(Snipped to allow room for a response because of character limitations.)
It’s my understanding that the Council of Ephesus made the proclamation that Mary was the Mother of God, the Son. It was through that proclamation that Mary was viewed as Queen of Heaven by Catholics and Orthodox, because of Biblical explanations already provided, with the exception of Jeremiah chapters 7 and 44.
Now is where I’ll ask you bare with me, as I realize that queen of heaven was an idol that was worshipped in Israel and Judah. I believe there is another example, from Christ Himself, to show that replacements of idols, or false gods, for the true Kingdom of God is acceptable. Hopefully, this explanation will not sidetrack this discussion.
The example of a replacement of false gods is Christ’s choice of Caesarea Philippi as the place to announce He was building His Church. Caesarea Philippi was named by Herod Philip, however it was the location of Panion, the city of Pan. dedicated to the Greek God Pan. Why would Christ choose a spot that was dedicated to the great god of pagans, a god who essence was sexual and leaned towards depravity, a spot that represents evil? It is also interesting to note that Pan was known as the god of shepherds and flocks.
The mountain of Caesarea Philippi was believed to have been the spot where the gates of a great abyss (gates of hell) existed, below the rock mountain of Caesarea Philippi.
If Christ could have chosen a place so antithetical to the Kingdom of God, certainly a replacement for the queen of heaven in the Old Testament is acceptable, especially in light of who we are speaking of, Mary His own mother. Christ’s Church was the antithesis to everything which kept men from the Kingdom, just as the Church’s decision to give Mary the title, Queen of Heaven, was the antithesis to an idol, goddess, that had claimed the title, which also led men astray from God.
**Luk 1:31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
Luk 1:33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. **
In the passage above, we recognize Christ is the Messianic King. As we’ve explained, and demonstrated with scriptures referencing Solomon and his mother, in Israel in those times, the mother of the king became the queen mother. The above passage also specifically places Christ on the throne of David, father to Solomon, which makes Mary the Queen Mother now and forever, just as Christ’s Kingdom is, now and forever.
Revelations 12 is supporting scripture for this belief. When did this interpretation become “official” as you say, I don’t know. I am a Catholic, converted from Protestantism in 1985, who accepts many Church teachings on faith, since I believe this is the Church Christ built and made Peter prime minister of. As Protestants would say, the Holy Spirit leads me to believe that is what the scriptures reference.
Mary’s was an assumption into heaven. That was at the end of her life, she was taken, body and soul, into heaven. Nowhere will scriptures speak of this, but if Elijah and Enoch were taken, the implication of assumption is Biblical. Just as John tells us, not everything Christ did was written about, I’d expect much less about His mother being written.
The infallibility of the Church is something Catholics believe in, because of Christ’s promises.
**Joh 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Joh 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.**
Why did it take the Church so long to make an infallible decision? One, because the Church does not rush to make infallible decisions. There is much reading, reflecting and prayer that needs to be completed first. Secondly, somethings were believed, without question. It was only when a belief appears to be endangered, that the Church acts out of necessity, similar to the example of the definition of the canon of the New Testament I provided in another post. The final infallible definition of canonical books for Roman Catholic Christians came from the Council of Trent in 1556 in the face of the errors of the Reformers who rejected seven Old Testament books from the canon of scripture to that time.
(to be continued)