Why Catholics adore Mary

[aball1035]

What a completely bogus reply, one that shows that you did not come to this forum in good faith.

Well I asked the question, so I’m simply looking for an answer other than the question posed back to me. I’m a Catholic that prays the Rosary every day and do love Mary, but came to this forum to get a few simply and short answers for my Protestant friends about the subject. Please do not assume that this shows I didn’t come in good faith.

 

[Chatter163]

Well I asked the question, so I’m simply looking for an answer other than the question posed back to me. I’m a Catholic that prays the Rosary every day and do love Mary, but came to this forum to get a few simply and short answers for my Protestant friends about the subject. Please do not assume that this shows I didn’t come in good faith.

I did, because twice you have failed to respond to my point.

 

[aball1035]

I did, because twice you have failed to respond to my point.

If your point was because traditionally all Christians have been devoted to Mary, I thank you, but am looking more for answers against common Protestant attacks.

However, if your point simply is the same question back to me, then I still ask for answers against Protestant attacks.

There’s seriously something wrong if from that you assume I haven’t come here “in good faith”.

 

[Chatter163]

If your point was because traditionally all Christians have been devoted to Mary, I thank you, but am looking more for answers against common Protestant attacks.

However, if your point simply is the same question back to me, then I still ask for answers against Protestant attacks.

There’s seriously something wrong if from that you assume I haven’t come here “in good faith”.

If you are indeed a committed Catholic devoted to Our Lady and looking for answers to respond Protestant attacks, then you should have stated so in your first post, rather than simply posing the question with the phrasing in which you did, making no reference to your faith or devotion. One way in which to do this is by referring to Mary as Our Lady, the Blessed Mother or the Blessed Virgin Mary, any one of which help to identify you as devoted to her. As it stood, your question appeared as just another modernist or anti-Catholic hack coming here to argue.

Back to the question, the response that I had posted, in the form of another question, is a very effective way to disarm Protestant attacks. The purpose is indeed to point out that Protestants eliminated one of the most ancient aspects of the faith. When something is in place and then it is deleted, there must be a reason. Something in their faith changed at a specific juncture (in this case, the Reformation), and it helps to point this out as a salient point. Since most evangelical polemicists have little sense of history, it is helpful to point this out, as well as the continuity of Catholic and Orthodox beliefs, which did not change.

 

[JustaServant]

Well I asked the question, so I’m simply looking for an answer other than the question posed back to me. I’m a Catholic that prays the Rosary every day and do love Mary, but came to this forum to get a few simply and short answers for my Protestant friends about the subject. Please do not assume that this shows I didn’t come in good faith.

You might want to ask on the apologetics forum.

 

[scottywolf777]

Hi Alex,
you might be interested in these links:

You are not alone
gloria.tv/?media=27911

Why pray the rosary?
gloria.tv/?media=29737

Something about Mary by Mario St. Francis
gloria.tv?media=28759

 

[Martin_R]

Hi Alex,
You’re right to question why “we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…”.

The best place to find the answer is not the church or the walls of the catacombs etc. it’s by looking in the Bible. The answer is that we *don’t *need Mary as a middle man.

1 Timothy 2:5 tells us:
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Many years back I had the task of representing my AF lab at one of the AF system divisions. In the course of this I established contacts with staff people in most of the projects.

One morning we needed a letter of support for a certain project. I started off with the letter at the same time as an officer from the division’s research office. Using my contacts I had the signature of every program chief [colonels and 1-stars] and the 3-star commander of the division by noon. As I came back I passed the officer from research still waiting to get on the calendar of the first colonel.

It convinced me of the value of having a lot of friends and letting them show me how to ask for things. **

 

[aball1035]

Hi Alex,
You’re right to question why “we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…”.

The best place to find the answer is not the church or the walls of the catacombs etc. it’s by looking in the Bible. The answer is that we *don’t *need Mary as a middle man.

1 Timothy 2:5 tells us:
For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Hmmm… good point. But would Mary be the mediator for Christ though?

 

[TNKnight]

Alex, I believe that the answer lies in the story of the Wedding feast of Cana. It was not yet the time for Jesus to begin His ministry, but upon the urging of Mary, He performs His first miracle. This is what makes Mary the perfect advocate, because she is His mother and he will pay attention to her requests. No one was closer to Jesus during His time on earth and she followed Him to the cross and accepted His body after His death. Why should we not consider her to be special?

 

[ConflictedBoy]

I’m looking for a few brief reasons on why Mary is so adored in Catholicism.

One reason I have come up with is that we Catholics on earth aren’t holy enough to truly worship Christ as we should, so we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…

Any help would be appreciated.

Catholics must believe the Assumption as a key doctrine of the Church per Pius XII’s declaration. Because Jesus allowed His blessed Mother to escape the confines of physical death, He was honouring her, thus fulfilling the commandment.

Thus as we as Christians are called to imitate Christ, we should do the same, honouring the mother of Jesus Christ.

We also cant forget about “generations” calling Mary “blessed”, so we also fulfill Sacred Scripture as well.

I’m convinced there’s not one faithful, tender hearted Protestant out there that wouldnt fully understand this position if it were explained to them in good faith and received with an open mind. =)

*If I’m a little off in some of this let me know, I’ve learned so much so fast, and still am. Thanks =) *

 

[josethomas2005]

This is because mary is the mother of god

 

[Martin_R]

Hmmm… good point. But would Mary be the mediator for Christ though?

I can’t find anything in the Bible to suggest that is the case. Jesus didn’t refer people to Mary, they always went directly to Him. The Bible is a big book and yet Mary is hardly mentioned. It’s all about God and His Son Jesus, not Mary.

Hebrews 13:15 (New Living Translation)
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
(No mention of Mary.)

Acts 4:12 (New Living Translation)
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
(No mention of Mary.)

John 14:6 (New Living Translation)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
(No mention of Mary.)

People, books and churches have been adding things to the Bible for centuries but we are warned not to do that:

Revelation 22:18 (New Living Translation)
And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.

Jesus honoured His mother, or course, it’s one of the 10 commandments. But as to having paintings and statues of her? No, that’s certainly not biblical.

 

[fix]

I’m looking for a few brief reasons on why Mary is so adored in Catholicism.

One reason I have come up with is that we Catholics on earth aren’t holy enough to truly worship Christ as we should, so we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…

Any help would be appreciated.

Sure:

But since the salvation of our race was accomplished by the mystery of the Cross, and since the Church, dispenser of that salvation after the triumph of Christ, was founded upon earth and instituted, Providence established a new order for a new people. The consideration of the Divine counsels is united to the great sentiment of religion. The Eternal Son of God, about to take upon Him our nature for the saving and ennobling of man, and about to consummate thus a mystical union between Himself and all mankind, did not accomplish His design without adding there the free consent of the elect Mother, who represented in some sort all human kind, according to the illustrious and just opinion of St. Thomas, who says that the Annunciation was effected with the consent of the Virgin standing in the place of humanity.(5) With equal truth may it be also affirmed that, by the will of God, Mary is the intermediary through whom is distributed unto us this immense treasure of mercies gathered by God, for mercy and truth were created by Jesus Christ.(6) Thus as no man goeth to the Father but by the Son, so no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother. How great are the goodness and mercy revealed in this design of God!

OCTOBRI MENSE
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII
ON THE ROSARY

Hope it helps some.

 

[n4mgr]

I’m looking for a few brief reasons on why Mary is so adored in Catholicism.

One reason I have come up with is that we Catholics on earth aren’t holy enough to truly worship Christ as we should, so we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…

Any help would be appreciated.

I will tell you why I adore our Blessed Mother. We are given an example at the foot of the Cross of what is is to honor and adore our Blessed Mother through our Blessed Lord himself. Our Blessed Lord gave to the Apostle St. John and in turn to the entire faithful his Blessed Mother, who he loved deeply and honored himself. She stood at the foot of the Cross as our Blessed Lord was crucified and died, because of our sin. There is no conflict that I can see with holding a special place in ones heart for their family and as such, I see absolutely NO problem with honoring the mother of God, the Theotokos, the one whose fiat, whose yes meant life abundant for all who would take up their cross and follow Him.
DEO GRATIAS

 

[scottywolf777]

I can’t find anything in the Bible to suggest that is the case. Jesus didn’t refer people to Mary, they always went directly to Him. The Bible is a big book and yet Mary is hardly mentioned. It’s all about God and His Son Jesus, not Mary.

Hebrews 13:15 (New Living Translation)
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
(No mention of Mary.)

Acts 4:12 (New Living Translation)
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
(No mention of Mary.)

John 14:6 (New Living Translation)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
(No mention of Mary.)

People, books and churches have been adding things to the Bible for centuries but we are warned not to do that:

Revelation 22:18 (New Living Translation)
And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.

Jesus honoured His mother, or course, it’s one of the 10 commandments. But as to having paintings and statues of her? No, that’s certainly not biblical.

You know instead of telling us what the Bible ( a book we gave you-we wrote it, we decided what belonged in it, we translated it into Latin and actually later into English 2 years before King James did- even though it was against the law to read or own one-our monks copied it for you by hand under candle light, they also taught people to read and write during the dark ages and last but not least the first published Bible by Herr Guttenberg off his new printing press was a Catholic Bible and if there’s any King James in these references that translation is copywrite and published pretty exclusively by Nelson Publishers the head of which is a Catholic so If you can read this book:bible1: and use it to bash people over the head with thank a catholic!) doesn’t say about Mary how about a novel concept see what it does say about her? Hint : start at Genesis 3:15.
as far as Mary and scripture I’d recommend this video by Dr Scott Hahn from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He probably has more scripture knowledge in his little finger than you’ve got in your whole body! I once heard him described as a person who snores in greek.
gloria.tv/?=11621 sorry, it’s about an hour long but, will fullly blow your theories out of the water.
Without Mary there would have been NO Jesus. God picked her out of all the women in history to be the Theotokos, the God Bearer or in English Mother of God. Luther called her the"first and greatest of all Christians because she cherished the word of God in her heart" The protestant poet Ralph Waldo Emerson called the the “highest honor of our fallen race.”
Statues are un-Biblical? What about the Ark of the Covenant? Weren’t there angels on top of it? And gee what about Moses and that Bronze Serpent (an archetype of the Crucifix) that God told Moses to hang upon the tree and those who saw it would be healed?

PS your last reference from Rev/Apocalypse doesn’t the next verse say not to take anything from the Book but, the Protestant Bible has removed about 8 Books from the Septuagint Old Testament?

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Rather recently, a series of books was published on the subject of Catholic devotion to Mary. If you look, you can even see it advertised in the banners at the top of the forum: Mark Shea’s Mary, Mother of the Son.

Having already read through the first two of the three books, I give them my highest recommendation. They’ll answer virtually any question you could ask on the subject.

Just read the books, alright?

 

[Mike_Dye]

I’m looking for a few brief reasons on why Mary is so adored in Catholicism.

One reason I have come up with is that we Catholics on earth aren’t holy enough to truly worship Christ as we should, so we need a “middle man”, which is Mary. However then that leaves the question of why Christ Himself came to earth…

Any help would be appreciated.

I am not sure that pointing out that we are not holy enough really addresses the question regarding Mary. All Christians are invited to have a relationship with Jesus, The Father and the Holy Spirit.
I have a special relationship with my Blessed Mother, St. Michael the Archangel, and my Guardian Angel. I love them deeply and I thank God for sending them into my life to help guide me on my way to eternity. I don’t see any other explanation is necessary. God Bless!

 

[Martin_R]

Reply for scottywolf777:

Mary the new Eve? Never heard that one before. An interesting theory.

I watched the video and have the following comments:

1.) Dr Scott Hahn is saying that Jesus is God. I can’t find anything to support that theory in the Bible…

Deuteronomy 18 (New Living Translation) says:

16 For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’17 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right. 18 I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. 19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.

Note that it says God sent somebody (Jesus) on His behalf. He didn’t say he’d change into human form because He’s less scary that way.

2.) In John 19 I can’t see any reason to think Jesus was giving His mother to everybody. It seems to me He was just pairing her up with His disciple so they could look after each other after He was gone.

3.) If Jesus is God and Mary is the mother of God, then God created His own mother?

It’s all sounding very silly when you start to think like that.

4.) Mary is not a perpetual virgin. Many verses speak of her other children e.g. Mark 6:3.

5.) Where in the Bible does it say Mary “gave permission” for the death of Jesus? We’re not told that.

6.) He says Christ leads us to Mary. Where did that idea come from?

7.) Jesus gave us the power to love Mary as much as He did? Where did that idea come from?

Statues are un-Biblical? What about the Ark of the Covenant? Weren’t there angels on top of it?

Yes but that was God’s design.

And gee what about Moses and that Bronze Serpent (an archetype of the Crucifix) that God told Moses to hang upon the tree and those who saw it would be healed?

Again that was something God called for. No instructions about making statues of Mary.

PS your last reference from Rev/Apocalypse doesn’t the next verse say not to take anything from the Book but, the Protestant Bible has removed about 8 Books from the Septuagint Old Testament?

Interesting…

Do they still exist? Can they be found online anywhere?

 

[JustaServant]

In the ancient world, because the king had many brides, a woman did not receive the title of queen until her son took the throne. The queen was not married to the king, because there were far too many wives vying for such a title. And they couldn’t all be called queen. The position of queen was held by the king’s mother. She was known as the queen mother. If Mary’s Son has become the King of Kings (of both heaven and earth) then the Mother has become the Queen of heaven and earth
Pope Pius XII stated, “Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest and by singular election. And her kingdom is as vast as that of her Son and God, since nothing is excluded from her dominion.”
Our Lord also gave to the Church and each individual soul His Mother, the Queen of Heaven. For many centuries Christians have been accustomed to meditate upon the ruling power of Mary which embraces heaven and earth, when they consider the fifth glorious mystery of the rosary which can be called the mystical crown of the heavenly Queen.
To love Jesus is to also love His mother.
To pray the Rosary is an honor.