Hail Mary

[Pixie_Dust]

Reformed,

Have you ever visited the Catholic Bridge website? Here’s an article on Mary in the Bible. He gives this invitation at the end that I just love:

I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus. Most Christians would agree that it is completely safe to pray to Jesus about anything. I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus about Mary. Simply ask Jesus to show you the truth about his mother. Ask Him to direct your thinking about her. Ask Jesus if his mother is alive with Him. Ask Him if Mary is praying for us. Just pray to Jesus about her. Try this every night for six weeks. I am thoroughly convinced that He will bring you to the truth about his mother.

 

[tGette]

Reformed,

Have you ever visited the Catholic Bridge website? Here’s an article on Mary in the Bible. He gives this invitation at the end that I just love:
I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus. Most Christians would agree that it is completely safe to pray to Jesus about anything. I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus about Mary. Simply ask Jesus to show you the truth about his mother. Ask Him to direct your thinking about her. Ask Jesus if his mother is alive with Him. Ask Him if Mary is praying for us. Just pray to Jesus about her. Try this every night for six weeks. I am thoroughly convinced that He will bring you to the truth about his mother.

Advice I offered my sister a while back!
Advice I have forgotten to pass to people…

Thank you so much for this divine reminder!

Sometimes I would go into prayer telling God that I am making a prayer that is not one of distrust in what He has done for me, but to basically affirm what He has done for me.

I wanted reassurance of my Catholic convictions and ever since said prayers He has pulled me even deeper into His Church!

I made this prayer through inspiration from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 9 where the man’s son is possessed by an evil spirit. And the famous line ensues:

“I do believe, help my unbelief!”

So I pray often now:
“I have faith, help my lack of faith. I have trust, help my distrust. I have hope, help my lack of hope. I have love, help my lack of love. I have belief, help my unbelief!”

It is a prayer of humility in a sense, a reminder to myself before God that I rely on Him for any of these gifts.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

It should also be noted that both Calvin and Luther, the “great reformers” had a devotion to Mary even after they broke from the Church. True devotion to Mary will bring you closer to Christ. If you think that someone is devoted to Mary rather than devoted to the Triune God, think again. Her last recorded words in Scripture are “Do whatever He tells you.” That goes through my head every time I say the Hail Mary. You’ll also notice in pictures that show Mary with the Infant/Child Jesus, she is pointing to Him.

Another important thing to know about the Hail Mary is that when it is being said in the context of the Rosary, we are also meditating on the life of Christ. I’ll even add the words of the specific mystery to the Hail Mary, for example:

Hail, Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was scourged for our transgressions…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was crowned with thorns…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who carried His cross to Calvary…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was crucified for our sins…

CatholiCity has a free CD, The Truth About Mary. I see that it’s now included on their Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet CD. If I recall correctly, 2 of the 3 men discussing Mary are converts who talk about what a stumbling block Mary can be in the journey. I realized, and I’m sure other converts will tell you the same thing, that Mary is much more magnified on the outside than when you are actually inside the Church. The Mass is all about Jesus!

 

[Reformed]

Reformed,

Have you ever visited the Catholic Bridge website? Here’s an article on Mary in the Bible. He gives this invitation at the end that I just love:

I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus. Most Christians would agree that it is completely safe to pray to Jesus about anything. I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus about Mary. Simply ask Jesus to show you the truth about his mother. Ask Him to direct your thinking about her. Ask Jesus if his mother is alive with Him. Ask Him if Mary is praying for us. Just pray to Jesus about her. Try this every night for six weeks. I am thoroughly convinced that He will bring you to the truth about his mother.

I actually don’t pray to Jesus. I pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus. How did the Lord Jesus Christ teach us to pray? I don’t sound to be disrespectful or rude, but your suggestion reminds me of LDS Christians telling me to pray to God to see the truth about Joseph Smith.

 

[Reformed]

It should also be noted that both Calvin and Luther, the “great reformers” had a devotion to Mary even after they broke from the Church. True devotion to Mary will bring you closer to Christ. If you think that someone is devoted to Mary rather than devoted to the Triune God, think again. Her last recorded words in Scripture are “Do whatever He tells you.” That goes through my head every time I say the Hail Mary. You’ll also notice in pictures that show Mary with the Infant/Child Jesus, she is pointing to Him.

Another important thing to know about the Hail Mary is that when it is being said in the context of the Rosary, we are also meditating on the life of Christ. I’ll even add the words of the specific mystery to the Hail Mary, for example:

Hail, Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was scourged for our transgressions…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was crowned with thorns…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who carried His cross to Calvary…

…And Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who was crucified for our sins…

CatholiCity has a free CD, The Truth About Mary. I see that it’s now included on their Rosary/Divine Mercy Chaplet CD. If I recall correctly, 2 of the 3 men discussing Mary are converts who talk about what a stumbling block Mary can be in the journey. I realized, and I’m sure other converts will tell you the same thing, that Mary is much more magnified on the outside than when you are actually inside the Church. The Mass is all about Jesus!

Do you mind sharing your sources about Martin Luther and John Calvin’s apparent devotion to Mary. I have read “The Institutes of Christian Religion” by John Calvin and I don’t remember reading anything about Mary.

 

[Reformed]

Nope, that wasn’t what I was saying and if you looked at the links I provided, you would have known that. They gave scripture references and explanations. What I said was that we are not limited to sola scriptura and even in the Bible it says that it isn’t the only source, but you just seem to ignore that. Do you really think that Jesus came to give us a rule book? NO… He came to establish a Church… if he had just come to give us a book, why bother showing up? He could have sent Gabriel to deliver it like the Koran…but he didn’t, he came here and chose 12 followers and taught them then he sent them forth to all the ends of the earth, all without a book…in fact if it weren’t for the Catholics, there would be no Bible since we compiled it.

I think the testimony of the Apostles are written. How did the Catholics give us the Bible since the Bible includes both the New and Old Testaments?

 

[tGette]

I actually don’t pray to Jesus. I pray to our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus. How did the Lord Jesus Christ teach us to pray? I don’t sound to be disrespectful or rude, but your suggestion reminds me of LDS Christians telling me to pray to God to see the truth about Joseph Smith.

I see your reasoning there, but anything is worth praying about…I guess to a degree…especially in regards to seeking truth. (I just asked God to show me the truth about Joseph Smith…why not? I have a feeling that this truth is not one a Mormon would want to hear though…but I will let God reveal it to me!)

My philosophy is that if it is a thought…turn it into a prayer. Since we are wasting the time thinking about it, why not pray about it? Or if it is a thought we do not want…offer it up to God in hopes that thought will not pass through again!

 

[Reformed]

I see your reasoning there, but anything is worth praying about…I guess to a degree…especially in regards to seeking truth. (I just asked God to show me the truth about Joseph Smith…why not? I have a feeling that this truth is not one a Mormon would want to hear though…but I will let God reveal it to me!)

My philosophy is that if it is a thought…turn it into a prayer. Since we are wasting the time thinking about it, why not pray about it? Or if it is a thought we do not want…offer it up to God in hopes that thought will not pass through again!

I know what is written about the Apostle Peter and Mary both in the Scriptures. Therefore, the prayer suggested is quite foolish and silly to me. I do not embrace revelation that cannot be shown in the Bible. So, if we go beyond what is written (Holy Scriptures), why is the Roman Catholic claim different than the Orthodox claim or the Mormon claim that they are The One True Church. All three religious organzations cannot validate their claim with Scripture. However, all three religious groups make that claim based on their own self-appointed authority. It seems like a circular argument and reasoning. We have the Holy Scriptures, and we both believe the Bible to be the Word of God. So, let’s discuss the contents of the Holy Scriptures. I’ll do a word search on Mary.

Here is the results of the word search on Mary:

gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=mary&src=esv.org

Now, since we have what is written in the Word of God about Mary, how does the Roman Catholic Church come up with all of her beliefs about Mary? Why is that any different than Joseph Smith?

 

[tGette]

I know what is written about the Apostle Peter and Mary both. I do not embrace revelation that cannot be shown in the Bible. So, if we go beyond what is written (Holy Scriptures), why is the Roman Catholic claim different than the Orthodox claim or the Mormon claim that they are The One True Church. All three religious organzations cannot validate their claim with Scripture. However, all three religious groups make that claim based on their own self-appointed authority. It seems like a circular argument and reasoning. We have the Holy Scriptures, and we both believe the Bible to be the Word of God. So, let’s discuss the contents of the Holy Scriptures. I’ll do a word search on Mary.

Old Kinderhook!

Before we do this though…
Please tell me where in Scripture it says that Scripture is the ONLY means necessary for determining faith matters.

And…before all the New Testament books were written and codified…what did they use for determining faith matters?

I understand stand Scripture says that ALL of it is inspired and useful, but does it say it is the ONLY inspired and useful thing?

You could mention how Scripture says to avoid traditions of men, but then I could always show you where Scripture says to hold fast to traditions, whether by mouth or by writing.

 

[Reformed]

Old Kinderhook!

Before we do this though…
Please tell me where in Scripture it says that Scripture is the ONLY means necessary for determining faith matters.

And…before all the New Testament books were written and codified…what did they use for determining faith matters?

I understand stand Scripture says that ALL of it is inspired and useful, but does it say it is the ONLY inspired and useful thing?

You could mention how Scripture says to avoid traditions of men, but then I could always show you where Scripture says to hold fast to traditions, whether by mouth or by writing.

I don’t think this is the sola scriptura thread. Maybe we should go back to the thread topic?

 

[tGette]

I don’t think this is the sola scriptura thread. Maybe we should go back to the thread topic?

Fair enough, though the original post did ask about Scriptural proof of something.

So in line with the original post.

For me, devotion to Mary does not take away my love for Jesus. Honestly, it is my devotion to Mary that has drawn me closer to Jesus. The Rosary (which I know seems like vain repetition) is a beautifully meditative prayer. The words of the prayers keep my thoughts focused on Jesus through the eyes of Mary as she raised Him and was there at the foot of His Cross.

I guess for me, the words of the Hail Mary: (You can choose to read it or not):
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

So the names of Mary and Jesus and the reminder that Jesus is God (Mother of God) keep my meditations on the mystery.

For instance…the Joyful Mysteries:
The Annunciation (Angel Gabriel comes to Mary)
The Visitation (Mary visits Elizabeth where John the Baptist jumps in her womb)
The Nativity (duh…hehe)
The Presentation in the Temple (Mary and Joseph being obedient to Mosaic Law)
The Find of the Child Jesus (When Mary and Joseph find Jesus teaching…“Did you not know I would be about my Father’s business?”)

For me…I am praying the Scripture.
The Hail Mary is Scriptural (of course we disagree on the second part of it)
And the Mysteries to meditate on are extremely Biblical.

It just gives me a time each day to focus on major points of Jesus’ life from birth to death to ascension…depending on the mysteries I do for that day.

It is a deeply Christ centered prayer! Please understand that!

 

[Verisimilitude]

I think you are trying to say that your devotion to Mary cannot be supported in the Holy Scirptures.

And that is the key of our differences.

Is honor devotion?

Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ "

Was not the Blessed Virgin Christs earthly mother, and would you not honor what God has honored? Is any part of His example/Gospel insignificant?

John 2: 4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Jesus listened to Mary’s request and did as she asked Him. Don’t you get the significance of this?

Scripture supports a justified devotion to Mary and an example of her favor with God. Of course I ask God for mercy alone, but if Mary will bless my prayer to her Son I have confidence it will be granted as shown in Scripture.

 

[Thing]

That is the chant that I heard on the Catholic radio station in Oregon. It went like "Hail Mary…Mother of God pray for us sinners… (before we die or something like that).

To answer your questions, Protestants don’t ask Mary and the Catholic Saints to intercede on our behalf. It’s a Catholic practice.

reformed:

We do ask others to intercede on our behalf,

You ask anyone else to intercede on your behalf except Mary, Jesus’ mother?

 

[Linda_Marie]

We can make anything an idol. Protestants create religious idols too. Catholics have posted on this forum site that agree that some have created Mary into a religious idol. I too can make Reformed Theology a religious idol, or we can create something in our own religious community as our savior, replacing Jesus Christ. It is the struggle that we all have as Christians. It is very striking to a non-Catholic Christian for how much attention Mary is given in absence of that same affection for God. Here is a challenge:

Do you have more intercessory prayers through Mary than through Jesus?

No, I don’t.

You are accusing us of idolatry in giving any honour to Mary at all. Moreover, you have no evidence that we have an ‘absence of affection’ for God.

The Rosary, which is what you heard on the radio, is all about Jesus. During the time it takes to recite 10 Hail Mary’s, we deeply think about a different occurrence in the life of Jesus. We call these occurrences, Mysteries, and the deep thought, meditation. A brief description of the 20 Mysteries that are meditated are:
The Joyful Mysteries:
The Annunciation - It is announced that Jesus, our Saviour, will be come into the world through Mary.
The Visitation - St. John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb.
The Nativity: Jesus, the King of Heaven, is born in a humble cattle stall.
The Presentation: Jesus, as the firstborn son, is offered to the Father in accordance with Jewish law and is prophesied about by Simeon.
The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple - Jesus is found after being lost for 3 days, and returns home with his parents, submitting himself to their authority.

The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Our Lord - The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus.
The Wedding at Cana - Jesus begins His earthly ministry at the behest of His mother
The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Jesus teaches for 3 years about the Kingdom of God and what we must do to attain it.
The Transfiguration of the Lord - Jesus gives his disciples a vision of what life in heaven is like. Note that Moses and Elijah are there, alive and talking with Jesus.
The Institution of the Eucharist - or as you would call it the Lord’s Supper, where He gives us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink, just as He told explained before in John 6

The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden - Jesus prays before being arrested, betrayed by a kiss
The Scourging at the Pillar - Jesus is scourged and by His stripes, we are healed.
The Crowning with Thorns - Jesus is mocked and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers who continue to beat him.
The Carrying of the Cross - Jesus carries His cross through Jerusalem as He carried our sins.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus - Jesus is nailed to the cross and lifted up. When He dies, the sun turns dark and the earth quakes and the temple veil is torn in two.

The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection of Jesus - Jesus raises from the dead and is seen by Mary Magdalene, the disciples in the Upper Room and other disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The Ascension - Jesus rises to heaven under His own power and leaves the Apostles with certain powers and instructions.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit comes upon the fearful Apostles and disciples in the Upper Room and they lose their fear and boldly proclaim Christ.
The Assumption of Mary - Mary is raised body and soul to heaven by the power of God, just as is promised to us in the resurrection of our bodies from the dead. He has not let his beloved know decay.
Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven - Mary takes the place prepared for her from all time, just as we hope for our mansion in heaven. She, by perfectly doing the Will of the Father, is given the highest honour in Heaven. She is the Woman crowned with stars described in Revelation.

Again, it is because of what God did for Mary that we honour her. In honouring her, we also give honour and praise to God. She is His masterpiece of human creation. To use an analogy, an artist never gets angry that someone admires his work. Rather, he knows that he is being admired in his work. It is the same with Mary. God knows we are honouring Him when we honour Mary. Giving honour to Mary is also honouring God who made her.

If some have made Mary an idol and worship her, they are anathema to the Church and are excommunicated. It is absolutely forbidden by the Church to worship Mary.
I don’t see how it can be made any clearer to you.

 

[tGette]

No, I don’t.

You are accusing us of idolatry in giving any honour to Mary at all. Moreover, you have no evidence that we have an ‘absence of affection’ for God.

The Rosary, which is what you heard on the radio, is all about Jesus. During the time it takes to recite 10 Hail Mary’s, we deeply think about a different occurrence in the life of Jesus. We call these occurrences, Mysteries, and the deep thought, meditation. A brief description of the 20 Mysteries that are meditated are:
The Joyful Mysteries:
The Annunciation - It is announced that Jesus, our Saviour, will be come into the world through Mary.
The Visitation - St. John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb.
The Nativity: Jesus, the King of Heaven, is born in a humble cattle stall.
The Presentation: Jesus, as the firstborn son, is offered to the Father in accordance with Jewish law and is prophesied about by Simeon.
The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple - Jesus is found after being lost for 3 days, and returns home with his parents, submitting himself to their authority.

The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Our Lord - The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus.
The Wedding at Cana - Jesus begins His earthly ministry at the behest of His mother
The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Jesus teaches for 3 years about the Kingdom of God and what we must do to attain it.
The Transfiguration of the Lord - Jesus gives his disciples a vision of what life in heaven is like. Note that Moses and Elijah are there, alive and talking with Jesus.
The Institution of the Eucharist - or as you would call it the Lord’s Supper, where He gives us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink, just as He told explained before in John 6

The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden - Jesus prays before being arrested, betrayed by a kiss
The Scourging at the Pillar - Jesus is scourged and by His stripes, we are healed.
The Crowning with Thorns - Jesus is mocked and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers who continue to beat him.
The Carrying of the Cross - Jesus carries His cross through Jerusalem as He carried our sins.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus - Jesus is nailed to the cross and lifted up. When He dies, the sun turns dark and the earth quakes and the temple veil is torn in two.

The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection of Jesus - Jesus raises from the dead and is seen by Mary Magdalene, the disciples in the Upper Room and other disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The Ascension - Jesus rises to heaven under His own power and leaves the Apostles with certain powers and instructions.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit comes upon the fearful Apostles and disciples in the Upper Room and they lose their fear and boldly proclaim Christ.
The Assumption of Mary - Mary is raised body and soul to heaven by the power of God, just as is promised to us in the resurrection of our bodies from the dead. He has not let his beloved know decay.
Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven - Mary takes the place prepared for her from all time, just as we hope for our mansion in heaven. She, by perfectly doing the Will of the Father, is given the highest honour in Heaven. She is the Woman crowned with stars described in Revelation.

Again, it is because of what God did for Mary that we honour her. In honouring her, we also give honour and praise to God. She is His masterpiece of human creation. To use an analogy, an artist never gets angry that someone admires his work. Rather, he knows that he is being admired in his work. It is the same with Mary. God knows we are honouring Him when we honour Mary. Giving honour to Mary is also honouring God who made her.

If some have made Mary an idol and worship her, they are anathema to the Church and are excommunicated. It is absolutely forbidden by the Church to worship Mary.
I don’t see how it can be made any clearer to you.

I am loving it!

I’m just quoting mainly because the life of our Lord needs to be shown as many times as possible!

 

[Reformed]

You ask anyone else to intercede on your behalf except Mary, Jesus’ mother?

Protestants don’t generally have Catholic Saints and Mary intercede for us on our behalf. I think we have biblical assurance that God hears our prayers through Christ. I also have issues of elevating Mary as the mother of Jesus in the same way as God as Jesus’ Father.

Mary was privileged to be Jesus’ earthly mother and parent. I think Joseph was also privilege to raise and care for Jesus too. So, why is Joseph left out of the picture and Mary is elevated? I know Mary is not officially the co-reedemer, but many Catholics are able to receive that position. To say Mary is co-reedemer with Christ is not good for our religious affections to our Great Triune God. (IMO) I find the adoration for Mary to be similar to LDS Christians who elevates Joseph Smith in too great of affection. It’s hard not for me to see the abuse of adoration of Mary ahd Joseph Smith to be religious idols, worshiping the created things instead of the Creator.
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. - Rom 1

 

[Thing]

Protestants don’t generally have Catholic Saints and Mary intercede for us on our behalf. I think we have biblical assurance that God hears our prayers through Christ. I also have issues of elevating Mary as the mother of Jesus in the same way as God as Jesus’ Father.

Mary was privileged to be Jesus’ earthly mother and parent. I think Joseph was also privilege to raise and care for Jesus too. So, why is Joseph left out of the picture and Mary is elevated? I know Mary is not officially the co-reedemer, but many Catholics are able to receive that position. To say Mary is co-reedemer with Christ is not good for our religious affections to our Great Triune God. I find the adoration for Mary to be similar to LDS Christians who elevates Joseph Smith in too great of affection. It’s hard not for me to see the abuse of adoration of Mary ahd Joseph Smith to be religious idols, worshiping the created things instead of the Creator.

Is it that simple, you would ask Mary to intercede for you if it was not already a Catholic practice.

Why do you allow your personal dislike to get the upper hand?

…bad Catholics…bad…

 

[Reformed]

No, I don’t.

You are accusing us of idolatry in giving any honour to Mary at all. Moreover, you have no evidence that we have an ‘absence of affection’ for God.

The Rosary, which is what you heard on the radio, is all about Jesus. During the time it takes to recite 10 Hail Mary’s, we deeply think about a different occurrence in the life of Jesus. We call these occurrences, Mysteries, and the deep thought, meditation. A brief description of the 20 Mysteries that are meditated are:
The Joyful Mysteries:
The Annunciation - It is announced that Jesus, our Saviour, will be come into the world through Mary.
The Visitation - St. John the Baptist leaps in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb.
The Nativity: Jesus, the King of Heaven, is born in a humble cattle stall.
The Presentation: Jesus, as the firstborn son, is offered to the Father in accordance with Jewish law and is prophesied about by Simeon.
The Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple - Jesus is found after being lost for 3 days, and returns home with his parents, submitting himself to their authority.

The Luminous Mysteries
The Baptism of Our Lord - The Holy Spirit descends on Jesus.
The Wedding at Cana - Jesus begins His earthly ministry at the behest of His mother
The Proclamation of the Kingdom - Jesus teaches for 3 years about the Kingdom of God and what we must do to attain it.
The Transfiguration of the Lord - Jesus gives his disciples a vision of what life in heaven is like. Note that Moses and Elijah are there, alive and talking with Jesus.
The Institution of the Eucharist - or as you would call it the Lord’s Supper, where He gives us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink, just as He told explained before in John 6

The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden - Jesus prays before being arrested, betrayed by a kiss
The Scourging at the Pillar - Jesus is scourged and by His stripes, we are healed.
The Crowning with Thorns - Jesus is mocked and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers who continue to beat him.
The Carrying of the Cross - Jesus carries His cross through Jerusalem as He carried our sins.
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus - Jesus is nailed to the cross and lifted up. When He dies, the sun turns dark and the earth quakes and the temple veil is torn in two.

The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection of Jesus - Jesus raises from the dead and is seen by Mary Magdalene, the disciples in the Upper Room and other disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The Ascension - Jesus rises to heaven under His own power and leaves the Apostles with certain powers and instructions.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit comes upon the fearful Apostles and disciples in the Upper Room and they lose their fear and boldly proclaim Christ.
The Assumption of Mary - Mary is raised body and soul to heaven by the power of God, just as is promised to us in the resurrection of our bodies from the dead. He has not let his beloved know decay.
Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven - Mary takes the place prepared for her from all time, just as we hope for our mansion in heaven. She, by perfectly doing the Will of the Father, is given the highest honour in Heaven. She is the Woman crowned with stars described in Revelation.

Again, it is because of what God did for Mary that we honour her. In honouring her, we also give honour and praise to God. She is His masterpiece of human creation. To use an analogy, an artist never gets angry that someone admires his work. Rather, he knows that he is being admired in his work. It is the same with Mary. God knows we are honouring Him when we honour Mary. Giving honour to Mary is also honouring God who made her.

If some have made Mary an idol and worship her, they are anathema to the Church and are excommunicated. It is absolutely forbidden by the Church to worship Mary.
I don’t see how it can be made any clearer to you.

All Christians create religious idols of the heart. I’m sure many Roman Catholics would agree that some have created Mary to a religious idol. Christianity is about repentance and faith as a pattern. We turn for our idols of our hearts, and back to God in our spiritual pilgrimage. It seems the anathemas of the Church and excommunication is a graceless Christianity and a movement away from the gospel of God’s grace.

http://www.bspenance.org/divinewill/wp-content/themes/abc/images/mary_fatima.JPG

 

[Thing]

Reformed,
Here is a link to a photo of an apparition site in Eire. Have a good look. The apparition is like a microcosm of the Catholic Faith, and as they say a picture speaks a thousand words here it is;

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Knock_shrine.JPG

The Lamb is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The Lamb is exactly in the center of this scene, the Lamb is standing on the altar, Christs sacrifice on the Cross.
The cross on which He died for us is on the altar.
Surrounding the Lamb are the angels of heaven.
To the left, off to one side, the first figure you encounter is the Apostle who loved Christ, St. John. St. John holds the bible in his hand and he is preaching from the Sacred Scriptures.
The next figure further to the left is Mary, hands in an attitude of prayer looking up to God.
Next to Mary is her husband the humble Joseph, an an attitude of prayer, head bowed.

This is the Catholic concept and seen in an apparition almost 130 years ago.
Mary is not God in the center taking Christs place on the altar, she is, rather, praying to God. And she is not praying for fine weather, reformed, she is praying for you.

 

[Reformed]

Reformed,
Here is a link to a photo of an apparition site in Eire. Have a good look. The apparition is like a microcosm of the Catholic Faith, and as they say a picture speaks a thousand words here it is;

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Knock_shrine.JPG

The Lamb is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The Lamb is exactly in the center of this scene, the Lamb is standing on the altar, Christs sacrifice on the Cross.
The cross on which He died for us is on the alter.
Surrounding the Lamb are the angels of heaven.
To the left, off to one side, the first figure you encounter is the Apostle who loved Christ, St. John. St. John holds the bible in his hand and he is preaching from the Sacred Scriptures.
The next figure further to the left is Mary, hands in an attitude of prayer looking up to God.
Next to Mary is her husband the humble Joseph, an an attitude of prayer, head bowed.

This is the Catholic concept and seen in an apparition almost 130 years ago.
Mary is not God in the center taking Christs place on the altar, she is, rather, praying to God. And she is not praying for fine weather, reformed, she is praying for you.

What is an apparition, and which ones are validated by the Catholic Church. If the church rejects an apparition, what did that person actually see in the spiritual realm.

I’ve personally saw a demon 25 years ago in the spiritual realm in a rented house. My roomate at the time dropped out of the Catholic seminary and was attending law school. He too saw the demon over a 2 month period. He is now a Catholic Priest.

What is Mary praying for me about? How did you determine that?