=spedteacherita;12978418]I admire, respect and love Mary for the immense and potentially terrifying request from God to accept His request to become the place for Christ to begin His life on Earth as an incarnated human being. She must have had a difficult time actually understanding how God would accomplish this since, as she asked, “How can this be? I am a virgin.” Luke 1:34. Joseph could have become angry and thrown her out and had her stoned but he followed God’s message as well. I honor her as she took her job seriously and, not only helped Joseph bring up this special Son, but also became part of the group of disciples who traveled around with our Messiah.
Before I am chastised by my upcoming answer, I need to tell you that I have printed out all of the great responses my caring Catholic friends have posted in answer to my questions and those of others. I am carefully studying books written by both Catholics and Protestants and have yet to come to a conclusion as to whether I can accept the doctrines developed by Catholics about her as Ever Virgin, Queen of Heaven, and as someone to whom I should make prayers and requests.
These are difficult for one who has grown up in the Protestant faith and I want to be careful to understand and to prayerfully bring it before my Lord and God for true wisdom and knowledge with this.
I would not call any of these areas things which “bug” me - that is much too negative for any who want to discern truth but I will say that perusing some of the “Early Church Father” writings I don’t see much information related to this doctrine. As the years progress there may be more material becomes available and I am using this info as I study both Catholic and Protestant teaching.
I am assuming Patrick is asking possibly to develop information for his studies that he shares with those who are seeking knowledge about Catholic doctrine about Mariology. I will discuss with others in a kindly exchange of information but not any put-downs concerning what I’ve learned so far. When we begin to become emotionally charged about a doctrine we have known from childhood we sometimes become uncharitable toward others on all sides of the topics and that sets up an exchange which people will not “listen” and shut down. It’s not a really good way to share something which one would like others to possibly gain a positive understanding of your beliefs.
I look forward to our discussion!
God bless, friends!!
In His love,
Wow Rita, a awesome response! Thank you.
As to Mary’s ever virgin Doctrine:
One needs to try to understand Christ as GOD relationship with His Mother.
May I suggest Rita that you read again Luke Chapters 1 & 2; very carefully & prayerfully.
Luke 1: 46-49
" [46] And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. [49] Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him".
Mary is unique for several reasons:
She possessed unwavering and total faith in God doing what was best for both her and God
Mary possessed extreme humility
Of ALL women ever born; GOD choose Mary to be His [and from the Cross also ours]
Mary was protected from Original sin for the same reason that her virginity was kept in tact. God CAN do ANY good thing
These were God manifesting His love and gratitude for Mary always and every-time; doing what ever God asked of her. Never question WHAT; only “how” Luke 1:34
These were SPECIAL graces offered to Mary on God’s initiative.
Just as God in an absolute sense have to punish evil; so too God MUST reward Goodness. Mary’s goodness driven by her extreme faith and love of God; coincides perfectly with her nearly incomprehensible humility.
So it is God’s doing; God’s choice; God’s reward for Mary being ALL that God hoped she would be. These gifts were GRACES offered to Mary for being willing to endure ALL that would be asked of her, without hesitation, without fully understanding in faith, hope and love.
Isaiah 55:6-11
"[6] "Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
[7] let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
[11] so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing for which I sent it”
Rita we are able to understand WHY God choose to do these marvelous things which stem from His Love for Mary; but not HOW He accomplished them.
AND the reason we struggle with this is because WE [you, me, all of us] lack the degree of faith and humility that Mary had.
God Bless you, send me a PM of you have further questions,
Patrick
by those that I share FREE OF ALL cost, our Catholic Faith with.