God at every turn. So, all the rosary prayers are actually about God!
  • As Christians we strive to live by Christ’s example. Shouldn’t we strive to love him like his mother would him? The love between mother and child is the strongest bond you can have. And, she was carrying our Lord. Stop and Meditate on that. When she was with child, would she have imagined what he would look like, smell like, sound like? Wouldn’t she have been the first to feel his touch? Feel him kick? She’s first to feed him? She loved him before she could ever see him or feel him! Before there were miracles! Before his ministry to bring his message to his people. Shouldn’t we strive to love Christ like that?! In turn, if we are Christians, shouldn’t we strive to love Mary as Christ loved her?! As a Son Loves his mother?Amen!
  • Lastly, any relationship worth having must be nourish and cultivated. You have spent your life nourishing your relationship with the triune God. You feel close to Him. But, you have also spent your life ignoring Mary. Cut yourself some slack. It will take time. It’s ok if you aren’t over the moon about Mary yet. It will come. Just study, pray, and meditate on what makes Mary worth it. The love will come, and when it does, she will be there waiting for you. 🙂
 
JanSobieskiIII said:
You’re not required to pray a rosary ever in your life.

Accept the doctrine, thats all that’s required of us.
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It is true that the Rosary is not required, and that all that is required is to accept the doctrine. The OP, however, shows a desire to pray the Rosary and I think that is admirable and should be encouraged.
 
If it’s a stumbling block for him it’s best left aside. He’ll need to decide for himself
 
I know of a former Baptist who had similar difficulties as yours. His name is Tim Staples.

Here’s his website…

http://timstaples.com/

From what I understand you could actually contact him directly through his website.

God Bless
 
StephenBales said:
But something in me says no, and I don’t know what to do about that. I try to be sincere when I pray the Rosary, but when my heart wants to go along fine only with everything not directly concerning Mary , it’s difficult.
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May God bless your journey, Stephen. It is more difficult when there is the possibility of alienation from loved ones.

As far as the niggling resistance, Satan hates Mary, and loves to incite resistance.

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

There is emnity between the evil one and the blessed mother.

Since you are intellectually pursuaded, and have made an act of the will, I would not concern yourself with the doubts. Just acknowledge them and keep moving forward. The will is like the engine of the train, and the reason like the passenger cars. Emotions are the caboose, and will follow along with the rest of the train eventually.
 
Yes, but if this person is seeking the truth about the BVM, the Rosary will be an immense help to him.
 
Marian devotions can be a stumbling block for not just converting Protestants but practicing Catholics as well. I remember when I was starting to practice Catholicism (even though I was Baptized as a Catholic I spent many years not practicing) I had a bit of difficulty saying Marian prayers or asking intercession of the Saints or praying to anyone who was not God.

But I started saying the Hail Mary, (or, in Latin, the Ave Maria)—it made me a bit nervous at first, but now I say several Aves a day as part of my regular prayers. It just comes naturally now. I ask Saints for intercession on occasion, too—particularly when I am anxious, or before confession time. You might need to start slow—maybe pray 3 Hail Marys and wait. If you don’t get struck by lightning, you can take that as a good sign 🙂 .

My guess is you will slowly become more comfortable with the practice, just give yourself a chance to get used to it.
 
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I know exactly what you mean. I pray every day for Jesus to teach me to love His mother. I find myself going in spurts. I have all the books, read them, understand them, but it’s just not fully in my heart. I had a similar situation with Catholicism - I had the head knowledge and had to wait for my heart to catch up. I believe I will eventually reach the same place with devotion to Mary.
 
I wish I’d read Fulton J Sheen’s “The World’s First Love” at the beginning of my conversion.

I’d been Catholic for 3 years before I prayed a rosary.
 
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I highly recommend the movie “Full Of Grace” it’s currently on Netflix.

As a former protestant I really struggle with how we are to view Mary in all of this, although my brain intellectually agrees. This movie really shined a light on her role for me - that she is an example to all believers because of her unique love for our Lord. 🙂
 
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