Why is it so important?

[m134e5]

NonDenom:

Are the beliefs that the Catholic church has about Mary salvation issues? In other words, If I don’t believe that Mary was sinnless or that she was assumed to Heaven or that she was ever virgin or that she is the mother of God, will this cost me my salvation?
If I don’t believe these things, am I bound for hell?

Try not to look at Catholic doctrines as things you’d better believe or else. Try to look at them as truths about God, and his Divine plan- as gifts to us, because all that comes from God is good and beautiful. I am not good at appologetics, and cannot put explain these teachings very well (It is one thing to know a subject- another thing to know it well enough to teach it). I will tell you, based on my own experience, and that of many friends of mine, that all of their criticisms of Catholicism were refuted, as long as they looked hard enough for the answers. The Church has been around for 2000 years- and has proclaimed herself to be the true Church of Jesus Christ- of the apostles, and martyrs, and of John the Baptist and many others. It has withstood many trials over the centuries- and continues to have a profound influence on the world.

 

[m134e5]

LegionofMary:

If Mary was good enough for God to use to come to us, then Mary is good enough for us to use to come to God.

I have never thought about it that way. That is a good way of looking at it.

 

[Eden]

LegionofMary:

If Mary was good enough for God to use to come to us,
then Mary is good enough for us to use to come to God.

I hope you don’t mind if I use this quote in another post. It’s perfect! Thank you.

 

[x4us]

Hi Nondenom - I’ve skimmed the posts, so please forgive me if this was already covered and I missed it. The Catholic Church has a marvelous teaching called “invincible ignorance” - it really is a very charitable term. It means that if someone simply cannot get his/her head around a theological truth, that person may not be held accountable for the information he/she cannot understand.

The Catechism says, “Imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or nullified by ignorance, inadvertance, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors(1735).” If you cannot “get” the Marian teachings (because of being raised in another tradition, etc.) you likely will not be held responsible for this. God Bless.

 

[joshua_b]

Scott Hahn was a Protestant who said about his conversion to Catholicism, "there were only three issues left for me to resolve, and they were “Mary, Mary, and Mary”. I would highly recommend his writings on the subject. Also, I don’t know if they would be of any help or not, but the “Coming Home Network” is nothing but a support network of Protestants (although it may be specifically geared to Protestant clergy) who are converting to the Catholic faith or have already converted, and are helping others through the same struggles they had to face. Others have seen the fullness of Truth, and found the strength to make the journey home…I pray that you will too. God bless you

 

[richbansha]

Maybe I can add a little something that might help.

Hurst listed the dogma on Mary. No need retrace those steps. I have dealt with the Mary issue for years. This is how I answer those questions and I have never been rebutted successfully:

We accept the Marian teachings as truth that we do not have to justify. We can do this because there is no scriptural or logical reason not to. If you can show me just one verse, even in the KJV, that repudiates any of these teachings then you won yourself a convert.

 

[MonicaC]

Hello NonDenom
I just thought that I would chime in as well. In order to be a true devote Catholic you must be obedtiont to the church and all of her teachings. Now with that said does this mean that we most become mindless people? No! It actually means the opposite, the Church expects us to research our Faith to the fullest, which means keep reading find the source of your reluctence to this matter (all the while keeping in mind that Christ is the head of the church and through The Holy Spirit lets us know what we should believe through the Church) you may find that it really isn’t as bad as you think. Also pray on this disbelief remember that even the greatest of Saints had their own struggles with belief but always seeked out the help of the Holy Spirit for this.

When ever I tend to have a thought of disbelief I will pray “Lord I do believe. Help my unbelief.” See my quote below.

Continue to pray about this and i too will keep you in my prayers.

Monica