Why is it wrong to love Mary?

[2ndGen]

What about the Orthodox Christians?

Orthodox are about 300 million strong and they LOVE Mary as well. My friend is Orthodox.

I believe they have very minor differences (they don’t hold The Mother of God title for her or something like that), but other than that, you can’t tell an Orthodox apart from a Catholic.

 

[jkarp]

Orthodox are about 300 million strong and they LOVE Mary as well. My friend is Orthodox.

I believe they have very minor differences (they don’t hold The Mother of God title for her or something like that), but other than that, you can’t tell an Orthodox apart from a Catholic.

In fact, Orthodox have a very special title for Mary, Θεοτόκος or theotokos, which literally means God-bearer (Θεοs or *Theos, *which means God and τόκος, or tokos which means to give birth or to bear). I really feel that this is a beautiful title and use it frequently.

An example of the real differences between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic churches is commonly referred to as *filioque. *Basically, in the Roman Nicean Creed we say, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son . . . " The Orthodox church would say something like, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father through the Son . . . " I think basically we have both come to the conclusion that they don’t significantly mean different things. This is certainly not the only difference between us but I think it is a good illustration of the types of differences we have. One of the only real outward ways to tell us apart is that an Orthodox Christian will touch his/her right shoulder first when making the sign of the cross.

 

[2ndGen]

In fact, Orthodox have a very special title for Mary, Θεοτόκος or theotokos, which literally means God-bearer (Θεοs or *Theos, *which means God and τόκος, or tokos which means to give birth or to bear). I really feel that this is a beautiful title and use it frequently.

An example of the real differences between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholic churches is commonly referred to as *filioque. *Basically, in the Roman Nicean Creed we say, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son . . . " The Orthodox church would say something like, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father through the Son . . . " I think basically we have both come to the conclusion that they don’t significantly mean different things. This is certainly not the only difference between us but I think it is a good illustration of the types of differences we have. One of the only real outward ways to tell us apart is that an Orthodox Christian will touch his/her right shoulder first when making the sign of the cross.

I love how The Catechism puts it in 838…

“…With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound
“that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.””

 

[jkarp]

I love how The Catechism puts it in 838…

“…With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound
“that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.””

Excellent reference!

 

[Goth_Catholic]

The Orthodex are the ones from which the title Theotokos (God-Bearer) came from. They don’t belive she was immactulately concieved.

 

[cascherman]

Man guys, what is with the baiting threads lately?

I’m Catholic and I don’t think a thread called “Why is it wrong to love Mary” is appropriate. I’ll tell you why.

First off, you are assuming that protestants do not love Mary.

I think the problem most protestants have is they view Catholic’s devotion to Mary as worship. They have a problem with worshiping Mary. Now do not get me wrong, I do not believe Christian devotion to Mary is worship in the slightest, but many of them do. I think that is as far as their concern goes.

Secondly, this is a Catholic forum. We Catholics are at home here. I think starting a thread with a false generalization by a Catholic directed at protestants in general is not being good hosts in our home.

Let me sum up, I have never heard a protestant tell me not to love Mary. I have never heard a protestant tell me to hate Mary or that they hate Mary. So, I do not believe this thread is in good taste.

Your poem/letter was good.

 

[2ndGen]

First off, you are assuming that protestants do not love Mary.

 

[jkarp]

Secondly, this is a Catholic forum. We Catholics are at home here. I think starting a thread with a false generalization by a Catholic directed at protestants in general is not being good hosts in our home.

Actually this is a Catholic website, you are currently in a forum titled, “Non-Catholic Religions.” A simple query asking why one believes in a certain way is hardly inappropriate.

Let me sum up, I have never heard a protestant tell me not to love Mary. I have never heard a protestant tell me to hate Mary or that they hate Mary. So, I do not believe this thread is in good taste.

There is a difference between hating and withholding love, or not loving to the fullest extent. While I have never had a protestant tell me to hate Mary, I have had many tell me that it is inappropriate to place any amount importance on her. Marginalizing the Mother of our Lord is just as wrong as hating her.

 

[2ndGen]

Actually this is a Catholic website, you are currently in a forum titled, “Non-Catholic Religions”.

 

[cascherman]

I’m not going to argue with you guys about this.

Plain and simple, I got the impression that this thread is falsely generalizing that protestants don’t love Mary and think it is wrong for us to. It is full of protestant stereotypes, leaving no protestant out the the ‘Hate Mary club’.

If I am wrong and there is some great populace of people that don’t think it is right to love Mary, let them speak. It would be my first time hearing that.

Or you guys could show me a post or two, but I’ve never seen it.

 

[cascherman]

Actually this is a Catholic website, you are currently in a forum titled, “Non-Catholic Religions.” A simple query asking why one believes in a certain way is hardly inappropriate.

Ah OK, I’m understanding now that there is no need to actually attempt to not wrongly stereotype an entire group of people… Fair enough… because we are in a forum called non-Catholic religions.



… real funny

 

[2ndGen]

I’m not going to argue with you guys about this.

Plain and simple, I got the impression that this thread is falsely generalizing that protestants don’t love Mary and think it is wrong for us to. It is full of protestant stereotypes, leaving no protestant out the the ‘Hate Mary club’.

If I am wrong and there is some great populace of people that don’t think it is right to love Mary, let them speak. It would be my first time hearing that.

Or you guys could show me a post or two, but I’ve never seen it.

Go to my thread on “Loving Mary…”

 

[cascherman]

Go to my thread on “Loving Mary…”

With a quick skim of the thread I found nothing that says it is wrong to love Mary.

 

[Jimmy_B]

Man guys, what is with the baiting threads lately?

I’m Catholic and I don’t think a thread called “Why is it wrong to love Mary” is appropriate…Your poem/letter was good.

Hello casherman and thank you for your comments.

My Response:

“Guilty as charge, you honor”

You are right, some of theses Catholic bashing, and Mary bashing “Protestants” get me worked up (this applies a very small percentage here at CAF) and my “Defender of the Catholic Faith” side comes out in me and at times I am not as charitable or humble as I should be.

I always pray for humility, please pray for me.

However casherman, if read my second post here (which you have indicated that you have) and my “Letter to Mary” you will see that this thread was well intended and more a reflection of my Love for Mary and not a reflection of my frustration, at times, with my “Protestant” friends.

May God Bless you; and on that note, I have to get ready for Mass…

Jimmy

 

[Jimmy_B]

**

My letter (prayer) to Mary

*Dear Mary,

You are the Mother of God and my mother too. You were the perfect Mother and the perfect disciple. Mary, you were the one chosen (handpicked) by God from all time and all woman to be the Mother of God.

You are the precious vessel and the way my Lord entered the world.

You have always done the “will of our heavenly Father” and are by Jesus’ definition, His “brother, and sister, and mother” (His loyal servant, follower and disciple).

Please pray for me that I may always be a loyal follower of your Son, as you are. You have shown me how to Love your Son.

You are the Mother of God and Jesus’ disciple. You are the only person who ever lived that was with Jesus from the beginning, until the end at the foot of His cross.

You held the baby Jesus in your arms, loving Him and protecting Him, never letting Him go, until he was taken from you at the Cross. You never denied him or left Him. You remained quite because you knew that you would have to suffer so that the rest of mankind might be saved.

You were there in the upper room during Pentecost!

As for your name in scripture, there exists not a single word against you. There is no finer example of a person who has completely surrendered himself to the will of God, as you Mary.

You were truly, madly in love with your Son Jesus and who from the beginning; you knew He was “God with us”. Your perfect expression of surrender, “May it be done to me according to your word” is the source of my strength.

Mary, you kept many things in your heart and reflected on them, you truly knew the Lord before any of the apostles and He knew you.

When you brought the baby Jesus to Simeon, His destiny was revealed to you; before any other disciples knew, you knew!

“A sword pierced your own heart, so that the thoughts of many hearts would be known”. I can only imagine how you suffered and the strength you must have needed to continue on to the very end, to the foot of the cross.

I love you Mary, thank you.

You encouraged Him at the wedding at Cana, the point in which your Son Jesus and our Lord began His ministry, you sad, “do as He says”, may these words always be a reminder to me to, “do as He says”

You loved Jesus with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind and all of your strength. Has there been anyone as devoted to my Lord, as you? Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you, you are blessed among all women and all generation will consider you blessed. You have been reunited with your Lord, how sweet that must be. Mary, my mother, please pray for me that the Lord have mercy on me a sinner and that one day I can come home to the Lord.

Thank you Mary and pray for me that I may always think of your great example of love, sacrifice and surrender. One cannot think about you, Mary without thinking about your son Jesus. I am madly in love with you and I am madly in love with your son, my lord Jesus Christ. May my focus allows be on Christ, as you were always focused on Him.

Your son and Christ’s loyal follower,*

Jimmy
**

 

[cascherman]

Hello casherman and thank you for your comments.

My Response:

“Guilty as charge, you honor”

You are right, some of theses Catholic bashing, and Mary bashing “Protestants” get me worked up (this applies a very small percentage here at CAF) and my “Defender of the Catholic Faith” side comes out in me and at times I am not as charitable or humble as I should be.

I always pray for humility, please pray for me.

However casherman, if read my second post here (which you have indicated that you have) and my “Letter to Mary” you will see that this thread was well intended and more a reflection of my Love for Mary and not a reflection of my frustration, at times, with my “Protestant” friends.

May God Bless you; and on that note, I have to get ready for Mass…

Jimmy

What I said was not directed at you alone. I myself do it a lot. And I understand the Catholic defender side, but then I have to take a breath and remember that my greatest friends are Lutheran, and have amazing hearts for Jesus. I would never hear anything that is commonly generalized about protestants from those guys and they are about the most charitable people I know.

BTW, Jimmy, your humility is amazing.

Maybe I’m just venting in general about protestant generalization. I was a protestant a year ago.

 

[2ndGen]

With a quick skim of the thread I found nothing that says it is wrong to love Mary.

If you would’ve read my post, you would’ve seen my story at the horrible things that Protestants have said about Mary to me.

They seem to obsess on her sexual life post Christ digging deep into scripture to try to find proof that she had intercourse.

It’s disgusting what they’ve said to me regarding her. All they do when they say these things is put themselves farther outside of The Body of Christ.

That’s a small vocal group, but they are easily the most vocal group. Fact is, in my thread, the Protestants there spent more time attacking Mary’s reputation for being Immaculately Conceived and in trying to lower her down to their own states of life, than they did in proclaiming their love for her.

I’d say that they spent 1% of their text diminishing Mary in Christian belief instead of exalting her as the overwhelming majority of Christians (94%) do (as well as The Muslims).

What you’ve experienced is nice, but what I’ve experienced was not nice.

I, like Jimmy, am a “Momma’s Boy”.

So we definately get defensive and there are some persons worth me spending a couple of years in purgatory for (so long as I’ve planted the seed of Mary’s true place of honor in The Christian Heart).

 

[Righteousone]

I do disagree with my fellow Catholic who presumed to think Protestants don’t love Mary.

Well, I agree with my fellow Catholic because I have spoken to many Protestants, MANY who say “Mary was just a conceiver”, that there is NO LOVE for her and why should they. They LIKE her they say. If they LOVED her, there would be more of a devotion toward our Blessed Mother (she should never be called just “Mary”.) For she is much greater than that name.

 

[jkarp]

Ah OK, I’m understanding now that there is no need to actually attempt to not wrongly stereotype an entire group of people… Fair enough… because we are in a forum called non-Catholic religions.



… real funny

Wow. Where in the OP does it stereotype an entire group of people?

BTW - sarcasm doesn’t really translate to written text, one generally ends up appearing snide and just plain rude.

 

[2ndGen]

Wow. Where in the OP does it stereotype an entire group of people?

BTW - sarcasm doesn’t really translate to written text, one generally ends up appearing snide and just plain rude.

Thanks J.

And Manny, I never said all Protestants.

Anyone can reasonably deduce that there are acceptions.

But when the majority of a religion states something,
then it can be accepted as their collective belief.

It’s just a sad fact that the overwhelming majority of Protestants do “not” love Mary.