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Goth_Catholic
Guest
Why? Is it fair to limit the power and influence of God to one man made (Holy spirt guided of course) book compiled in the years after Christ? “And Generations shall call me blessed.” Should that not mean that generations will also be inspired and influenced by her through the grace of God and her intercession, not just meer words written by Luke?
I fail understand why the bible should be held at so high standards. Or any holy book for that reason. I don’t doubt truth and power of the bible. But God’s power, Jesus’s words, that’s unlimited, not confinded to a single volume. The authors of the Gospels even agree that not everything Jesus taught was written about.
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paarsurrey
Guest
Hi
Please don’t be annoyed with me. I just asked for a reference from Bible, preferably from OTBible, as Jesus himself referred to it so often , and for himself e.g, “Sign of Jonah” a bigger sign full of innumerable signs.
If you have a reference from OTBible, please provide one, if you don’t have any just say there is none. As simple as that. You have all the freedom to differ with me or any one else, it is your birth right, that cannot be denied to you. You may believe any even or odd thing, whether backed by scriptures or not, I won’t mind that. Human beings are just like that.
I respect your opinion and your faith.
Thanks
If one wants to trace Jesus after when he departed from Galilee, please focus your attention on Mary and you would find them both together, mother and child.
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christcnection1
Guest
Your desire to attain Biblical support is somewhat bewildering. As a Muslim, you don’t accept the Bible as the word of God, though you acknowledge some of the OT.
Additionally, the Bible itself never claims to be the final authority on all matters of faith for a Christian. One can certainly believe that, but there is not a single verse of scripture that makes that claim. Additionally, the early Church did not adhere to Sola Scriptura (Bible alone).
Throughout the ages, we believe God in His love gave His people graces to help them grow in faith, hope, and love. Many miracles happened. We believe these events, in no way, contradict the Bible and sacred Tradition.
For a historical understanding of what is meant by the scapular and rosary check the following links:
catholicherald.com/saunders/02ws/ws020801.htm
familyrosary.org/main/rosary-explanation.php
Finally, the idea that Mary will unite the Church is in no way separate from Jesus Christ. Everything Mary does from heaven is through Jesus, in Jesus, and with Jesus. (This also goes for Catholic Saints.)
We believe that Mary is the mother the the Church, and of all Christians:
“And the dragon (the devil) was wroth with the woman (Mary), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (her children), which keep the commandments of God (His true followers), and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelations 12:17)
You see, Mary is at war with the devil that she might (through Christ) help bring about the salvation of the world with all God’s children.
"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25)
You see, if Christians are divided among themselves (just like many Muslims are) the mission to reach the world for their faith will be hindered.
In order for Mary to successfully wage war against the devil (as seen in Revelations 12, and Genesis 3:15…Mary being the New Eve) she will be instremental in ensuring that God’s people will be united.
To answer the question, YES, I believe that Mary is perhaps the most important key to bring Christian unity. When I say yes, I believe this is all the work of God (Jesus Christ) through her. All Christians are called to play a role in this desire of the Lord (John 17… that they may be “perfectly one.”)
This is God’s battle and His victory, so with Mary we give Him all the honor and glory.
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Indyann
Guest
While I was thinking of a response to our Muslim friend, you explained the matter in a beautiful, Christian way. Thank You.
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ConvertChris
Guest
It is interesting, when I first thought about converting to Catholicism, I did not even know about the veneration of Our Lady. By the time I converted, I felt I was doing it almost as much for her as for Our Lord, and devotion to her is still one of the strongest elements of my faith.
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Allweather
Guest
For me, it was a matter of going headlong into the religion.
I was coming out of Protestant fundamentalism, and had gotten some anti-Marian teachings along the way. Once I concluded that, on the basis of authority, the Catholic Church was the true faith, I went directly to Mary, through the Rosary. Since Mary is such a barrier for the fundamentalists, it made sense to me to do it this way.
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christcnection1
Guest
And what has been your experience since?
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paarsurrey
Guest
HiWhile I was thinking of a response to our Muslim friend, you explained the matter in a beautiful, Christian way. Thank You.
I think my simple question has not been answered by Catholics, no compulsion for an answer.Please don’t mind.
Thanks
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Indyann
Guest
Well, when one asks a question, there is usually a question mark at the end of the sentence, (?)
Looking back over your posts, I see none. If you are referencing “bible only”, see post #43
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christcnection1
Guest
What is your simple question again? I will answer to straightfowardly.
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Allweather
Guest
Well, at first, meaning during the first few days and weeks of learning the Rosary and reading about Mariology, it all seemed a bit weird and alien. I had many “feelings” and impressions that were the result, now I realize, of the fundamentalist indoctrinations I had absorbed over a period of years.And what has been your experience since?
In those days, I was a pretty hardcore runner, with a daily 5 mile habit. Since running on the mental level is pretty meditative, I decided to start praying the Rosary while I ran. The more I did this, the more poignant my prayer life became. Rather than just having an hour’s worth of random thoughts while I ran, my running hour became an hour with Jesus and Mary. Focus on the Rosary events of Jesus and Mary in meditation weren’t something I’d ever done before, so it was really, really striking to me how much there is there to meditate upon, and how much insight one can gain from doing so.
Outside the run, I also prayed the Rosary at other times when there wasn’t anything else to do, such as riding on a bus. I was in an Army band and spent a fair amount of time on buses, LOL. Later, as my family followed me into the Church, I tried to institute a family Rosary time in the evenings, but this didn’t go so well, owing mainly to my overbearing manner, but that is another story.
I say without hesitation that Mary is a very real aid to understanding Jesus. In fundamentalist theology, Jesus tends to be a distant, mighty, pure, unapproachable idea, or at least, that is how I felt about him. The Rosary, and Mary, helped me to comprehend a more personal, more human Jesus. I feel like this is because Mary is the human aspect of Jesus, and is something I need.
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christcnection1
Guest
Amen!
I can identify with many of these too, though I think I had a harder time getting started. (Honestly, I was scared it was demonic.
)When I finally embraced the Rosary as a routine devotion, I experienced extraordinary graces enabling me to abide closer in Him. The road of Mary leads to Christ’s heart, indeed.
Speaking of running, I am about to take my jog… hehe.
Peace and Blessings,
JB
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ConvertChris
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I was surprised about what a sticking point it was with my Protestant friends. Their opposition, though, was expressed through churning out slogans like cement mixers: ‘The Bible does not say you should pray to her’ and ‘But she was only human’, to which I thought the latter should be a positive thing.Amen!
I can identify with many of these too, though I think I had a harder time getting started. (Honestly, I was scared it was demonic.
When I finally embraced the Rosary as a routine devotion, I experienced extraordinary graces enabling me to abide closer in Him. The road of Mary leads to Christ’s heart, indeed.
My Grandmother said that she had always considered devotion to Our Lady to be what most seperated Catholics from Protestants, even more than Transubstantiation. My friends also said that they thought it was odd that in Spain there were more statues of Mary than of Jesus, as if they should keep a tally and make sure they were not. I said ‘It’s not a competition’.
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