Not Convinced.....

[Nicea325]

Lately, I have been comparing and contrasting Catholic beliefs and Baptist beliefs. First off, I would like to begin with “sola scriptura”. I personally believe that if the Bible was not alone sufficient, than God would somewhere explicitly state it in scripture. I have heard arguments asking why, if scripture is alone sufficient, that there are so many different denominations of Christianity.My answer is that, while scripture is alone sufficient, this is caused by different interpretations, because many parts the Bible can be misinterpreted. Second, nowhere in the Bible does it say to venerate Mary, and nowhere does it say that she is sinless, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because, even when, in the Bible, she was honored,(but not worshiped), Jesus corrected her and said that rather, those who obeyed God’s commandments were blessed. I am not trying to officially say it (the Catholic faith) is false, of disrespecting it’s beliefs, but I am just not convinced that Catholicism is the right path. Please correct me if I am wrong, and please, if you correct or explain, to go into as much detail and explanation as possible, to make sure I understand.

And no where does the Bible state is the FINAL authority nor does it say everything must be explicitly said and taught in the Bible. Care to show me the chapter and verse(s) where the Bible mentions a canon?

Second, nowhere in the Bible does it say to venerate Mary, and nowhere does it say that she is sinless, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So I guess Jesus is included since He was also 100% human?

 

[Miriam1947]

Genesius, when you said that Mary is the Ark of the new Covenant as well as the new Eve, and having a role in our salvation, that sparked some interest. I am not necesarrily saying you are wrong, but do you have some verses that sort of justify/back those ideas up? If you do, I would love to see them as to get a better understanding. Thanks!

Simeon this is a great link that really explains Mary.

youtube.com/watch?v=dTtq62XQ4jw&feature=related

It’s not very long but full of information.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Lately, I have been comparing and contrasting Catholic beliefs and Baptist beliefs. First off, I would like to begin with “sola scriptura”. I personally believe that if the Bible was not alone sufficient, than God would somewhere explicitly state it in scripture. I have heard arguments asking why, if scripture is alone sufficient, that there are so many different denominations of Christianity.My answer is that, while scripture is alone sufficient, this is caused by different interpretations, because many parts the Bible can be misinterpreted.

How can it be sufficient if it needs to be interpreted? If interpretations can differ, if it can be misinterpreted, then it is not sufficient. More is needed to determine what is correct.

Does it stand to reason that Jesus would leave his new Church floundering, when He had promised that the Holy Spirit would always be with His Church to lead Her in all Truth? If the Holy Spirit abandoned the Church and allowed it to fall into heresy, then His Promise is so much rubbish, the entire Bible is a fairy tale, there is no God and it is all made up to assuage our fear of death.

Scripture tells us what to do when there are differences in interpretation. We are to take it to the Church, which is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth. Christ gave His Church the Authority to Teach. The Bible is the text book, so to speak, which was complied a long time after Jesus Ascended. It cannot speak for itself but must be interpreted in the light of the Teachings of Christ which have been preserved by the Church.

One of the first differences in interpretation of teachings is in the Bible, where the Jewish converts were telling the Gentile converts that they had to adhere to the Law of Moses and be circumcised, etc. It was brought to Peter, first among the Apostles to determine. This was the First Council of Jerusalem. There was no New Testament to consult at that time.

Then we must look at why the New Testament was canonised. Canonised means that it was set aside for use in the Sacred Liturgy of the Word. It was never meant to be ripped away from the Church to which it was given. Once it was, thousands of different interpretations appeared which conflicted with the teachings of the Church and contradicted each other.

Church History 101: A short history of church history from 64 AD to 600 AD (part four)

A Timeline of Catholic Church history
1-500 A.D.

Second, nowhere in the Bible does it say to venerate Mary, and nowhere does it say that she is sinless, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because, even when, in the Bible, she was honored,(but not worshiped), Jesus corrected her and said that rather, those who obeyed God’s commandments were blessed. I am not trying to officially say it (the Catholic faith) is false, of disrespecting it’s beliefs, but I am just not convinced that Catholicism is the right path. Please correct me if I am wrong, and please, if you correct or explain, to go into as much detail and explanation as possible, to make sure I understand.

The bible does call Mary sinless. When the Angel Gabriel came to her at the Annunciation, he called her “Kecharitomene”. This word does not translate into English with one word, but takes several to get the meaning across. Most English translations do not do this word justice. Some outright butcher it, like ‘highly-favoured daughter’.
oocities.com/athens/Atrium/8410/kecharitomene.html

When Jesus said ‘rather, those who obey God’s commandments are blessed’, He was using an idiom or a cultural expression. He was not saying that Mary was not blessed. Mary was fully obedient to God’s commandments and the bible tells us that all generations will call her Blessed.

Veneration is not worship; it is holding in high regard. The reason we hold Mary and the Saints in high regard is because of their relationship with Christ. Everything they have is from God. When we acclaim them, we are rejoicing at what God has done in their lives and how they have cooperated with Him in doing His Will. We seek to do as they did, and cooperate with God so that His Will may be accomplished in us as well.

In the Divine Praises is the line - Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. The holiness of His Saints is a reason to bless God, their holiness is a reflection of God’s Holiness like a light in front of a mirror. The Saints are like the mirror. The more perfectly they conformed themselves to the Will of God, the more perfectly they reflect the Light of Christ.

 

[pablope]

Genesius, when you said that Mary is the Ark of the new Covenant as well as the new Eve, and having a role in our salvation, that sparked some interest. I am not necesarrily saying you are wrong, but do you have some verses that sort of justify/back those ideas up? If you do, I would love to see them as to get a better understanding. Thanks!

Here is current thread on Mary. You will find information here, and if not enough, please fire away with questions:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=516831

Also, watch a replay on EWTN of the Journey Home episode today. Guest was Dr. David Anders, former Calvinist. He discussed a wide variety of topics…Sola Scriptura, Mary, justification…it should be available for viewing on the site or you tube tomorrow.

Hope this helps.

 

[peregrinus_sg]

I don’t get the OP’s logic at all. So if the Bible alone was sufficient (without the need/room for Tradition and the Church’s authority), where in the Bible is the canon of the Bible?

 

[simeonhuff]

And no where does the Bible state is the FINAL authority nor does it say everything must be explicitly said and taught in the Bible. Care to show me the chapter and verse(s) where the Bible mentions a canon?

So I guess Jesus is included since He was also 100% human?

No, Jesus was fully human, yet fully divine.

 

[simeonhuff]

Hmmmm… Maybe I need to rephrase. When I say scripture is sufficient, I don’t mean ONLY scripture. Other things can guide us, like the Holy Spirit, other believers, etc. What I was trying to say was, even though Apostlic(sp?)Tradition is important, if you begin to follow the teachings of man (tradition) more that the teachings of God (scripture), than you will ultimatley stumble. I might be ignorant of the early church history and how today’s Bible is different from the Bible back then, but I believe that the Bible should be used as a sort of spiritual filter for all other sources of guidance. Even if a certain tradition is part of the “Apostlic Traditions”, but it goes against God’s ultimate Word, it is wrong.

 

[Apryl]

What I was trying to say was, even though Apostlic(sp?)Tradition is important, if you begin to follow the teachings of man (tradition) more that the teachings of God (scripture), than you will ultimatley stumble. I might be ignorant of the early church history and how today’s Bible is different from the Bible back then, but I believe that the Bible should be used as a sort of spiritual filter for all other sources of guidance. Even if a certain tradition is part of the “Apostlic Traditions”, but it goes against God’s ultimate Word, it is wrong.

Hol’ up.

You’re saying that the Bible is the teachings of God… but who WROTE that Bible?

I believe/know that the Bible is inspired writings, inspired by God, but the writings were still written by people. Old Testament, New Testament, writings not included in the Bible… they were all written by men.

Not only that, you have writings from Greek and Aramaic, which have been translated, and our language (English) has changed over time, so even the English translations have been redone. How could that have happened with the Bible alone?

 

[simeonhuff]

The bible does call Mary sinless. When the Angel Gabriel came to her at the Annunciation, he called her “Kecharitomene”.

God created Jesus by himself, there was no mother or wife involved. Mary is NOT divine, she is human. She has NO special influence on Christ WHATSOEVER. She is not omniscient or omnipresent, so how can she hear millions of prayers at once? ABSOLUTLEY NO ONE is above sin, except God. She is only a vessel (or an instrument, if you like) that helped bring Christ into the world in human form. She has ABSOLUTLEY NO influence in our salvation whatsoever. Jesus is the ONLY meditator between man and God. Period.

 

[Trishie]

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

So I guess Jesus is included since He was also 100% human?

No Jesus, fully God, fully human (divine and human nature) did not sin.

"Jesus therefore became truly similar to men, by assuming the condition of a servant, as the letter to the Philippians expresses it (cf. 2:7). However, the Letter to the Hebrews, speaking of him as “high priest of the good things that have come to be” (Heb 9:11), confirms and clarifies that this is not a "priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been similarly tested in every way, yet without sin" (cf. Heb 4:15). Truly he “knew not sin,” even though St. Paul will say that "for our sake God made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21).

vatican.va/archive/catechism/p122a3p1.htm

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19880203en.html

 

[Trishie]

God created Jesus by himself, there was no mother or wife involved. Mary is NOT divine, she is human. She has NO special influence on Christ WHATSOEVER. She is not omniscient or omnipresent, so how can she hear millions of prayers at once? ABSOLUTLEY NO ONE is above sin, except God. She is only a vessel (or an instrument, if you like) that helped bring Christ into the world in human form. She has ABSOLUTLEY NO influence in our salvation whatsoever. Jesus is the ONLY meditator between man and God. Period.

Catholics are utterly aware that Mary is only human.

"Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son*****, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Luke 1: 26-35

Matthew 1 gives the geneology of Jesus…do you argue that Jesus was not of the House f David?

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will **conceive **and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-24

And if God had wished to send up simply an adult personage, your argument would be founded, but Jesus was conceived in the womb of a woman and spent 30 years of ordinary good life before taking up His public mission. This does not be-speak only the divine, but that the second Person of the trinity of God became incarnate of a woman and the Holy Spirit.

*****Note that the BIBLE in two places in these scriptures, the Angel says, “a son”

"you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son

“She will give birth to a son”

The bible repeatedly calls her Jesus’ mother.

The Angel said noting about a child being placed in her womb, but conceived

 

[simeonhuff]

Catholics are utterly aware that Mary is only human.

"Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son*****, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. Luke 1: 26-35

Matthew 1 gives the geneology of Jesus…do you argue that Jesus was not of the House f David?

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will **conceive **and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-24

And if God had wished to send up simply an adult personage, your argument would be founded, but Jesus was conceived in the womb of a woman and spent 30 years of ordinary good life before taking up His public mission. This does not be-speak only the divine, but that the second Person of the trinity of God became incarnate of a woman and the Holy Spirit.

*****Note that the BIBLE in two places in these scriptures, the Angel says, “a son”

"you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son

“She will give birth to a son”

The bible repeatedly calls her Jesus’ mother.

The Angel said noting about a child being placed in her womb, but conceived

I understand that Jesus was conceived in her womb, but she is His earthly mother, not his heavenly mother. She was an instrument used to bring Jesus into the world; God could have brought Jesus, fully grown, floating on a cloud to the Earth, and Mary would be nothing to us other that another Christian woman, but He did’nt. He used Mary as an instrument to bring Jesus into the world. She was His mother in a physical and earthly way, but NOT in a spiritual way. Also, I have heard that Mary is supposedy the “Queen of Heaven”. (I am not saying that you are in any way wrong) Could you please explain your reasoning? I’d love to know. Thanks!

 

[Apryl]

I understand that Jesus was conceived in her womb, but she is His earthly mother, not his heavenly mother. She was an instrument used to bring Jesus into the world; God could have brought Jesus, fully grown, floating on a cloud to the Earth, and Mary would be nothing to us other that another Christian woman, but He did’nt. He used Mary as an instrument to bring Jesus into the world. She was His mother in a physical and earthly way, but NOT in a spiritual way. Also, I have heard that Mary is supposedy the “Queen of Heaven”. (I am not saying that you are in any way wrong) Could you please explain your reasoning? I’d love to know. Thanks!

Hmm… Seems like you get it, but don’t realize that you get it.

YES, Mary is Jesus Earthly mother. No one said otherwise. Did you hear that any one said otherwise?

The point is that God the Father did choose to have God the Son to be born of a human woman, to be incarnated as a human being, just like the rest of us… making him 100% Divine and 100% human.

You see, Jesus (God the Son) couldn’t have died on the cross for us if he had not been born a man. He was born for the purpose of dying for us. Oh, what a miracle that was and a great gift from God the Father.

Onced Mary’s time on the earth ended, and she was ‘dead’, she was assumed into heaven and became Queen of Heaven AND Earth, Queen of Angels and Saints.

Jesus is the King of Heaven, and His mother would be the Queen Mother of Heaven.

I love Christmas because of these truths.

 

[simeonhuff]

Onced Mary’s time on the earth ended, and she was ‘dead’, she was assumed into heaven and became Queen of Heaven AND Earth, Queen of Angels and Saints.

Jesus is the King of Heaven, and His mother would be the Queen Mother of Heaven.

As I said before, Mary is Jesus’ EARTHLY mother, but not His HEAVENLY mother. There IS no Heavenly mother, for ANY OF US. If Jesus was a King on Earth, than she would be the queen of whatever-you-call-it-land. BUT, she is not, in ANY way, paternally related to Him(in a heavenly way). Therefore, she is not the queen of Heaven OR Earth.

 

[Nicea325]

Originally Posted by Nicea325
And no where does the Bible state is the FINAL authority nor does it say everything must be explicitly said and taught in the Bible. Care to show me the chapter and verse(s) where the Bible mentions a canon?

So I guess Jesus is included since He was also 100% human?

No, Jesus was fully human, yet fully divine.

Oh I see,the famous verse used by Protestants:

ALL of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory.

So the word ALL does not mean everyone does it? Jesus is excluded-right? So you mean the same cannot be applicable to Mary? What does the angel Gabriel tell Mary: NOTHING is impossible for God! (Luke 1:37) Exactly!

So it is not possible for God to have spared Mary from original sin? Second,if Mary is the vessel,then why would God want a stained soul (sinner) conceive perfection? If the OT Ark was sanctified by God and nothing defiled could touch it,why wouldn’t God want the same for His begotten Son?

 

[Trishie]

The Mother issue. Jesus gave us the right to call God our Father. As sisters and brothers in Christ, we share in His relationships.

" When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. [John 19:26-27]

John too is our brother in Christ.
And no, we know Mary isn’t physically our mother.
Consider, by the way, the love that this man who in Isaiah’s words became “a living wound” took the trouble in His agony, as He dragged up on the nails in order to gasp air, to provide for this woman you dismiss so easily. Jesus whom you love, loved His mother enough to do that. Why are you so dismissive of one whom Jesus dearly loved, and whom He listened to even when it was inconvenient.

Do you remember that at the wedding feast of Cana, [John 1:1-12] when Mary mentioned that the wedding hosts were running out of wine, and Jesus said that it wasn’t yet His time for miracles, she knowing his love and kindness, just replied by telling the servers to do whatever Jesus told them. In other words, He gave what she wanted because of his particular love. It’s strange how some people who claim to love Jesus, do not value whom He loved.
And despite the fact that “my time hasn’t yet come”, Jesus changed the water into wine.

Footnotes:
John 19:26 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.

 

[Apryl]

As I said before, Mary is Jesus’ EARTHLY mother, but not His HEAVENLY mother. There IS no Heavenly mother, for ANY OF US. If Jesus was a King on Earth, than she would be the queen of whatever-you-call-it-land. BUT, she is not, in ANY way, paternally related to Him(in a heavenly way). Therefore, she is not the queen of Heaven OR Earth.

Says YOU shaw:

 

[esac]

As I said before, Mary is Jesus’ EARTHLY mother, but not His HEAVENLY mother. There IS no Heavenly mother, for ANY OF US. If Jesus was a King on Earth, than she would be the queen of whatever-you-call-it-land. BUT, she is not, in ANY way, paternally related to Him(in a heavenly way). Therefore, she is not the queen of Heaven OR Earth.

everyone of us will still have a mother even after death. you will always have a mother the moment you were concieved. God transcends time. time doesn’t stop when we die. your soul moves on.

are you saying if you die tonite, you no longer have a mother tomorrow?

 

[joandarc2008]

Genesius, when you said that Mary is the Ark of the new Covenant as well as the new Eve, and having a role in our salvation, that sparked some interest. I am not necesarrily saying you are wrong, but do you have some verses that sort of justify/back those ideas up? If you do, I would love to see them as to get a better understanding. Thanks!

Hold on I have a whole video here with verses:

The best Mary Video Ever

Here it is by Bl. John Duns Scotis - the basic argument for the Blessed Virgin Mary being without original sin. Jesus Christ was sinless - He was the pure lamb sacrificed at Passover for our sins. Assuming you are Baptist - that should be no argument. So he had to be sinless - which means that he had to have been born without original sin. We know that he was born without the sex act - as he was born of Virgin. Now - here is the logical argument - not scriptural - and it was the great argument between Bl. Scotis and St Thomas Aquinas. The vessel which Christ came from would also have to have been without original sin. (Yes the vessel would be the BVM) Therefore we have the Immaculate conception of the BVM which is celebrated on Dec 8. While Mary had other family and St Ann her mother was not a Virgin there was no act that created her other than the Holy Spirit as the sinless vessel. This was alluded to in Isaiah 11:1-10 in the mention in the stump of Jesse and the root of Jesse. You see Jesus’s family tree has come to be known as the Jesse tree. It is the family tree that connects the lineage of King David and Solomon to Christ and fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Even if a certain tradition is part of the “Apostlic Traditions”, but it goes against God’s ultimate Word, it is wrong.

First of all, God’s ultimate Word is Jesus, not the Bible. The Bible is a small collection of God’s Words but it is not The Word.

No part of Sacred Tradition contradicts the Bible since one of the tests to determine whether a writing was inspired was whether it contradicted any Teaching from Tradition. In fact, the Bible is a part of Sacred Tradition because it is Tradition that says these writings and only these writings are inspired by God, not the other way around.

God created Jesus by himself, there was no mother or wife involved. Mary is NOT divine, she is human. She has NO special influence on Christ WHATSOEVER. She is not omniscient or omnipresent, so how can she hear millions of prayers at once? ABSOLUTLEY NO ONE is above sin, except God. She is only a vessel (or an instrument, if you like) that helped bring Christ into the world in human form. She has ABSOLUTLEY NO influence in our salvation whatsoever. Jesus is the ONLY meditator between man and God. Period.

Jesus was not created.

John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him.
4 What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men;
5 and light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it.
<…>
14 The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The hypostatic union of the divine nature and the human nature of Jesus in the divine person of Jesus Christ

Other Gospels tell us how the Word became flesh. It tells us that He was conceived of the Virgin and that she is His Mother and that she is the most blessed of all women.

Luke 1
30 but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour.
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David;
33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’
34 Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’
35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.

Luke 1
42 She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth calls Mary the Mother of God and the most blessed of all women. I repeat, the Holy Spirit clearly calls Mary the Mother of God and most special.

When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, He knit His Godhead with the flesh of Mary to conceive Jesus. He was ‘begotten, not made’ to quote the Creed.

Mary is not divine. Being sinless doesn’t mean being divine. Being sinless is how we were ALL supposed to be but Adam stuffed that up for us. Mary was preserved from sin, not of her own efforts, but as a Gift from God. She was created to bear the Word.

How could the God of Love create someone to be His Mother and not Love her? Treating her as a mere vessel is not consonant with a God of Love. If you could create the woman who would nurse you, change your nappy, make sure you were fed, clothed, bathed, the person to whom you would entrust yourself as a helpless baby, what sort of person would you create? How could she not be special to you?

We have the Wedding at Cana to tell us that Mary can intercede with Jesus and that He will do as she asks.

Moreover, Jesus is King in the line of David. The Gebirah, the Queen Mother, is a person of power in the realm.

RULERS OF JUDAH AND THEIR QUEEN MOTHERS (Gebirah)
The Gebirah, the Queen Mother of the Kingdom of Judah, was an official position held by the mother of the Davidic kings. She was the most important and influential woman in the royal court and the king’s chief councilor. <…>
Scripture indicates that the Gebirah assumed a throne alongside her son [see 1 Kings 2:19] and exercised her role as counselor [2 Chronicles 22:3] and intercessor to the king [1 Kings 2:13-21]. In times of conquest, both the king and his mother represented royal power [2 Kings 24:12]. The Gebirah was clearly the most important woman in the Kingdom of Judah; a king had many wives, but only one mother.

Mary is not a barrier between God and us. She is not an adversary who seeks to prevent us from reaching God. On the contrary, she facilitates reaching Him.

How can she hear millions of prayers? It is God who makes it possible.