Why is it wrong to love Mary, the Mother of God?

[BryanM27]

The mention of Jesus’s brothers indicate that these “brothers” are older than him by the way they were ordering him. So how can that be when Jesus is the first born?

Also, at the presentation of the temple, Jesus was already twelve and there is no mention of siblings.

I had this same thought earlier on, but after reviewing the Scriptures and the Catechism I arrive at the understanding that the brothers mentioned are from Joseph’s first marriage. Jesus is the first (and only) child of Mary.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Here is the problem with the Marian dogma according to scripture …

“Here is the problem with the Marian dogma”

What do you mean by “problem”? As a Roman Catholic, I don’t have a problem with Marian dogma…And, some here wonder why Catholics have questions for you… I can’t believe that I let this post pass without notice…

 

[Jimmy_B]

Get used to it in here, Father. After a while you might even be accused of not having enough faith in Christ or being a “cafeteria Catholic.” There are many labels and litmus tests abounding in CAF by people who disagree. It’s unfortunate. And often when you ask a question, you’ll get a socratic-style question to answer your question. Good times…

Go back and read post #149, on this thread and tell us what you think…

 

[Leeann]

Kathleen #211

Things got worse. Finally, people began turning to the Blessed Mother for support of faith…it seems devotions are quite intense when the world around them is falling apart. We see how helpless we are, we don’t see the fruit of our prayers, and so Mary becomes more and more a mother and protectress to carry us through…the humble heel of Mary…Revelations, ‘the great sign that appeared in the sky’…we don t know if it is Mary, but people privately wonder if that is referring to her past apparitions to help the world turn back to Jesus.

Side comment here as a wife and mother…alot of people are going through an awful lot with their families, work, and society at large…and they turn to devotions to pray extra hard…people are afraid of the direction and state of our economy and the world, and this may be why there seems alot of people turning to Mary…

They are turning to her for support of faith, to help ease their fear, and help them trust God more. In God, all things are possible.

Hello KathleenGee:

Above you say “In God, all things are possible”…and yet when your faith falters you turn to Mary…even though, we are told throughout scripture whom to go too:

Colossians 2: 6-9

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 **For in him **dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philippians 4: 4 -7

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 5: 14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

[benidict]

Hello KathleenGee:

Above you say “In God, all things are possible”…and yet when your faith falters you turn to Mary…even though, we are told throughout scripture whom to go too:

Colossians 2: 6-9

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philippians 4: 4 -7

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 5: 14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

so my friend, its not ok to ask you to pray for me? or anyone else for that matter? and no one should ask me to pray for them? it is the same with going to Mary. we are simply asking her to intercede on our behalf with her Son. its no different than if we ask eachother for their support. when a Catholic says we believe in the communion of saints, it means that the Church in heaven, and the Church on earth are one. and we can ask those who have gone beyond., or like our Blessed Mother been assumed, to pray for us, and intercede. we have evidence from Hebrews and the book of revelation for this. peace to you and yours.

 

[benedictus2]

Yep… we have all been there, including me but I don’t think that it is “unfortunate” to use the Catechism to correct a falsehood, nor do I think it’s “unfortunate”, to defend ones faith, or to defend St. Mary, the Mother of God.

Sometimes, people have questions and that includes questions to comments made here and usually, over several posts, if the member was misunderstood, the comment or any confusion is cleared up.

Isn’t that why this forum is called Catholic Answers, because people have questions?

I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus, so I will always defend and pray for our priests and our Pope.

However, it is possible for a member of our Church, to be in error and to deviate from the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church. Christ, The Church, Our infallible Pope and Christian truth, always come first.

Sometimes, the most informative threads here, are those where Catholics are having a lively debate… people do their research, find credible sources and the truth usually prevails… right?

For example, I’ve learned a lot from you, over the years here.

I read a post here where a member apparently had a problem with Mother Angelica and with Mary, as “Mediatrix” or “co-Redeemer”, which is clearly addressed in the Catechism.

I am rooting for FrJohnB and I hope that he can clear up any concerns here…

Catechism of the Catholic Church
**970 **“Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men . . . flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it.” “No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.”

**969 **“This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”

Thank you for your post.

Your thoughts?

Bravo Jimmy :clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[FrJohnB]

First, there is supposedly a problem with Catholics who “worship Mary”, which I have never witnessed and now, a problem with Catholics who supposedly pray the Rosary during Mass. I have seen people pray the Rosary before Mass… I’ve done that… and I’ve seen Catholics hold their Rosaries during Mass but I have never observed Catholics actually pray the Rosary during Mass.

 

[FrJohnB]

Get used to it in here, Father. After a while you might even be accused of not having enough faith in Christ or being a “cafeteria Catholic.” There are many labels and litmus tests abounding in CAF by people who disagree. It’s unfortunate. And often when you ask a question, you’ll get a socratic-style question to answer your question. Good times…

Times like these I remember Jesus’ words to the disciples, “if they persecute me they will persecute you too” and go on. I don’t know why we cannot agree do disagree rather than throw barbs at each other. The Pharisees did not agree with Jesus so they called him everything BUT a Jew. Not much has changed.

 

[benedictus2]

Hello KathleenGee:

Above you say “In God, all things are possible”…and yet when your faith falters you turn to Mary…even though, we are told throughout scripture whom to go too:

Colossians 2: 6-9

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philippians 4: 4 -7

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 5: 14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Yes we do turn to Jesus. Personally, I pray more directly to Jesus than asking for Mary’s intercession. But I think that is more due to complacency knowing that she prays for me all the time

The very first miracle that Jesus performed (the wedding at Cana) He performed due to Mary’s intercession.

Jesus’s says the matter had nothing to do with Him and that it is not yet His time.

Yet the very next paragraph just goes :His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” And Jesus performs the miracle.

Do you think Jesus was oblivious to the fact that the wine had ran short? No. He knows what is going on. He knows the worry of the parents and couple. Was He being insensitive. No. He wanted the events to pan out that way to show us that He is listens to Mary’s intercession.

That Mary’s intercession is powerful, is well documented. By God’s own will, He has allowed it to be so.

This is similar to Protestants gripe about the sacrament of confesssion insisting that God alone can forgive sins. Well, it was God’s will that apostles and their successors be given the power to do so.

As I have said time and time again, I find that most of the issues that protestants have with the Catholic Church has to do with Christ’s will.

 

[FrJohnB]

“Here is the problem with the Marian dogma”

What do you mean by “problem”? As a Roman Catholic, I don’t have a problem with Marian dogma…And, some here wonder why Catholics have questions for you… I can’t believe that I let this post pass without notice…

Once Again I was trying to explain this in response to a PROTESTANT in words that they would understand. If you had read subsequent post you too would get that before trying to make me out to be something I am not.

 

[benedictus2]

Times like these I remember Jesus’ words to the disciples, “if they persecute me they will persecute you too” and go on. I don’t know why we cannot agree do disagree rather than throw barbs at each other.

Do you really think that that is a good position: to agree to disagree.

If I were to say adultery is okay and you say adultery is wrong, can we just say let us agree to disagree?

The Pharisees did not agree with Jesus so they called him everything BUT a Jew. Not much has changed.

I don’t think it applies in this case Father. Jesus had authority as God and is Truth himself. Priests authority are through the Church. So as a priest, one must teach what the Church teaches.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Times like these I remember Jesus’ words to the disciples, “if they persecute me they will persecute you too” and go on. I don’t know why we cannot agree do disagree rather than throw barbs at each other. The Pharisees did not agree with Jesus so they called him everything BUT a Jew. Not much has changed.

Oh please, you’re not going to heaven because of me…How dare you!..give me a break…This is very insulting. I am NOT persecuting you because of your Christians beliefs… WE ARE BOTH CATHOLIC! I am simply responding to comments made by you to get some clarification. What’s wrong with you?

 

[Padrej]

Oh please, you’re not going to heaven because of me…How dare you!..give me a break…This is very insulting. I am NOT persecuting you because of your Christians beliefs… WE ARE BOTH CATHOLIC! I am simply responding to comments made by you to get some clarification. What’s wrong with you?

With all due respect I have seen the tone of how some have gone after Fr John on this forum and accused him of not being Catholic and as much as said he was Satan infiltrating this forum. I could see how some may take this as maybe sometimes he does not explain himself well, but at times neither do I. Would you like to be called any of the things that he has on this forum. Unfortunately the written word does not always come forth as well with emotion of anger or jest so sometimes things can be taken the wrong way.

 

[Saintlucy]

With all due respect I have seen the tone of how some have gone after Fr John on this forum and accused him of not being Catholic and as much as said he was Satan infiltrating this forum. I could see how some may take this as maybe sometimes he does not explain himself well, but at times neither do I. Would you like to be called any of the things that he has on this forum. Unfortunately the written word does not always come forth as well with emotion of anger or jest so sometimes things can be taken the wrong way.

As a Catholic priest, Fr John should make sure that he CAN explain himself on these forums; peoples’ immortal souls are at risk from heresy. If any of the priests in my parish questioned our devotion to our Lady (to my mind we don’t have enough) or said that our Lord had half-brothers of the blood, we would be straight on the phone to the Bishop’s secretary to make an appointment to see him about it.

 

[FrJohnB]

Oh please, you’re not going to heaven because of me…How dare you!..give me a break…This is very insulting. I am NOT persecuting you because of your Christians beliefs… WE ARE BOTH CATHOLIC! I am simply responding to comments made by you to get some clarification. What’s wrong with you?

I was responding to gurneyhalleck1 not you. I take it from your response and my wry humor that you may have felt a barb of guilt?
Nobody accused you directly of persecuting me. You asked for clarification and I gave it. There are others on this forum who have not been so charitable.

 

[FrJohnB]

Do you really think that that is a good position: to agree to disagree.

If I were to say adultery is okay and you say adultery is wrong, can we just say let us agree to disagree?

I don’t think it applies in this case Father. Jesus had authority as God and is Truth himself. Priests authority are through the Church. So as a priest, one must teach what the Church teaches.

Come on now you are taking my comments too far and into the ridiculous.

 

[Leeann]

so my friend, its not ok to ask you to pray for me? or anyone else for that matter? and no one should ask me to pray for them?

Did I say that?

… it is the same with going to Mary. we are simply asking her to intercede on our behalf with her Son. its no different than if we ask eachother for their support. when a Catholic says we believe in the communion of saints, it means that the Church in heaven, and the Church on earth are one. and we can ask those who have gone beyond., or like our Blessed Mother been assumed, to pray for us, and intercede. we have evidence from Hebrews and the book of revelation for this. peace to you and yours.

In relation to the post I was originally responding too…where fear and *lack of **faith *and not *‘seeing the fruit of their prayers’ *were the things standing out…what part of the scripture verses that I posted did you not understand?

I’ll post them again for you.

Colossians 2: 6-9

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

**Philippians 4: 4 -7 **

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
6 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 5: 14-15

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

[Teneas]

All priests are called toward different things for Christ, just as the rest of us are. Please, please, please be highly respectful to any clergy on these forums. While somethings may come as a shock, or even are typed out wrong, lost in translation, etc, they are still clergy. We are expected to always respect our Clergy, and never bash them. They are people to, and sometimes either make mistakes, or don’t come off as clearly as we would like. While priests can be wrong, perhaps a better option than opening telling them on the public forums is to send them a message under their profile?

Please be respectful to the fullest to our Clergy. We need them.

 

[FrJohnB]

As a Catholic priest, Fr John should make sure that he CAN explain himself on these forums; peoples’ immortal souls are at risk from heresy. If any of the priests in my parish questioned our devotion to our Lady (to my mind we don’t have enough) or said that our Lord had half-brothers of the blood, we would be straight on the phone to the Bishop’s secretary to make an appointment to see him about it.

I guess you did not see the CAF link that I put on here regarding the position on the church regarding as you say “Half-brothers.” It said that this is now the modern theologians way of looking at this. NOW are you going to tell me that this forum is guilty of heresy?

 

[Leeann]

Yes we do turn to Jesus. Personally, I pray more directly to Jesus than asking for Mary’s intercession. But I think that is more due to complacency knowing that she prays for me all the time

The very first miracle that Jesus performed (the wedding at Cana) He performed due to Mary’s intercession.

Really? You mean the people asked Mary to pray to Him - for them - as this is what I was responding too in my post - asking Mary for her intercession…

Jesus’s says the matter had nothing to do with Him and that it is not yet His time.