Fr. Vincent Serpa:
Hi,
We are dealing here with hyperbole. Hyperbole is a rhetorical device in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally. We use it all the time, for example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Or “It took forever for me to get here,” Or “Your name is music to my ears,” Or “Hail holy Queen, our life, our sweetness and our hope.” The latter just means that she is so special to us because God has made her so. That’s all.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
The above is the explanation I got yesterday in the “Ask an Apologist” section. So in a nutshell, Fr. Serpa here is saying it does refer to Mary, but its an exaggeration, not to be taken literally, i.e. ITS NOT TRUE. Ok then-- when is the memo explaining this supposed to go out to everyone who prays the Rosary?? Obviously only a few people here on this thread (including myself) realized that it is NOT true, and pointed out the err in saying/interpreting it that way. The rest basically just posted a few brief words (seemingly smugly) proclaiming that it does refer to Mary, without offering up anything about knowing it to be “untrue” (because they didn’t know, or simply were not being honest with themselves/us). This is disturbing if even many knowledgeable Catholics don’t consider the implications of what they are saying? If we are charged by Jesus to not pray “empty or babbling” prayers, why even say something deep down we hold to not be true??
Are we to blindly accept it without question (and try to convince others to do the same) simply because we are Catholic? I think not-- if one looks at the history of the Church and the Fathers, thats NOT what they did-- hundreds of years of debate and dialogue under the guidance of the Holy Spirit yielded the doctrines we hold today.
This is 100% not an attack on Mary or her honor WHATSOEVER-- its an attack on spiritual ignorance. Mary absolutely is our Mother and is to be honored and venerated. She is the Mother of our mercy, life, sweetness, and hope (Christ). She obviously is Queen of All Saints, and surely her prayers for us carry a special significance. In any case, she should UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ever be elevated to Christs level, be it by true belief, hyperbole, exaggeration, or empty utterings.
I propose a simple, single word change to the Hail Holy Queen to better convey the true meaning, and not an “exaggeration”, which does not in any way take from the honor due to Mary, yet avoids a potentially damaging understanding of Mary’s role. –
…mother of our mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope…
No matter how I try to justify it, I can’t in good conscience continue to use the traditional wording. I suggest everyone who prays the rosary really take a moment and seriously consider this…
