Former Catholics - Mary worship

[Dorothy]

Geo17,

youtube.com/watch?v=kMNc8ziPGaE

The above has an excellent talk on Padre Pio’s devotion to our Blessed Mother:

 

[rcwitness]

First question: what is OO?

One thing I like about Pope Francis is I think he’s going to try to unite all Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike. After all, we all believe in the same 1 and only God. If not, then we don’t believe in God at all. There is only 1.

I could tell you a long sad story about confirmation. But I won’t. I’ll just say I was too young. But the worst part was I wanted my father’s name, and I meant that to honor him. But he refused to stand up for me in church. A cousin had the same name, so he stood with me. But my father turned that day into such a war, I barely remember 1 thing about it. All I remember was my father being angry almost the whole week.

So when I left the CC I also stopped believing God was real. When I started to read the Bible I intended to prove to myself it was false. God had other plans. I sure did undergo a conversion, but it happened over a 3 year time period. I thought a Born Again church would help me grow closer to God better than a CC would. After 31 years, I have not found that to be true. I know (deep inside me) some Catholics are Born Again. I think I found a CC where at least 1 priest and the deacon who does the Mass with him, are both Born Again. I go there as often as I can. But I can’t say prayers to Mary. I just can’t.

I saw part of a docudrama (on EWTN) about Padre Pio. I’m now seeking more knowledge on him. From the little I saw, he was without a doubt Born Again. One problem I have is my eyes, so I can’t read much. Before even 1 page, the lines tend to jump around. I hope to see an eye Doc this month. Therefore, I’m looking for videos on Padre Pio. Anyone know of any?
**
To adf417**, if you can get your TV service through Verizon, EWTN and Telecare should come with it. And I mean the most basic and inexpensive package they have. I got it quite accidentally after the Sandy storm. But then again there’s no accidents with God.

I think dronald was referring to the Oriental Orthodox.


Thanks for sharing a little about your Confirmation and struggle against a very complicated father. I wish you peace with him, wherever he may be. I enjoy a testimony, or personal experience letting us know where your faith is coming from.
I am certainly one to respect someones struggle or resistance with “praying to Mary”.
I see all my veneration to her within my devotion to Our Holy Spirit, Our Eucharist, Apostolic Teaching, and Scripture. My relationship with her is joined through the prayers I have in Communion with all the faithfull. I speak to her in prayer, asking for her prayers and acknowledging my recourse to her.

I am not satisfied with merely reciting the Rosary without recognizing the necessity to balance our veneration of her with our desire to seek what is pleasing to the Lord. One thing I have trouble understanding is the concept of giving everything to Mary, so she can offer it to God. And doing all to please her. There is a strong tendency to make her a high priestess. I dont think that pleases the Father.

 

[KathleenGee]

I think people who have issues about Mary are focusing on her way too much and out of context of Christ and faith in practice within the Church.

I did not come to Mary until I worked with Latin Catholic priests and lay workers. I experienced her presence among the poor and suffering. She extends the presence of heaven and sanctity to us as our Mother.

We are not individual believers but live our faith out with the communion of saints who live with God, Who is I Am Who Am. We enter the eternal when we go to Mass.

You cannot understand Mary in the proper context until you grow mystically through the Church in Christ.

You must come into the sacred of Our Lord, Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity in the Word Made Flesh…the great event where God and man joined together at Mary’s Incarnation. March 25 is a sacred day to the Jewish people. It is the new beginning, and it is on this date that Christ was conceived.

Mary is the link between God and Man through the Holy Trinity. She was no ordinary woman and to think 400 years passed as very short time…a 100 years less than protestantism which is also of short duration and the main denominations that started it are not growing, reflects the great lack of knowledge of what happened in the first 400 years of the Church.

Mary has so many titles because she has concretely helped so many people in hard times all through the history of Christianity.

Mary also brings the feminine to the Church. She is the model of the Church, which is female, who is adorned for Our Lord. You could say the Church and all its tabernacles throughout the world, are now the womb of Mary.

She gave Christ His Body and Blood, and we cannot but help reflect on her when we receive and live out the life of our Lord Who lives within us. But this reflection must come at the right time. Understanding of Mary only comes when she sees you are sufficiently centered on the Lord and time has come.

 

[adf417]

I think people who have issues about Mary are focusing on her way too much and out of context of Christ and faith in practice within the Church.

I wish someone would post a study comparing the amount of emphases placed on Mary vs. the emphases on Football, Baseball, NASCAR, senior prom, water sports, music concerts… This might not put her in context with Christ but should show where the over emphases truly is.

Peace!!!

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I think people who have issues about Mary are focusing on her way too much and out of context of Christ and faith in practice within the Church.

I did not come to Mary until I worked with Latin Catholic priests and lay workers. I experienced her presence among the poor and suffering. She extends the presence of heaven and sanctity to us as our Mother.

We are not individual believers but live our faith out with the communion of saints who live with God, Who is I Am Who Am. We enter the eternal when we go to Mass.

You cannot understand Mary in the proper context until you grow mystically through the Church in Christ.

You must come into the sacred of Our Lord, Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity in the Word Made Flesh…the great event where God and man joined together at Mary’s Incarnation. March 25 is a sacred day to the Jewish people. It is the new beginning, and it is on this date that Christ was conceived.

Mary is the link between God and Man through the Holy Trinity. She was no ordinary woman and to think 400 years passed as very short time…a 100 years less than protestantism which is also of short duration and the main denominations that started it are not growing, reflects the great lack of knowledge of what happened in the first 400 years of the Church.

Mary has so many titles because she has concretely helped so many people in hard times all through the history of Christianity.

Mary also brings the feminine to the Church. She is the model of the Church, which is female, who is adorned for Our Lord. You could say the Church and all its tabernacles throughout the world, are now the womb of Mary.

She gave Christ His Body and Blood, and we cannot but help reflect on her when we receive and live out the life of our Lord Who lives within us. But this reflection must come at the right time. Understanding of Mary only comes when she sees you are sufficiently centered on the Lord and time has come.

Martin Luther referred to Mary as the Queen of Heaven but urged Christians to focus on who sat in the holy Mother’s lap, Christ the King.

 

[PJM]

=Cube2;12059678]My concern is why Mary?
The catholic faith assumes that saints in heaven are transformed to be like God. Thus, Mary gets the attributes of God so as to be omnipresent in spiritual form. She is able to hear our prayers made all over the earth, whether by heart or audibly. This is the concern as it is not supported by scripture or Apostolic teachings

Not sure how much I will be able to reply to as space here in limited:

where are you getting your information? Mary is NOT God, NOR does she have ALL of Gods attributes.

Do you KNOW how man alone, of all Created things by God, can emulate Him. Gen. 1:26-27?

Similar BUT NOT like God, we have the attributes of a mind, intellect and freewill, ALL attached to our Souls. Like God these too are “Spiritual Realities”. In death our bodies return to “DUST.” It is this Spiritual other-self of man that enters either hell or heaven.

“NOT supported by Scripture” is a false understanding. READ the last 2 verses of Jn. 20 and 21. The bible was not fully written until about 100 AD. And yet GREW as an informed church.

READ Mt. 16:18-19 , and John 17 [all of it]and you CAN see where Christ appoints the Apostles and protects their teaching. Then read Mt. 10: 1-8 & 28:16-20

God did not simply appoint Peter, entrust ALL of the keys to heavenly access to and through him’ HE HAD TO give him the powers, gifts and authority to accomplish the missions mandates. Jn. 17:17 & 20:21

My question is; 'the assumption of Mary into heaven and her coronation as queen of heaven and earth"
This is a Catholic dogma not supported by scripture or Apostolic teaching. In any case the assumption of Mary into heaven was not a Catholic believe until 1950.[/NOT TRUE!]

It was not formally declared a DOGMA until then. But ask yourself how Dogma’s come to be DOGMA.

They begin with wide spread believe among the Ordained, religious and the laity
Then they at some point are defined as Doctrine [MUST belief faith teachings]
Then when enough “influence” by Bishops, religious and laity is established the Pope CAN
choose; GUIDED by the HS, to declare it a Dogma

Mary deserves honor, though not veneration or consecrating oneself to her.
Even the apostles deserves honor for the great work they did. I credit Apostle Paul for preaching the gospel to the gentiles of whom I am.

Again you lack my friend RIGHT and FULL understanding

Mary and the Saints are to be honored, venerated BUT NOT “worshiped”
Because they are assuredly in heaven; they act as Intercessors for us in earth.

Then it was not a tradition! By declaring it a dogma implied it did not have sufficient basis to stand on its own?QUOTE]

I have no idea where you get such WRONG ideas:shrug:

The polar opposite is far nearer the truth.

I don’t deny that. But lets consider the example of assumption of Mary into heaven. Its scriptural basis are 2 verses in Rev. 12.
When you read the subsequent verses, the identity of the woman changes. If the whole believe is taken from a small section of scripture while omitting the major explanations, then some truths are withheld. That is my greatest concern.

By not understanding the Power and Authority of the Keys; notably verses 18-19, your wrong understanding gets multiplied.

Read in this order, and take as written [DON’T interpret]:
Mt. 10:1-8
Mt. 16: 15-19
John 17:18
John 20:21
John 17:12-23
Mk 16:14-15
Mt. 28: 16-20

Because there is BUT One God
One God can and does have Just One set of Faith believes [OT & NT]
And OT = One Chosen people
NT One and only One Church

And God could not, did NOT wait 1,200 to 1,600 years for Protestants to decide that Gods Church was somehow insufficient to make HIS truths known. Amen

GB Patrick

Mary was declared the ‘Mother of God’ in 431AD as a Dogma. This implies that the view was not a popular believe for four centuries.
That’s a concern of the teachings that the church adopted.

The mystery of salvation is based on redemption, God buying us back to himself. God had to pay the full price of death on our behalf. He could have done it without the help of mankind like Melchizedek who did not have parents. But he chose to come in the very understandable way of being born in human likeness. Phil 2:7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
My concern is how much we should honor Mary.

God created Adam from dust. He is able to take up a human form.
He did it for mankind, not mankind for him. The apostles doctrine was pro-Christ alone and his mission on earth, while the Catholic doctrine is pro Mary/Jesus mission.

 

[KathleenGee]

I take a client to a Lutheran service on Sunday’s and there is nothing there that has any image of Mary or reference to her.

I do not know why Luther said that about focusing on the Child and not Mary. That is what Catholics have been doing.

Again, it goes back to ‘what happens at Mass’.

Immediately I could see the intent with the movements of the Lutheran service, but also recognized their order in line with the universal Mass. They inject more to singing in places we do not do or have singing after the reading of the Gospel.

So I think the effect of Luther’s statements, have removed Mary from her proper place of recognition and due honor.

 

[Geo17]

Padre Pio had to have some sermons on Mary because she is such a huge part of the CC. I also found out Pio was almost kicked out of the CC but I’m not sure why. I think it had to do with his devotion to Jesus. Which is the main reason I’m interested in him.

Now about me and Mary. In the 1990’s we had a local priest who held Charismatic Healing Masses. I had a good female friend with 1 very sick daughter and we took her to all the healing Masses we could. One night I couldn’t sit with my friend and her 2 small daughters, so I had to stand next to the pew and be ready to go up with their row. My friend couldn’t hold both kids, I had to hold one. While I was standing there, one of the women who helped the priest came up to me. I really wasn’t paying attention to her, as I was watching my friend. The woman wanted to give me a ring, and I don’t wear rings. It wasn’t that kind of ring. The woman said this to me, “From the moment I saw you walk in here, the Lord laid it on my heart to give this to you. It’s a Rosary ring blessed by the Holy Mother.” And she walked away. In my head, I heard Holy Father, as in the Pope, so I didn’t see it as a big deal. But then I realized she said Holy Mother. I went to ask her about this. I said how can the Blessed Virgin Mary have blessed this, she’s dead. The woman said she blessed it in Medjugorje. I knew Mary is said to have made Earthly appearances, but I knew nothing of Medjugorje. I asked this woman, “You actually saw Mary?” She said yes. I thanked her and took the ring. I still have it.

A few years later I was quite sick. (this was back when you could rent video tapes) I knew I’d be in bed about 1 week. So I rented 2 movies on the story of St Bernadette, and 1 on The Miracle of Fatima. The Fatima movie helped me get through my illness.

A few more years later, a cousin said Mary was appearing to these 2 young people, who made an audio tape of what Mary said. I finally listened to it. Mary was telling people to pack a bag and leave the populated areas because a disaster was imminent. That never happened. It was false. On the Internet, I’ve learned the CC doesn’t think the Medjugorje apparitions are really Mary. That was a bit of a disappointment. I also tried to research the 3 messages of Fatima. I read many things. One claims Mary said that around 2017 there will be 3 days of darkness. Just today, I found another You Tube where Mary says the 3 days of darkness would have happened around 1950. That never happened neither. This is a problem. But 2017 will be here soon enough. We shall then see.

In the OT, ancient Israel was plagued by false prophets. This was especially true when Elijah was Israel’s prophet. God told Elijah to challenge all the other prophets by building an alter and asking them to call on their god to burn up the offering. None of them could. Then Elijah prayed. Our God not only consumed Elijah’s offering, God burnt all the other offering down to the ground. Rocks and all. God then set a rule. If any man says “Thus saith the Lord”, and if even 1 word doesn’t come true, that man is a false prophet and he was to be stoned to death.

I don’t know whether Mary was taken to Heaven or not. If she was, a devil is impersonating her. This is a huge problem. Thanks to the Internet, I’ve learned Mary has supposedly appeared many times in this past millennium. How can we know if it’s really her? I’m not sure we can. Especially when she says sinners can be saved by her name. Sorry folks. There is only 1 name given to men that we might be saved, and that name is Jesus. This Mary is now contradicting the Bible. That should never ever be. This Mary wants more and more glory as time is going on. Most CC have more statues and pictures of Mary than of Jesus. Something is fishy here. I don’t have the answer. But I’ll stay alone with just me and my Bible before I pray to Mary. Something is very, very wrong.

I honestly believe we are soon going to learn things man does not yet have proof of. I can’t say this on Protestant boards, and I’m uncertain if I can say it here. But I think the Vatican knows about what I’m referring to. Protestants are too scared to even think it. I find it interesting that the Vatican has a telescope, and some priests are studying the cosmos. Good they should be. Jesus left Earth by going up into the sky. We must remember God is immortal, and so are the angels, good and bad ones. But we are mortal. We weren’t created by mortal aliens. Our God is immortal.

Once again, I am quite confused. But I’m not confused about Jesus. I’ll stick with Him. I call Jesus my savior, my Lord, and my God. Amen

 

[KathleenGee]

I have done hospice and experienced two great conversions on account of the help of Mary in aiding them to Christ before they died…One had stopped breathing for 2 minutes plus and then began to get up and turn the covers out to come towards the Lord…

Over and Over and Over again…Catholics do not worship Mary or give her excessive devotion. What you see locally are people who experienced God in the deepest and most profound way through the Blessed Virgin and had great conversions through her.

She is also model of perfect Christian.

Catholics’ first response to the experience of Christ is the expression of beauty and truth. Consider the story of ‘Christmas Carol’, and the man who turns to God now sees every day life he has seen his entire life now come alive and wonderful.

This is what belief in Christ does. And all the more when Mary is working

She is not an idol princess sitting on a throne.

Mary is actively working for our salvation as our Mother, by her presence, her example, her great grace of giving sinners confidence to face the Lord’s mercy, especially at the hour of their death. Seen it, been there.

Again without the faith of Christ in the Mass, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, the study of asceticism and the walk of perfection, taught to us by the saints down through the ages, it will be most difficult to understand.

Ours is the communion of the faithful and Mary is our crowning joy of the Lord.

Mary is the living crown of Jesus, perfect in all virtues. Jesus is virtues in of Himself.

Today I went to a sacred place named after Mary and prayed a rosary for today is First Saturday. I prayed for all people who come to CAF who do not understand Mary and are swept away by false teachers who war against Christ’s Church.

Today as the gentle breeze came up from the river below, I think of the gentle breeze of God coming to an ancient prophet, and I sense His presence in my petition. I prayed for those who come to this thread and others who, nevertheless, are being drawn to question Mary, her role in our Church, and pray a seed is planted that they will see they truly need a spiritual mother, that Woman has a place in the Church, that it is not only for men.

First Saturday was requested by Our Lady of Fatima after her apparitions in Fatima. First Saturday is where we go to Mass and pray the rosary and reflect on the Immaculate Heart of Mary to venerate her, to acknowledge her, to reflect on all the good she does, her gentle but life giving spirit…to amend the offenses and blasphemies, the sacrileges committed against her and in refusing her as our spiritual Mother.

So I pray that now those who come will grow in hunger for the feminine expression of God…found most perfectly in Mary so that their faith will be more humane, more complete, and universal and connect them to the reality that all human beings are our brothers and sisters.

It is Mary who makes the Church a family.

 

[rcwitness]

Over and Over and Over again…Catholics do not worship Mary or give her excessive devotion.

I only dissagree that we can make this statement. We cannot judge other’s devotions. Its funny that when I try to recognize the fact that some devotions can be unhealthy and false, I get pelted with accussations of judging peoples hearts. But when someone makes a judgment that Catholics only give her a pure and genuine devotion, its never confronted. There is a spirit that is satisfied with any devotion to Mary. I believe the Holy Spirit is very opposed to this spirit.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I take a client to a Lutheran service on Sunday’s and there is nothing there that has any image of Mary or reference to her.

I do not know why Luther said that about focusing on the Child and not Mary. That is what Catholics have been doing.

Again, it goes back to ‘what happens at Mass’.

Immediately I could see the intent with the movements of the Lutheran service, but also recognized their order in line with the universal Mass. They inject more to singing in places we do not do or have singing after the reading of the Gospel.

So I think the effect of Luther’s statements, have removed Mary from her proper place of recognition and due honor.

Sadly, what you post is partly true especially among Lutherans in America. I have come to understand how anti-catholic many Lutherans became, once they settled in the U.S. in the 1800’s. My own parish has a window devoted to blessed Mary but one has to go to Europe to see real devotion to the St Mary. Lutherans, in general, don’t focus on the holy and ever virgin [per the Augsburg Confession] but recognize that our Lady prays for us and the entire Church.

I hope the Lutheran congregation you are familiar with at least has a crucifix close to the altar!

 

[Dorothy]

Padre Pio had to have some sermons on Mary because she is such a huge part of the CC. I also found out Pio was almost kicked out of the CC but I’m not sure why. I think it had to do with his devotion to Jesus. Which is the main reason I’m interested in him.

Now about me and Mary. In the 1990’s we had a local priest who held Charismatic Healing Masses. I had a good female friend with 1 very sick daughter and we took her to all the healing Masses we could. One night I couldn’t sit with my friend and her 2 small daughters, so I had to stand next to the pew and be ready to go up with their row. My friend couldn’t hold both kids, I had to hold one. While I was standing there, one of the women who helped the priest came up to me. I really wasn’t paying attention to her, as I was watching my friend. The woman wanted to give me a ring, and I don’t wear rings. It wasn’t that kind of ring. The woman said this to me, “From the moment I saw you walk in here, the Lord laid it on my heart to give this to you. It’s a Rosary ring blessed by the Holy Mother.” And she walked away. In my head, I heard Holy Father, as in the Pope, so I didn’t see it as a big deal. But then I realized she said Holy Mother. I went to ask her about this. I said how can the Blessed Virgin Mary have blessed this, she’s dead. The woman said she blessed it in Medjugorje. I knew Mary is said to have made Earthly appearances, but I knew nothing of Medjugorje. I asked this woman, “You actually saw Mary?” She said yes. I thanked her and took the ring. I still have it.

A few years later I was quite sick. (this was back when you could rent video tapes) I knew I’d be in bed about 1 week. So I rented 2 movies on the story of St Bernadette, and 1 on The Miracle of Fatima. The Fatima movie helped me get through my illness.

A few more years later, a cousin said Mary was appearing to these 2 young people, who made an audio tape of what Mary said. I finally listened to it. Mary was telling people to pack a bag and leave the populated areas because a disaster was imminent. That never happened. It was false. On the Internet, I’ve learned the CC doesn’t think the Medjugorje apparitions are really Mary. That was a bit of a disappointment. I also tried to research the 3 messages of Fatima. I read many things. One claims Mary said that around 2017 there will be 3 days of darkness. Just today, I found another You Tube where Mary says the 3 days of darkness would have happened around 1950. That never happened neither. This is a problem. But 2017 will be here soon enough. We shall then see.

In the OT, ancient Israel was plagued by false prophets. This was especially true when Elijah was Israel’s prophet. God told Elijah to challenge all the other prophets by building an alter and asking them to call on their god to burn up the offering. None of them could. Then Elijah prayed. Our God not only consumed Elijah’s offering, God burnt all the other offering down to the ground. Rocks and all. God then set a rule. If any man says “Thus saith the Lord”, and if even 1 word doesn’t come true, that man is a false prophet and he was to be stoned to death.

I don’t know whether Mary was taken to Heaven or not. If she was, a devil is impersonating her. This is a huge problem. Thanks to the Internet, I’ve learned Mary has supposedly appeared many times in this past millennium. How can we know if it’s really her? I’m not sure we can. Especially when she says sinners can be saved by her name. Sorry folks. There is only 1 name given to men that we might be saved, and that name is Jesus. This Mary is now contradicting the Bible. That should never ever be. This Mary wants more and more glory as time is going on. Most CC have more statues and pictures of Mary than of Jesus. Something is fishy here. I don’t have the answer. But I’ll stay alone with just me and my Bible before I pray to Mary. Something is very, very wrong.

I honestly believe we are soon going to learn things man does not yet have proof of. I can’t say this on Protestant boards, and I’m uncertain if I can say it here. But I think the Vatican knows about what I’m referring to. Protestants are too scared to even think it. I find it interesting that the Vatican has a telescope, and some priests are studying the cosmos. Good they should be. Jesus left Earth by going up into the sky. We must remember God is immortal, and so are the angels, good and bad ones. But we are mortal. We weren’t created by mortal aliens. Our God is immortal.

Once again, I am quite confused. But I’m not confused about Jesus. I’ll stick with Him. I call Jesus my savior, my Lord, and my God. Amen

Padre Pio was never “kicked out of the Catholic Church”. He was misjudged because of his spiritual gifts and those that sought him. As a result for a while he was forbidden to hear confessions or to say Mass in public. He obeyed his superiors.

And yes, there are those who are not correct devotees of Mary. In fact St. Louis de Montfort wrote about false devotees of Mary, and explained what correct devotion to her was. Thanks be to God for those who imitate her virtues.

 

[KathleenGee]

Thanks for the images.

I went today to the service.

Please note I experience the Lord and witness their kindness. They have come to know I am Catholic.

There is one lady I resonate and I see it in her countenance. She wanted to sit next to me at service. When we came to the Nicene Creed, noting some differences, irregardless, I did bow at the proclamation of faith regarding the Incarnation.

She was moved by my bowing and said she remembered that – being a former Catholic!

So yes, the Nicene Creed, however a little different than ours as it refers to the universal Christian church, and some other…the Nicene Creed does affirm Mary at their services.

The only response I can see is that the rubrics deflect from the priesthood, a layman gets up to hold wafer and cup before congregation stating this is the body and blood of Christ. Then the minister turns and comes back to center and hands out communion.

A Catholic layman explained to me consubstantiation – Christ is there among the bread and wine but there is no transubstantiation. We Catholics believe now Jesus is the High Priest Who stands at the altar of God before the Heavenly Father, His ministery beginning at His ascension and entrance. He comes to us through the Holy Spirit at the Epiclesis.

Then we have apostolic succession, the representation of Christ in the priesthood, the literal praxis of John 6, and the communion of saints along with all 7 sacraments. So I would say the Lutherans have Christ, but mystically within their faith gathering but the Catholics have the focus of the depth of Christ physically, spiritually, and divinely present among us so our posture is one of adoration.

The communion of saints, the great work documented by the Church on Mary who comes to us brings greater universality of faith.

What I mean to get at, is that being Catholic we are enriched so much more that I am sad Protestants so closely align with us limit how much they want to receive of Christ and His kingdom.

 

[KathleenGee]

The Anglicans honor Mary the most among Protestants in ways that are tangible and visual beyond the Nicene Creed.

The Muslims venerate Mary and Bishop Sheen and some other mystics saw Mary as possibly being the evangelist to bring the Muslims into faith in Christ.

We cannot just say Catholics, but the Eastern Orthodox have great devotion to Mary and I have seen recent documentaries on the Russian people, who comprise the greater numbers of Orthodox, and pick up on the virtue of modesty in the women I have seen.

So it is not just Catholics but also the Orthodox and to a lesser degree the Anglicans who have a strong veneration of our Blessed Mother.

Some times some sects within Christianity come across as having some detesting of her.

It would be good for former Catholics to look up the 5 points requested by the Immaculate Heart of Mary that address the blasphemies committed by some Christians.

The First Five Saturdays are days of reparations for us to make use of, where we work to make up the lack of proper respect and veneration due the Mother of God by other Christians.

I would say that is the response to a perception that Catholics think they are the only ones who honor Mary.

 

[Cube2]

Thanks for sharing Cube2,

I think, alot of us come to deeper conversions after our salvation. This is how it is suppose to be. In your situation, I am curious as to the manner in which you were Confirmed. This is usually done, and I wish always, at an age of reasoning. That means you were of age to either accept or reject the faith you were baptized into. Since you say you received the Sacrament of Confirmation, this would be considered by the Church as accepting your Spiritual believe in Him as the Church has Confirmed Him to be, which is the Son of God worthy of our Adoration and reconciliation to God. Is this contrary to your view of ‘born again’?

Why, after this conversion of your heart, would you feel the need to leave the Catholic faith in order to convert deeper into Jesus? Did you not believe in Him when you were Confirmed? Were you just going through the motions? Were you forced to be Confirmed? Did you conceal your true doubt? I really don’t understand how someone can go through Confirmation and then decide to leave the Church in order to be ‘born again’.

Thanks Rcwitness for the questions. I’ll answer all of them.
I got confirmed when I was 15yrs while in High school. I was not forced by anybody as all our family members were Catholics. It was the only faith we were introduced to at our age of reasoning. The whole of my family followed the faith diligently and defended it where necessary. However, we never read the bible though we attended mass on Sundays faithfully.
Things changed when we had discussions with other Christian believers and reviewed the scriptures together. I also did a thorough research to bridge the knowledge gaps. There-before I had seen my fellow Catholics get converted and I would wonder what they had discovered. I thought they were lost! But my turn came when I was in the university, and I saw how much alienated from God I was. It was like a re-awakening.
My case is not an isolated one.
In my country, Kenya, and the neighboring countries, witchcraft is widely practiced. The only power that works to deliver people from demonic possessions is only of the born again Christians. If you doubt, inquire from missionaries in Tanzania or the coat of Kenya.

 

[Cube2]

The Anglicans honor Mary the most among Protestants in ways that are tangible and visual beyond the Nicene Creed.

This may sound out of proportion.
Anglicans respect Mary as the mother of Jesus. She is an honored woman of faith.
But, Anglicans do not hold the same faith as Catholics in regards to Mary.
They don’t regard her as: the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven, as a Mediatrix, the queen of Apostles etc. They don’t put images of Mary in the churches, or even mention her name in liturgy. So from the face value, one may not even notice any special honor accorded to her by the Anglicans.

The Muslims venerate Mary and Bishop Sheen and some other mystics saw Mary as possibly being the evangelist to bring the Muslims into faith in Christ.

In Muslim traditions, Mohamed had a daughter called Fatima. It is believed that when she died, she went and sat next to Mary in heaven. In the Qur’an, there is a chapter (Sura) called Maryam though its not about Mary only. Because of the Fatima - Mary teaching in Islam, then the Catholic doctrine would be a hard sale to Muslims. There are other similarities that would cement up the gaps.

It would be good for former Catholics to look up the 5 points requested by the Immaculate Heart of Mary that address the blasphemies committed by some Christians.

Here are the 5 blasphemies.

1. the blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception,
2. against her virginity,
3. against the Divine Maternity, refusing at the same time to accept her as the Mother of all mankind,
4. those who try publicly to implant in the children’s hearts indifference, contempt, and even hatred against this Immaculate Mother, and
5. those who insult her directly in her sacred images.

My greatest worry is why Mary does not lead us to God, instead she leads us to herself.
On the Contrary, Jesus, though equal with God, exalts God.
Matt:22:36-38: Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment.
Matt:22:39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Matt:22:40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

[Dorothy]

Thanks Rcwitness for the questions. I’ll answer all of them.
I got confirmed when I was 15yrs while in High school. I was not forced by anybody as all our family members were Catholics. It was the only faith we were introduced to at our age of reasoning. The whole of my family followed the faith diligently and defended it where necessary. However, we never read the bible though we attended mass on Sundays faithfully.
Things changed when we had discussions with other Christian believers and reviewed the scriptures together. I also did a thorough research to bridge the knowledge gaps. There-before I had seen my fellow Catholics get converted and I would wonder what they had discovered. I thought they were lost! But my turn came when I was in the university, and I saw how much alienated from God I was. It was like a re-awakening.
My case is not an isolated one.
In my country, Kenya, and the neighboring countries, witchcraft is widely practiced. The only power that works to deliver people from demonic possessions is only of the born again Christians. If you doubt, inquire from missionaries in Tanzania or the coat of Kenya.

I do not doubt that the Christians in Kenya are delivering people from the claws of the evil one.

Your sharing of your story very much reminds me of what Jeff Cavins shares in his testimony on DVD. He was born and raised Catholic and at a certain point (teen?) he went to a Protestant church., He did so because of his awakening to our Lord Jesus Christ. (I’m not remembering all the details right now so am being “sketchy” about what I remember.)

After some time he went to Protestant Bible schools, and I believe he even became a minister. He got to know very much about Scripture and loved the Word of God in the bible! More time passes and he does more research, and finds himself back in the Catholic Church…this time with a lot more understanding of what he had come to reject.

Okay, I just gave you a short, sketchy picture of Jeff Cavins. By attending the Bible Studies he designed, and through the direction of a very holy priest I had learned from when I lived up north, I am very aware that God honors faith and does not withhold His grace from those in denominations that are not Catholic.

Now, I do not know the heart of each and every one of them, only the Lord does, but I have learned and been inspired by their faith and knowledge of Sacred Scripture, which we Catholics are trying to do better at now. (Incidentally, there are Christians of other denominations, as I am sure you are aware, that truly hate what they think the Catholic Church is.)

So, hopefully, for the sake of unity that our Lord Jesus Christ desires, perhaps we can learn from one another? The Lord, in His time, will do what is necessary,…and only He knows how to go about it. We just all need to do our little part with His love, and trust Him.

Perhaps you are not aware that we do have faith-filled families that love the Lord and everything the Church authentically teaches. We hope that more families learn to pray together, grow in their faith, and be inspired by the Word of God in Sacred Scripture like you are. I hope you have recognized that there are those we hold up as being fully sanctified in Christ (saints) in the Catholic Church.

 

[Cube2]

I do not doubt that the Christians in Kenya are delivering people from the claws of the evil one.

Your sharing of your story very much reminds me of what Jeff Cavins shares in his testimony on DVD. He was born and raised Catholic and at a certain point (teen?) he went to a Protestant church., He did so because of his awakening to our Lord Jesus Christ. (I’m not remembering all the details right now so am being “sketchy” about what I remember.)
After some time he went to Protestant Bible schools, and I believe he even became a minister. He got to know very much about Scripture and loved the Word of God in the bible! More time passes and he does more research, and finds himself back in the Catholic Church…this time with a lot more understanding of what he had come to reject.

Okay, I just gave you a short, sketchy picture of Jeff Cavins. By attending the Bible Studies he designed, and through the direction of a very holy priest I had learned from when I lived up north, I am very aware that God honors faith and does not withhold His grace from those in denominations that are not Catholic.

Now, I do not know the heart of each and every one of them, only the Lord does, but I have learned and been inspired by their faith and knowledge of Sacred Scripture, which we Catholics are trying to do better at now. (Incidentally, there are Christians of other denominations, as I am sure you are aware, that truly hate what they think the Catholic Church is.)

So, hopefully, for the sake of unity that our Lord Jesus Christ desires, perhaps we can learn from one another? The Lord, in His time, will do what is necessary,…and only He knows how to go about it. We just all need to do our little part with His love, and trust Him.

Dorothy,
Thanks for drawing parallels of my background to another person’s. Actually there are many people with a similar history. I appreciate your view that God honors faith and does not withhold His grace from those in denominations that are not Catholic.

There is this statement “Incidentally, there are Christians of other denominations, as I am sure you are aware, that truly hate what they think the Catholic Church is.”
Much have been said about the Catholic Church and even on the internet there is alot of stuff. However, its important to evaluate the authenticity of the claims and not just dismiss them as hate speech.
What we are sure of is that there have been new revelations and teachings over the centuries which has transformed the catholic Church. The point is not to hate, but to suspect that somebody has introduced something that overshadows the former.

The Catholic faith represents the largest % of Christians in the world. Her leader, the Pope commands great authority in the world. Whatever stand he takes is broadcasted across the globe. Thus, whatever direction the Catholic Church takes is very important as it represents the prophetic Word concerning the end-time church.

 

[adf417]

Thanks Rcwitness for the questions. I’ll answer all of them.
I got confirmed when I was 15yrs while in High school. I was not forced by anybody as all our family members were Catholics. It was the only faith we were introduced to at our age of reasoning. The whole of my family followed the faith diligently and defended it where necessary. However, we never read the bible though we attended mass on Sundays faithfully.
Things changed when we had discussions with other Christian believers and reviewed the scriptures together. I also did a thorough research to bridge the knowledge gaps. There-before I had seen my fellow Catholics get converted and I would wonder what they had discovered. I thought they were lost! But my turn came when I was in the university, and I saw how much alienated from God I was. It was like a re-awakening.
My case is not an isolated one.
In my country, Kenya, and the neighboring countries, witchcraft is widely practiced. The only power that works to deliver people from demonic possessions is only of the born again Christians. If you doubt, inquire from missionaries in Tanzania or the coat of Kenya.

I’m sorry Cube but I don’t remember if you stated this earlier in the thread. Did you, as a former Catholic, worship Mary? This is the OP question and I do not remember if you stated whether or not you did.

Peace!!!

 

[rcwitness]

Thanks Rcwitness for the questions. I’ll answer all of them.

Thanks to you, I enjoy hearing some of your testimony When you come off as strongly opposed to some of our faith, it helps to learn what faith we have in common, before working out how we are not in communion.