Pope Francis: Mary’s faith unties the knot of sin

Vatican Radio ^ | 2013-10-12 19:56:29 | Vatican Radio

[haffast]

(Vatican Radio) Thousands of pilgrims were in Saint Peter’s Square Saturday evening to join Pope Francis in venerating the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

The statue made its journey to Rome as the celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady Fatima, which is October 13. Pope Francis will preside over Mass on Sunday morning, and the recitation of the Rosary before the statue. He will then consecrate the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart.

During the evening’s event, the Pope welcomed the statue, which was processed through Saint Peter’s Square, and led the faithful in reciting the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The Holy Father then offered a reflection which focused on the Blessed Mother’s faith, explaining that her “faith unties the knot of sin.” Sin, he says, is “is a kind of knot created deep within us,” and these knots “take away our peace and serenity.” It was Mary’s “yes” which “opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience.”

She is “the mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God so that he can untangle the knots of our soul by his fatherly mercy.”

The Pope also reflected on how it was Mary’s faith that “gave flesh to Jesus.”

Believing in the Incarnation, Pope Francis continued, “means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst.”

The Holy Father then reflected on Mary’s faith as a journey, saying how “she precedes us on this pilgrimage, she accompanies and sustains us.”

To say that her faith is a journey is to say that “her entire life was to follow her Son.” Mary understood that the journey of the faith passes through the Cross, from the time Herod sought to kill the newborn Jesus until his passion and death on the Cross.

“And when she received word that the tomb was empty, her heart was filled with the joy of faith: Christian faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis concluded his address by turning to the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, saying: “we thank you for our faith, and we renew our entrustment to you, Mother of our faith.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s report: RealAudio - MP3

Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/10/12/pope_francis:_mary%E2%80%99s_faith_unties_the_knot_of_sin/en1-736875 of the Vatican Radio website

[haffast]

Pope Francis: Say Yes to God like Mary
2013-10-13 15:17:09
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/10/13/pope_francis:_say_yes_to_god_like_mary/en1-736976

Pope consecrates world to immaculate heart of Mary
2013-10-13 14:03:48
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/10/13/pope_consecrates_world_to_immaculate_heart_of_mary_/en1-736956

Pope Francis speaks about the Faith of Mary
2013-10-12 19:56:29
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/10/12/pope_francis_speaks_about_the_faith_of_mary/en1-736753

Fatima: the story of 'the miracle of the sun'
2013-10-12 09:00:52
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/10/11/fatima:_the_story_of_the_miracle_of_the_sun/en1-736395

POPE FRANCIS TO WELCOME THE ORIGINAL STATUE OF THE VIRGIN OF FATIMA ON SATURDAY 10/12/2013

"The bullet which struck Blessed John Paul II in the assassination attempt of13 May 1981, is set into the crown of the statue."
https://deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/pope-francis-to-welcome-the-original-statue-of-the-virgin-of-fatima-on-saturday-10122013/

Mariology of the popes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariology_of_the_popes

Roman Catholic Mariology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Mariology

Glorifying the flesh rather than the unseen Spirit that "overshadows" the flesh.

Is prayer to saints or Mary biblical?
http://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-saints-Mary.html

Is worship of saints / Mary biblical?
http://www.gotquestions.org/worship-saints-Mary.html

Catholic Questions Answered
http://www.gotquestions.org/Catholic-questions.html

May You Be More Blessed
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+20%3A25-29&version=NIV

[RansomOttawa]

He will then consecrate the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart.

Is it possible to opt out, or is this kind of like 0bamacare?

[Bulwyf]

You can opt out and choose Jesus Christ for your personal savior. Beyond that, the worship of images and people is a sure way to find the wrong end of the stick come the day. God loves us so much the he sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. That was the only sacrifice needed to give us the gift of eternal salvation. No amount of repetitive prayers or being good, or paying money to reduce time in purgatory will change anything. You either accept Christ, or you can indulge in one of the world’s many false religions.

The bible gives very clear answers on this. I highly suggest getting any truths one needs from God’s word.

[Gamecock]

In the above Mary is cited 7 times. Jesus 3.

Just sayin’.

[onedoug]

Deuteronomy 4:19 and Malachi 1:11.

[fwdude]

There are also countless shrines to Mary worldwide, but only one to Christ.

[Campion]

You can opt out and choose Jesus Christ for your personal savior.

Why would one "opt out" of emulating Mary's faith and obedience to God? The only "opt out" of "let it be done unto me according to thy word" is "I shall not serve". You'll recall that those are the words Milton places in the devil's mouth.

[Campion]

Nonsense.

[Bulwyf]

Faith is a great thing to have and do. Praying to dead people is not something we as Christians do. Nor is image worship. That’s just bible 101 stuff.

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving folks. At least in Canada it is.

[frogjerk]

Praying to dead people is not something we as Christians do

Who's praying to dead people? I thought the Saints and Angels are alive.

[DWar]

Sola scriptura
Sola fide
Sola gratia
Solo Cristo
Soli Deo Gloria

[Campion]

Praying to dead people

People in heaven aren't dead. People in sin are dead. That's bible 101 stuff, too.

[donmeaker]

I suppose that the question is when folks go to heaven.

Is there a period of rest before “the dead in Christ will rise” or are the faithful dead to go directly to heaven?

To me the scriptures are unclear because they contradict.

Doubtless all will become clear in time.

[Bulwyf]

*facepalm* I’m a saint, and I’m alive, you’re correct. All Christians are saints.

[GeronL]

idolatry and human worship

[GeronL]

Jesus might have been mentioned 3 times, as an after thought

[fwdude]

What part of my statement is nonsense?

[coincheck]

Where do the scriptures contradict? Just curious.

[Campion]

Every Catholic Church is a “shrine to Jesus,” and plenty of them are explicitly named after events in his life or theological truths about him ... like the cathedral church of my own diocese, for example.

[Just mythoughts]

Is it possible to opt out, or is this kind of like 0bamacare?

It is Obamacare the bishops saw to it. The former pope preached 'universal healthcare'. Just wait Mary is going to show up and her face will be all over the demand to make illegals legal. And the catholics will swooooon.... Hail Mary..... Mary is now the face of TAX THEM!!!!! Jesus is still hanging on that cross in every catholic church I have ever been in. Mary is the one dancing around in control.

[fwdude]

A quick search listed these Catholic Churches in my city:

Saint Andrew Catholic Church
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Holy Trinity Catholic Community
Our Mother-Mercy Catholic School
All Saints Catholic Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
St Mary's Catholic Church
St George Catholic Church
St Augustine Catholic Church
St Rita's Catholic Church
Our Lady-Fatima Catholic Church
Christ the King Catholic Church
Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School
San Mateo Catholic Church

I guess one in the bunch isn't bad.

[fwdude]

Jesus is still hanging on that cross in every catholic church I have ever been in. Mary is the one dancing around in control.

Or she's controlling Him in her lap as the perpetual helpless infant.

[Just mythoughts]

Or she's controlling Him in her lap as the perpetual helpless infant.

Well I sure do not blame Mary, she did her Godly deed. But this Mary devotion borders on lunacy. Catholic churches give me the creeps, there is so much clutter in them making Mary their 'queen of heaven'. Anyone can read what we were told about the literal time Christ spent on this earth in a flesh body and there is not one ounce of similarity in His example and what goes for holy rituals these days.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I used to be just like you. Maybe more antiMary. Then I studied the history of Western Civ and the Church.

[Just mythoughts]

I used to be just like you. Maybe more antiMary. Then I studied the history of Western Civ and the Church.

Mary is not the issue. She was chosen to bring forth God With US in a flesh body. No more no less. No flesh man had any part in the conception and birth of Christ the Savior.

Christ was God WITH US in the flesh, and He and only HE is the Savior. God created all souls/spirit intellect. These souls/spirit intellect are called His children. God did not raise up one of His own creation, child and make her coequal. Christ sits on the Right hand of God and while no doubt Mary earned her reward, she simply plays no role in who gets saved and whose prayers get heard and answered.

[tbpiper]

Here in Florida, we have the “Mary, Queen of the Universe” shirne for all the Catholic toursit in the Orlando area. Just from the name, it seems to be all about Mary and only incidentally about Jesus. “Queen of the Universe” seems to be a rather grandiose offshoot of the more typical “Mary Queen of Heaven”, The problem with that is that the only biblical mention of a “Queen of Heaven” is in Jeremiah and it’s not at all falltering. With Jesus being King of Kings and Lord of Lords there’s no real need for a queen.

[Amendment10]

[what's up]

The Pope also reflected on how it was Mary’s faith that “gave flesh to Jesus.”

No...God chose Mary. Just as He chose Abraham, David, Jonah.

His will would have been done regardless of Mary's reaction. Same with the others.

[donmeaker]

Compare accounts of Holy Week, day by day, just to start.

Compare accounts of the 10 Commandments in various places.

Consider the prophesy that revelations’the dead in Christ will rise’ compared to the Matt 27:52 account that dead had already risen.

[donmeaker]

Constantine as emperor seemed to be ok with his mother investigating the Christian religious sites. She wasn’t a queen, but she got a lot of the pilgrimage sites onto a lucrative path.

Egypt is probably the worlds record holder for a tourist attraction continuously operating in the same location.

Stonehenge might give it a bit of competition though.

[Mercat]

Or my personal favorite, “Do whatever he tells you.”

[Mercat]

Mary, Abraham, David, and Jonah, all had to say “yes.” And working through them is God’s will.

[what's up]

Mary, Abraham, David, and Jonah, all had to say “yes.”

All saints have to say yes if confronted with God's irresistible grace.

God always has His way; it's not dependent on our assent.

Mary's assent is not what decided God's plan. She is not sinless, the author of our salvation, or the queen of Heaven. She was a fallen person saved by grace.

[GeronL]

Christianity doesn’t have a queen

[what's up]

That’s right.

[Mercat]

Well, actually she is the Immaculate Conception, the new Eve, the way God intended all humanity to be. And Adam and Eve did not exactly say “yes” to God’s plan. I’m surprised it took this long to get a response on this thread.

I’m not looking for a fight. C.S. Lewis, a non-Catholic, said that he stayed away from discussing Mary because it’s a bit like trying to talk someone into admitting that his/her mother is flawed. Not really a good way to have a civil conversation. I read his Mere Christianity about once a year. I recommend it.

[Mercat]

And how do you explain her cousin Elizabeth’s greeting? How is she “full of grace?” Did God just shop around for a nice virgin, good looking, quiet, good family, with a compliant fiancé? Hmm... guess I’ll pick that one. OK Gabriel, do your thing. Oh, that’s right, he tells her she’s full of grace too.

And why did Jesus on the cross tell John, “Behold your mother.” I’m guessing John already had a mother. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother. But if its your faith telling you that she was just a convenient womb, go for it.

[narses]

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[what's up]

Well, actually she is the Immaculate Conception, the new Eve, the way God intended all humanity to be

No...none are true.

Jesus was conceived immaculately. Mary was a saintly woman just as Abraham, David, Isaiah were saintly men.

But saintliness (obeying God by His grace) does not equate to being immaculately conceived.

because it’s a bit like trying to talk someone into admitting that his/her mother is flawed

I like Lewis, but it's not the same simply because Mary's not our mother.

[workerbee]

Catholic churches give me the creeps, there is so much clutter in them making Mary their 'queen of heaven'. Anyone can read what we were told about the literal time Christ spent on this earth in a flesh body and there is not one ounce of similarity in His example and what goes for holy rituals these days.

Oh please, get over yourself. Based on this nonsensical rant, I can tell you've spent NO time in Catholic churches. You've never attended a Mass, for sure.

[Mercat]

Common error. A lot of what Protestants believe is sort of a shadow of the Catholic Church but they don’t know it. Frequently when I’m listening to the local Christian radios, they are preaching on what is right now on the Catholic liturgical calendar. People think that the Immaculate Conception is some sort of biblical thing that applies to Jesus. haha. wrong. Look it up. As to what is and is not true, haha again, we can stay up all night saying yes, no, not true, true. Neither of us will convince the other. I’m going to bed.

[workerbee]

But they’re like Democrats, Mercat. The facts don’t matter to them, it’s their belief that “saves” them.

[Mercat]

That is I’m going to bed after I pray to Mary and the entire Communion of Saints including my parents and brother. I’m pretty sure my in laws are still struggling through Purgatory so I will pray for them but not to them. Oh, and I’ll probably find some time to worship and adore my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He’ll be the happy one in the middle of the entire bunch....

[what's up]

The facts don’t matter to them, it’s their belief that “saves” them.

Didn't Jesus say "your faith has saved you?"

[what's up]

People think that the Immaculate Conception is some sort of biblical thing that applies to Jesus

On the contrary...I am aware that the phrase applies to what the Catholic church believes about Mary.

However...Jesus is the only one of whom the term "immaculate" should be used.

Mary was not immaculate. Saying "yes" to God does not make one perfect. It only means you were granted faith to obey.

[workerbee]

Well, he sure did. So go on and keep “sinning boldly!”

[what's up]

Well, he sure did

Thank you. The poster above seems to be cynical of the idea but Jesus did indeed say belief saves.

[HiTech RedNeck]

A Christ on a cross is OK, but that’s only half the story. Christ on the cross took care of the deficit of our sins. The other half is the risen Christ which is where the hyper part of the hyperniken power comes from. (For similar reasons I am not very enthused by the Baptist hymn “Power In The Blood.” OK, my sins are gone but now what?)

Anyhow, the power the traditional Catholics seem to think is coming from the cross and somehow earned by their suffering... which misunderstanding complicates their salvation experience more than it needs to be — actually comes from the risen Christ. They’ve theologized away the tetelosthai. Jesus was a redneck carpenter, though. He got-r-done with His blood to rebuild our souls from sin.

Still... if they’ve believed on Christ for personal salvation they are Christians. What’s bigger, sin or the promised completed grace of God? A ludicrous question. Christ is no more thrown off stride by saved Catholics than by any other stumbling Christian. The perfect plan works to a perfect end in all cases.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I think that’s a misrepresentation of Luther’s intent here. This was what to do in case of uncertainty and it meant to take the risk (I would add, of love to God) rather than worry about it, and trust the Lord to guide you to get it right.

[HiTech RedNeck]

of love to God => in love to God