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Telstar
Guest
While I certainly agree with all who have said that we should never consider Mary to be any kind of “goddess”, I have to disagree with much of the rest of what Luther said. Especially where he seems to downplay anyone seeking her intercession, as if she was in competition with God for His people’s attention, or that she was a distraction from Him. I think the truth is just the opposite. Mary always draws people closer to God. She acts in the same capacity as the ancient Queen Mothers in the Davidic Kingdom on earth. They were basically advocates between the people and the King. If someone was too fearful to approach the King, or thought that their problem was too small to take to him directly, they would often go to the Queen and ask her to speak to Him for them. The Queen’s only true power was in her influence over the King as his mother. In Jewish tradition, this was always a very strong influence between a son and his mother.
That’s exactly what the Church has always taught about Mary, so that’s why Catholics pray to her. We are well aware that she has no power of her own to grant our requests or any favors, but we also know that Jesus is more likely to grant the requests that she makes for us. We learn this from the example given to us in the Gospels, from the wedding at Cana. It was her request to Him on behalf of the bridegroom that brought about His first public miracle. Even though He said it wasn’t “His time”, He did what she asked of Him. We can approach her to ask her to speak to Jesus for us, too. Some people just feel more comfortable doing it that way, especially for little every day kinds of things.
Amen. She is the most perfect example of a model Christian. She followed the Lord wherever He asked her to go. Why wouldn’t He be more than happy to grant her requests?
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In_His_Grace
Guest
First off I want to make crystal clear that what I’m about to say is not meant in anyway as disrespectful towards the Catholic Church. My wife is a 48 year old cradle Catholic from a remote poverty stricken area in the southernmost part of the Philippines. She is very poorly catechized. We have been married for over 8 years. Early on in our marriage it became clear to me that she worshiped Mary as a goddess. I explained to her in very simple easy to understand terms the Catholic Church’s teaching on Mary including that God and God alone is to be worshiped. I suspect this problem is more widespread in many third world countries around the world them some realize, how widespread I’m not really sure. Again, no disrespect towards Catholics or the Catholic Church intended.Hey Jon.
Thanks for sharing. Yeah. Luther was right. We need always to keep in mind that Mary is not a goddess. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of people in our modern times who think that. I know the collyridians did back in the 4th century. I wonder if there are any collyridian-types around today?
Amen!
Jon
Blessings
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Reuben_J
Guest
Unbelievable. Not that i am saying you are lying but no Catholic that I know, no matter how stupid or poorly catechized, would worship Mary as goddess, a term which is never introduced in Catholicism. But of course we often hear how non-Catholics refer to her as goddess to be worshipped by Catholics. There may be extreme Mary devotion, yes, but Catholics never regard her as God.
Does she say that Mary is God, well, female God?
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johnnyc176
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Starting at around the 9:45 mark will answer your specific question but watch the whole video for more Truth.
Mary & Scripture…
youtube.com/watch?v=xg2OQ_iPTv8
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JohnGerard
Guest
Hey In His Grace,
I see nothing in your post that would offend or be disrespectful. You are sharing in an honest way. And I think I heard Jimmy Akin make a similar comment one time about how there could be excessive devotion to the Blessed Virgin in certain countries.
It makes me wonder if illiteracy could play a part in that. I’m not saying your wife was illiterate, I just seems that people who can’t read could possibly have a harder time with some aspects of the faith.
If you are willing to share, I am curious about this statement of yours: “Early on in our marriage it became clear to me that she worshiped Mary as a goddess.” What did she do? Did she believe Mary was a deity? Did she say that to you? I’m just curious because I’ve never really heard of a real live actual case of that in our modern times. I’ve heard sortof vague general comments about how it could happen in some places by some Catholics somewhere. I understand if you don’t want to share, though.
Thanks.
jg
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MT1926
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Johnny,
That video was awesome. Thanks for the link. That video nicely summed up months of reading and studying our Blessed Mother.
I sent the link over to our youth leader, I think she is going to love using it.
Matthew 19:26
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JohnGerard
Guest
I second that.
Loved that video !!
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In_His_Grace
Guest
Hi Reuben J and JohnGerard,
Spend some time researching the history of the Philippines, specifically Animism as well as other oriental belief systems, Syncretism and the history of Christianity in the Philippines if you want to understand what I am trying to get at regarding my Filipino wife. This goes much deeper then her once misguided views concerning correct Catholic teaching on Mariology, yes, she now has a proper Catholic understanding. I try to keep her on the straight and narrow but she still holds to many beliefs that predate the introduction of Christianity to the Philippines (Animism as well as other oriental beliefs both old and new).
God bless.
J
JohnGerard
Guest
Interesting. Ok, thanks.
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cyriljw
Guest
What is ancient Israel’s preoccupation with the ‘queen of heaven’? What is the spiritual context? To find out, plse. read Jeremiah.7:18, and chap.44, and specially vs. 15/ 17-19/ 25.
What were the consequences of this religious activity? See Jerem. 7:28, and Jer.44: 27 and
29. ( grow in grace and knowledge. 2Pet. 3:18 )
What were the consequences of this religious activity? See Jerem. 7:28, and Jer.44: 27 and
29. ( grow in grace and knowledge. 2Pet. 3:18 )
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Reuben_J
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Thanks. Ok I can understand that it can happen with those with traditional animistic background. In earlier days I was in a team headed by a priest to conduct healing service in an Asian country, not the Philippines. Participants were Catholics. We noticed a few of them were still very superstitious despite the Catholic teaching that forbid it.
Catholics taking Mary as God is practically nonexistent but those combining it with tribal belief may explain the error.
God bless you too.
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Reuben_J
Guest
Yeah, what. Please refresh us the Biblical not so savvy.
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JohnGerard
Guest
Hey cyril,
I’m not sure what your point is here.
Could you please explain a bit more what you are getting at?
Thanks.
jg
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In_His_Grace
Guest
Take care and blessings Reuben J and JohnGerard. 
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JohnGerard
Guest
Thanks for the conversation IHG.Take care and blessings Reuben J and JohnGerard.
Peace to you.
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