Thoughts on the Blessed Mother

[dsully]

Hello,

One of the issues that I, like a lot of Protestants heading towards Catholicism, am working through is that of Mary. Although I am praying “Hail Mary’s” and some Fatima prayers without much of an issue at all, I occasionally find myself asking, “Am I really supposed to be doing this?”

On my way to work this afternoon, while listening to the Drew Mariani show, it hit me. Knowing what I know of Jesus, wouldn’t it be just like him to crown his mother Queen of Heaven and have his disciples, friends, and co-heirs of the Kingdom speak with her, depend on her, etc.? What man doesn’t honor his mother by giving her, next to his wife, the greatest place in his affections?

There is so much I have to learn about the Catholic view of things. But the more God shows me, the more I am awestruck. Moving from Protestantism to Catholicism really is a second conversion, just as–if not more–wonderful than the first.

Amen.

Dan

 

[poorsinner7]

One could argue that Solomon and Bathsheba, David’s wife, ***[1 Kings 2:18] was a foretelling of the relationship between Jesus and His Mother - the ever Virgin Mary. And of course the more famous where Jesus tells his “Mother behold thy son, Mother behold thy Mother.” [John 19: 25-27]

---

 

[paperbackwinter]

It’s not that complex. Keep in mind Mary doesn’t grant us anything but her intercession with her Son. She can’t give anything more than that. All things come from Jesus, who is God.

 

[Brooklyn]

Hello,

One of the issues that I, like a lot of Protestants heading towards Catholicism, am working through is that of Mary. Although I am praying “Hail Mary’s” and some Fatima prayers without much of an issue at all, I occasionally find myself asking, “Am I really supposed to be doing this?”

On my way to work this afternoon, while listening to the Drew Mariani show, it hit me. Knowing what I know of Jesus, wouldn’t it be just like him to crown his mother Queen of Heaven and have his disciples, friends, and co-heirs of the Kingdom speak with her, depend on her, etc.? What man doesn’t honor his mother by giving her, next to his wife, the greatest place in his affections?

There is so much I have to learn about the Catholic view of things. But the more God shows me, the more I am awestruck. Moving from Protestantism to Catholicism really is a second conversion, just as–if not more–wonderful than the first.

Amen.

Dan

You have a better understanding right now of the role of Mary in the plan of salvation than many Catholics do, I am a revert Catholic. I was baptized as a baby, brought up Catholic and then left the Church as a teenager. i came back many years later and was very much like a new convert in that I had to re-learn most everything, including devotion to Mary. Like you,I had to try to figure out why it was important I started praying the Rosary not really knowing why. But as I prayed it, the importance of devotion to Mary became clearer and clearer. As my devotion to Mary has grown, my love and appreciation for the great Sacrifice of her Son in bringing us to salvation has become even greater. Devotion to Mary leads us directly to her Son. You will find that as well.

I can only encourage you to keep going, keep taking each step as you are shown. God bless you on your journey. And welcome!

 

[Tony_the_mad]

Devotion to Mary is not necessary to be a Catholic. It is important not to insult those who have a true and holy devotion to Mary, though. Further it is truly amazing, how often in Church history that Mary has saved or extended the Church. Mary truly does lead us to her Son.

 

[Brooklyn]

Devotion to Mary is not necessary to be a Catholic. It is important not to insult those who have a true and holy devotion to Mary, though. Further it is truly amazing, how often in Church history that Mary has saved or extended the Church. Mary truly does lead us to her Son.

That is what devotion to Mary is all about - bringing us to Christ. I find it so interesting that the only disciples who stayed with Christ at his crucifixion were those who stayed with Mary. Was that just a coincidence? I don’t think so. To stay close to Mary is to stay close to Christ - it is one and the same thing because she is so at one with her Son. They cannot be separated. Mary was crowned Queen of heaven and earth. How can we ever go wrong with her? She won’t let us.

 

[bscastro]

Beautiful reflections and if I could possibly add my own humble thoughts with regard to the Blessed Mother:

1. I think it is beautiful that our Lord would glorify a humble woman to such a status as with the Blessed Mother. It shows His love for us all that He would do this.
2. I find myself unworthy sometimes to ask the Lord directly for my petitions - since I am so grateful for everything He has already given me. So I humbly ask the Blessed Mother to pray for me and bring my petitions to Him.
3. I have to briefly honor the matriarch’s in my life - my mother and both of my grandmothers - for introducing me to the Blessed Mother through the Rosary as a child. Although I didn’t fully understand the significance at the time, my grandmothers who forced me to pray the Rosary were doing me a great favor. Now as an adult, I always remember their devotion to Mary as I pass on the faith to my children.

In Christ,
Bryan

 

[prettiefly]

It’s not that complex. Keep in mind Mary doesn’t grant us anything but her intercession with her Son. She can’t give anything more than that. All things come from Jesus, who is God.

And in that vein, a quote from one of our most recent great Saints:

“Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God’s heart.” - Saint Maximilian Kolbe

 

[SeekNFind]

That is what devotion to Mary is all about - bringing us to Christ. ** I find it so interesting that the only disciples who stayed with Christ at his crucifixion were those who stayed with Mary. Was that just a coincidence? I don’t think so.** To stay close to Mary is to stay close to Christ - it is one and the same thing because she is so at one with her Son. They cannot be separated. Mary was crowned Queen of heaven and earth. How can we ever go wrong with her? She won’t let us.

Hmm, good food for thought.

 

[fred_conty]

Hello,

One of the issues that I, like a lot of Protestants heading towards Catholicism, am working through is that of Mary. Although I am praying “Hail Mary’s” and some Fatima prayers without much of an issue at all, I occasionally find myself asking, “Am I really supposed to be doing this?”

On my way to work this afternoon, while listening to the Drew Mariani show, it hit me. Knowing what I know of Jesus, wouldn’t it be just like him to crown his mother Queen of Heaven and have his disciples, friends, and co-heirs of the Kingdom speak with her, depend on her, etc.? What man doesn’t honor his mother by giving her, next to his wife, the greatest place in his affections?

There is so much I have to learn about the Catholic view of things. But the more God shows me, the more I am awestruck. Moving from Protestantism to Catholicism really is a second conversion, just as–if not more–wonderful than the first.
Amen.

Dan

Scott Hahn mentioned that Mary was one of the last ideas he had to come to grips with.
It was difficult, but one day he took a rosary out and said a prayer that went something like this. Dear God, I’m about to say a rosary. If this is wrong, please don’t hold it against me for I am doing this in ignorance. But I am hoping that this is what you want.

Then he said the rosary and has never put it down.

You can get a copy of his story here.
amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_browse-b_mrr_0?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Arome+sweet+home%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A2656022011&bbn=283155&keywords=rome+sweet+home&ie=UTF8&qid=1336431501&rnid=618072011

 

[dsully]

Thanks for the replies, Scott Hahn books suggestions, etc. There is no doubt that the more Marian prayers I make, the more I want to keep making Marian prayers. I would be interested to learn more of the development of Marian devotion in the church, its presence in the early church, etc.
Dan

 

[Brooklyn]

Thanks for the replies, Scott Hahn books suggestions, etc. There is no doubt that the more Marian prayers I make, the more I want to keep making Marian prayers. I would be interested to learn more of the development of Marian devotion in the church, its presence in the early church, etc.
Dan

I would strong suggest reading True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis Marie de Montfort. You can read it online if you would like, here, or you can dowload it for free, here. You can, of course, buy a hard copy almost anywhere, including Amazon.

 

[dsully]

Thanks. I just started reading it online, now. Pretty cool stuff!

<<Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her “Woman” as if she were a stranger, although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.>>

Dan

 

[SonofMonica]

When I am praying to Mary, I think of her as she was at the wedding feast at Cana, asking her son to perform a miracle. Bringing the needs of the attendants to the attention of her son so that he could perform a miracle for them. I always imagine her going to Christ on my behalf. So in this way, there is no attention drawn away from Christ when praying to Mary. She is now perfectly united with him, seeing God as he is, participating in the divine life of the Holy Trinity. To talk to Mary is not something opposite of God, it is complementary and for some purposes, the same thing. It’s a big family up there, and down here. When we help each other on Earth, we are serving God. When we talk to the saints, we are in a sense talking to God. They are so caught up in his being and life that there is no practical difference!