Do you have questions about Catholic beliefs & Practices

[blanchardman]

Adrift: When I asked if you would admit that “imputed righteousness” was in the bible I meant that phrase.

Now about Mary. Everything the Catholic Church teaches about is extra-biblical. I have no problem with the idea of her assumtion ( hope that is the correct term). The rest is just too much.

 

[Tommy999]

Doesn’t anyone have an answer to this well thought out question?

I hope others who are better at answering do so.
A quick answer for Mary being the queen of heaven is found in the fact that Jesus is king. The queen was always the mother not his wife. Since Jesus is king, that would make His mother queen. Mary is never separated from her son. All that she is, is due to her son. Mary always points the way to Him. Remember the last recorded words of Mary “Do whatever he tells you.”

It is better explained by EWTN please read as a starting point if you have more questions.

Thanks for sharing the link from WWTN, adrift. I will read it.

 

[blanchardman]

Elevating her to a position above any other believer in heaven. The rosary,the “Hail Mary”, Queen of Heaven.
Thanks for the spell check.

 

[blanchardman]

“Mother of God” (from the Hail Mary). God has no mother. She can’t hear you anyway.
I am not sure but wasn’t the rosary given by Mary?(not important just trying to refresh my memory).
I an not familiar with the “Gebirah” but I would have to see scripture supporting that.

 

[PJM]

Hi Patrick,
Thanks again for answering my questions in posts #6 and #13 earlier. It really helped.

I have a different question if you don’t mind. I have held back on this one until now because I don’t know how to ask the question without potentially offending Catholics and I don’t want to do that because I deeply respect Catholicism or else I wouldn’t still be on CAF for over a year and a half.

However, this issue has been a stumbling block for me so I would like to address it here in a respectful way in the hopes that I may be able to overcome this obstacle.

**Issue: ** Virgin Mary Queen of Heaven title

My Current belief:
Mary was a godly and wonderful girl who is a model for all womanhood. She is to be admired and honored as the mother of our Lord for saying “Yes” out of her own free will to bear the Savior. She is not to be worshipped in the adoration sense.

Question:
Many non-Catholic Christians perceive that Catholicism holds such a strong devotion to Mary that it flirts with turning her into a goddess. I realize that is not the official Catholic position to worship her as a goddess, but some non-Catholic critics claim that the “Queen of Heaven” designation was adopted from the goddess Artemis/Diana worship that was prevalent in Ephesus in early New Testament times. See Acts 19:28.

They assert that it was no accident that that Mary was given the title of ‘Mother of God’ at the Council of Ephesus in 431, since Ephesus was the center of worship of the feminine goddess Artemis (to the Greeks) and Diana (to the Romans) for centuries prior to that.

It is believed by some that those pagans who used to worship the goddess Artemis after they converted to Christianity still held such a strong longing for the feminine divine that the Catholic Church decided to fill that void by elevating the status of the Virgin Mary above what Holy Scripture called for in order to make the transition of the pagans to Christianity easier by portraying her as the new ‘Queen of Heaven’ in place of Artemis.

**Please explain the Catholic position on what is the proper view of the Virgin Mary and why the above criticism of her status is misguided **

Related question: Did Catholicism placate other pagans by moving Christmas to around the same time as the winter solstice celebration in order to replace a major pagan holiday with a major Christian replacement in the same way they replaced Halloween with ‘All Saints Day’? (or at least that is what some critics contend).

In some non-Catholic circles, there is a school of thought that Catholicism allowed certain pagan beliefs to be introduced into Christianity in order to help pagans more easily adjust to their newfound faith and make them more comfortable in it, and in doing so, corrupted the Christian faith. I would like to know the Catholic answer to these things because these issues are currently a big obstacle for me. Thanks.

Respectfully,
Tommy

Hi Tommy, THANKS, I’m working on your reply. God willing it’ll be done tomorrow

God Bless
Pat

 

[adrift]

Adrift: When I asked if you would admit that “imputed righteousness” was in the bible I meant that phrase.

Now about Mary. Everything the Catholic Church teaches about is extra-biblical. I have no problem with the idea of her assumtion ( hope that is the correct term). The rest is just too much.

Thank you for clearing that up for me. I reread your post that have the phrase. I then went to a resource that gives comparisons for different translations. I went to the original Greek 3049 logizomai {log-id’-zom-ahee} middle voice from 3056; TDNT - 4:284,536; v 1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over 1a) to take into account, to make an account of 1a1) metaph. to pass to one’s account, to impute 1a2) a thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight 1b) to number among, reckon with 1c) to reckon or account 2) to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate 3) by reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer 3a) to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on 3b) to suppose, deem, judge 3c) to determine, purpose, decide ++++ This word deals with reality. If I “logizomai” or reckon that my bank book has $25 in it, it has $25 in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions.
Of the ten translations one used imputed but is the meaning changed be using count instead. Is the word imputed important or is what is being said more important?
I get :hypno: reading these versus and of course they are being read out of context.
Can you help me out as to why the phrase is important?

I do believe after looking at the Greek reckoned is a better translation of the Greek but then that does raise the question if it changes the sense:shrug:

 

[adrift]

Elevating her to a position above any other believer in heaven. The rosary,the “Hail Mary”, Queen of Heaven.
Thanks for the spell check.

If she is elevated, it is God who does so (Elizabeth) cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…” from now on will all ages call me blessed"

Do you believe all believers are at the same level? Abraham is not above you? Paul is not above you? Peter is not above you? I don’t believe that concept is in Scripture.

 

[benhur]

Are you Tiger or Crimson Tide?

We are more into the British Premier League soccer, so you can say the Bama game is pretty anonymous to me.

Oop I forgot that you are fascinatingly from down under. Crimson Tide I was rooting for.

Would I think ‘go’ = ‘I send you’? Sure. All the more, especially since He had to breathe on them the Holy Spirit. It kinda quite special, more like a prerogative before doing the job assigned to them. It is like, “I am going to send you out to do this but before you go, in order for you to be able to do it, I will give you the Holy Spirit first”.

I am a bulldog but “I send you” is something Jesus does. It is declarative of the apostles authority, being sent by none other than Christ. It is not a command as ‘go". Yes, the Holy Spirit being given as you say.The only question is how "this’’ -remittance/retention of sins would be carried out.

Now, even if it is not construed as a command, which definitely it is, since in a teacher/pupil relationship, the request by the teacher has to be followed by the pupil, the instruction nevertheless is expected to be carried out by the apostles

it is not a command. That would be worded as " go and remit and forgive sins". Rather it is declarative to the nature and authority of being sent, of being an apostle/disciple.

. that when It is hard to imagine that Jesus did all the fuss, breathing on them the Holy Spirit, saying that they received Him, and then not expecting them to do what he wanted them to.

Again the fuss is that if no one can repent, have their sins forgiven and say Jesus is the Christ except by power of the Holy Ghost, that for sure then the apostles message must be authenticated and effectual thru the Holy Ghost also. When one rejects the apostles message of forgiveness thru Christ, they not only reject the apostle’s message, but the Holy Ghost’s also. See the fuss about the breathing ? The fuss gives import to being sent. It is a sobering thought to the impact , the consequence of their ministry. Souls hang in the balance. It is not so much about what Christ expected them to do, but what would authoritatively follow when they did do what they were sent for. And it is much more explicit that they were to preach the gospel to the world, even baptize and make disciples, than to create a confessional sacrament.

Blessings

 

[benhur]

If she is elevated, it is God who does so (Elizabeth) cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…” from now on will all ages call me blessed"

Do you believe all believers are at the same level? Abraham is not above you? Paul is not above you? Peter is not above you? I don’t believe that concept is in Scripture.

Hi a,

I have to agree with you. Of course you cordially begin with "if’ she be elevated. Indeed we will all be equally "happy’ but not equally given authority and only one can be at His right side. Our rewards will be different. Yet we are all seated in heavenly places, even seated with Christ. And of course the saints you mentioned, even Mary, will definitely be placed where I can shine their boots/sandals.

So back to the ‘if’ on Mary being the highest. I have no problem with anyone seeing that as biblically or by inspired revelation as problematic. They would also have Catholic company thru out history to boot (well maybe more about the IC) . It is interpretive, not explicit. I mean her accolades or position is still in the process of being petitioned to be further infallibly defined by the CC.

Blessings

 

[blanchardman]

If she is elevated, it is God who does so (Elizabeth) cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb…” from now on will all ages call me blessed"

Do you believe all believers are at the same level? Abraham is not above you? Paul is not above you? Peter is not above you? I don’t believe that concept is in Scripture.

Yes Mary was blessed in a way no other woman ever was or will be. The only “elevated persons” I see mentioned are the 24 elders. I think these might be the twelve apostles and the twelve patriarchs.
The persons you mentioned have greater treasures then me, I would believe. I believe these treasures are stored for us until after the resurrection. Until then we will be in the place prepared for us, being watched over by the angels.

 

[blanchardman]

Adrift: You asked why the phrase is so important. If it is in the bible then it is not a myth as PJM stated. It might be a misunderstanding or perhaps a misinterpretation but not a myth.

 

[adrift]

Adrift: You asked why the phrase is so important. If it is in the bible then it is not a myth as PJM stated. It might be a misunderstanding or perhaps a misinterpretation but not a myth.

I tend not to read PJM because I don’t like to be shouted out and I don’t like red in the printed word.
I did go back through the post and PJM said it was a theory. I could not find him claiming it was a myth

I still would like a definition of righteousness. I believe that imputed was explained.

 

[adrift]

“Mother of God” (from the Hail Mary). God has no mother. She can’t hear you anyway.
I am not sure but wasn’t the rosary given by Mary?(not important just trying to refresh my memory).
I an not familiar with the “Gebirah” but I would have to see scripture supporting that.

Jesus has a mother? Jesus is God?

…In 428 Archbishop Nestorius, the newly elected Patriarch of Constantinople, began to teach that Mary was indeed the Mother of Christ but was not the Mother of God, a title freely used in the Church. Although attempting to remain faithful to the Creed, that is professing belief in Christ’s true Divinity and true humanity, Nestorius’ writings, however, suggested that in Christ there was more of a moral unity of two persons, the Word and Jesus. In addition to the rebellion of the clergy and people, Nestorius had to contend with the attacks of St. Cyril of Alexandria, who finally submitted both Nestorius’ writings and his own defenses to Pope St. Celestine, who condemned Nestorius as a heretic…

I am continuing in the next post

 

[adrift]

Mother of God is not about Mary but about who Jesus is
Councils of Nicea (325)

…113 Canon. 1. If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the Holy Virgin is the Mother of God (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the Word of God become flesh by birth), let him be anathema (condemned, i.e. excommunicated).
114 Can. 2. If anyone does not confess that the Word of God the Father was united to a body by hypostasis [union in a single Person] and that one is Christ with his own body, the same one evidently both God and man, let him be anathema.
115 Can. 3. If anyone in the one Christ divides the subsistences [divine and human natures] after the union, connecting them by a junction only according to worth, that is to say absolute sway or power, and not rather by a joining according to physical union [union in the one Christ], let him be anathema.

116 Can. 4. If anyone portions out to two persons, that is to say subsistences, the words in the Gospels and the apostolic writings, whether said about Christ by the saints, or by Him concerning Himself, and attributes some as it to a man specially understood beside the Word of God, others as befitting God alone, to the Word of God the Father, let him be anathema.
117 Can. 5. If anyone ventures to say that Christ is a man inspired by God, and not rather that He is truly God, as a son by nature, as the Word was made flesh and has shared similarly with us in blood and flesh, let him be anathema.

118 Can. 6. If anyone ventures to say that God or the Lord is the Word of Christ from God the Father and does not rather confess the same as at once both God and man, since the Word was made flesh according to the Scriptures, let him be anathema.
119 Can. 7. If anyone says that Jesus as man was assisted by the Word of God, and that the glory of the Only-begotten was applied as to another existing beside Him, let him be anathema.

…

 

[PJM]

My REPLY to Tommy999 on POST #274 will appear on 3 consecutive post

Tommy

Don’t worry about hurt feeling; I’m the OP and my intent was to give a FORUM to speak your mind and heart. And you my friend have done so with much charity & clarity!. Thank you.

Because of the length of your post and my desire to address each point it will take multiple POST to reply; which I am gratefully going to do for you.

Thanks for asking.

Mary; and for that matter Catholics praying to Her or any Saint is commonly taught to be “Idol Worship” within Protestant ranks. So let’s first address that point and get it out of the way.

1st allow be to candidly explain why this is: The Protestant reformation did not take place until the 16th Century. Wycliffe; Luther and Calvin were all apostate Catholics who know “knocking of the then 1,500 year Old RCC was going to be no easy task.
Their plan of attack had to include the following points:

[1] It of course had to include their new and innovative faith beliefs that HAD to be [a natural consequences of their freewill-choices] known to compete with the long defined teachings of the RCC, and therefore willingly or not; taking on God Himself. Eph.; 1-7 [for example].

[2] Then their newly invented faith beliefs absolutely had to be both simpler to understand and far-easier to live.

[3] And finally they had to be saleable.

[4] They had either find or invent issues that not only made their new faiths different; they had to have issues with what the RCC taught and believed to enhance their own credibility. This turned out to be a most difficult task. Actually finding THINGS that were true or real in correct context was no simple task; so this mission evolved over time through ignorance or a simple lack of God grated understanding to often inventing things to be critical about. Praying to Mary and the Saints being a popular one.

Consider this: Here we discover that God personally commanded Moses to make IDOLS to God’s specification for God.

Exodus.25: 18, 20 and you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. [20] The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be

Num.21: 8-9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live”

So the Lesson here obviously is NOT Idols; themselves, rather it is the intended use and end benefits of them. Anything that can aid & grow one’s personal relationship with God is good and anything that competes with God is evil. So than does Mary; do the Saints actually compete with God? The brief answer is no.

Protestant understanding or lack thereof, of Catholic belief and practices regards Mary gain traction and momentum form the “W” word: “Worship”. And it is this common practice that adds fuel to their flames of Idolatry charges.

Catholics categorically do NOT “worship” Mary or any Saint. Or at least such is NOT a Catholic Teaching; but with over a Billion Catholics worldwide; some level of abuses could slip in?

PLEASE SEE NEXT POST

 

[PJM]

The Catholic Church and the Catholic Faith teach that WORSHIP is reserved for God alone. Our Catechism CCC#2135 “You shall worship the Lord your God” (Mt 4:10). Adoring God, praying to him, offering him the worship that belongs to him, fulfilling the promises and vows made to him are acts of the virtue of religion which fall under obedience to the first commandment”

CCC #971 “All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” **] The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.

**] the term “Christian worship” [Small “w”] simply means “the prayer life of the church”, of which Mary has an active Role. More on this later.

The second necessary clarification in accurately claiming that we Catholics DO pray “to Mary”, is grasping that ALL Catholic prayers END with God. “ALL” being the critical word here. So now having established a truthful basis for further discussion we can move on.
Mary Queen of heaven & earth:

CCC #966 “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.”

Not only “Queen of Heaven”, but of all things on earth as well. WHY? I will address this first before answering specifically your concern about being “considered” Queen of Heaven as I suspect the concern ties in with “us Catholics” putting Mary above or at least equal to Jesus Himself.

Before we address God’s relationship with Mary, let’s take a look at Mary’s relationship with Jesus.

Luke chapter 1: 35 & 44-52

“And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble”

What incredible faith; hope & Love. And such humility!

Mary, a young teenage virgin girl, chosen by God out of literally Billions of choices. And while God had granted her great graces and singular honors; she alone since Adam & Eve was conceived without the stain of Original sin; not that God in any sense “had to do this”; no only that God felt Mary Merited such an honor through the merits of her soon to be born son Jesus: God the Son.

Mary then had to freely choose to not sin even in the slightest, most insignificant manner; which she accomplished by never-once saying “no” to God for anything He asked of her. Even now, 2,000 years later; Mary ever-virgin: MOTHER OF HUMANITES GOD. Wow!

Either ignored, untaught or simply missed is the fact that by far the most prayed Marian prayer; the “hail Mary” used in the recitation of the Rosary, with each section beginning with the Lord’s Prayer and ending with Praise of the Blessed Trinity: “GLORY BE to the Father etc.” Is a very biblical prayer.

**Hail Mary, [Lk. 1:28]
Full of Grace [Lk. 1:28]
The Lord is with thee [Lk 1:27]
Blessed are you among all women [Lk 1:42]
And Blessed in the fruit of your womb: Jesus [Lk. 1;42]
Holy Mary [Lk.1: 28]
Mother of God 1:35
Pray for us sinners [our catholic petition]
Now and at the hour of our death
Amen” **

Now let’s take a glance of Jesus’s relationship with his Mother thru 3 snippets of their relationship

PLEASE SEE NEXT POST PT 2**

 

[PJM]

Part 3
Now let’s take a glance of Jesus’s relationship with his Mother thru 3 snippets of their relationship

[1]Lk 2:42-52 “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. [Meaning they didn’t know when His Ministry was to begin] And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” This was at a time when home-schooling” was the norm. Mary therefore was responsible for Jesus’ education. She was a great teacher and he a great student. A bond between them was established that would only increase in importance to both of them.

[2] Jn 2:1-5 [1] On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;

Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Their personal relationship was so close that Mary was able to presume upon Her Son to do what she asked. Not always grasped is that in doing do; it was Mary that in a sense “rushed” her Son’s Ministry; and therefore His Passion and Death. Even if she were unaware of this; she would soon learn what lay ahead though the very teachings of Jesus, [Mt 12:40]. Mary then assuming a “background” role followed her Son’s ministry and in general took care of Him and the Apostles.

[3] Jn 19:25-28 “So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), “I thirst.”

This short passage teaches two incredible events:

1 Our Blessed Lord gives to the world His Mother to BE our Mother too [Vs. 26-27]. Jesus intended Her to be a path to Him, by being an intercessor for all of us.
2 Mere minutes before dying; Jesus shouted** “I THIRST!” **

This was not asking for “a drink”; it Jesus sharing with us that despite ALL that He had already done; He still desired to do more. That “MORE” took 3 forms.

[1] The Establishment of His Church & one set of faith beliefs. Pagans would have their Temples; Jews their Synagogues & and NOW Christian -Catholics their Church.

[2] Jesus than Instituted the 7 Sacraments; the Gift that truly keeps on giving

[3] Jesus gave to His church and through “Her” His Mother knowing what a great aid She would be in leading Soul’s to Him. AMEN!

Now let’s look at Mary as “Queen”

Mt 16: 18 has Jesus calling heaven “the Kingdom of Heaven”; and the message was that He Jesus was its KING. As the Mother of Jesus; Mary traditionally and historically would then have factually been His Queen. The tradition of OT Kings having their mothers as Queen was firmly established in Jewsih Tradition.

Here is evidence of that fact: [pull this up, its fascinating reading]

agapebiblestudy.com/charts/Institution%20of%20the%20Gebirah.htm
So granting Mary the title of Queen was expected; and not some CC invention. That Mary was made Queen of Heaven & earth is because Jesus is KING of Heaven and earth; therefore Mary as His Queen would also be the same.

As for Catholics/Christmas/December 25th and the myriad of rumors; myths; and accusations that have long existed. Not being an historian myself; I thought it more prudent to share a very solid; lucid and precise explanation. It’s from CAF administration. EXCELLECT; please read it.

& here is an even more in-depth explanation from the Catholic Encyclopedia; also very
good

**http://www.catholic.com/blog/jon-sorensen/why-december-25

newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm **

PLEASE SEEN NEXT & FINAL POST ON THIS REPLY

 

[PJM]

Part 4 final part of reply to POST #274

I will however add a couple of additional points to ponder.

There is at least a small bit of human logic behind this front aimed at discrediting Catholicism. From the times of the reformation onward the Catholic Church has incessantly been an ever larger; always increasing is size and influence, “Bull’s-eye” on the target known as the “battle for Souls.” Just as Luther and Calvin understood the absolute need to “knock & knock-off” Catholics beliefs and practices; after 500 years this same practice has become the “call-to-arms of the Protestant community.

It seems quite reasonable and possible that because to the close proximately of various pagan religions were always close; and in times of captivity such as the times with Egypt and the Babylonian empire; where inter-marriage us forbidden but still a semi-common practice that through Judaism; and then later under Roman Rule; even in the time of Christ and the formation of His One true Church; that some degree of influence was inevitable.

What it did though was to give God the opportunity to take something we can consider as intrinsic-evils, [pagans rites and ceremonies] and make something very good of them: Catholic Feast days’. It’s puzzling to me that fellow Christian can at times, be so uncharitable.

God Bless you Tommy, Patrick

 

[benhur]

Jesus has a mother? Jesus is God?

I am continuing in the next post

My understanding is that theotokos (Mother of God) was to accentuate the unique nature of Christ being both man and God. The heresies back then dealt with Christology and very little about Mary. The objection to many nowadays is the accentuating, the almost kidnapping of the term for Mary’s further exaltation. Notice I said further, as beyond that which the original framers of the theotokos ever imagined or intended.

Blessings

 

[adrift]

My understanding is that theotokos (Mother of God) was to accentuate the unique nature of Christ being both man and God.

I thought I made the point that the title Mother of God was about Jesus but it doesn’t diminish the fact that she is the Mother of God.

The heresies back then dealt with Christology and very little about Mary. The objection to many nowadays is the accentuating, the almost kidnapping of the term for Mary’s further exaltation. Notice I said further, as beyond that which the original framers of the theotokos ever imagined or intended.

Blessings

I am not following you. What is beyond? What was not intended?