[Jaysun]

God Bless you, the Catholics. I myself am not one but I recognize your role as essential to our cause and would only caution against the over deification of Mary.

Anyway, we are brothers in Christ. Let us continue the good fight as we've been commanded.

[Titanites]

God Bless you, the Catholics. I myself am not one but I recognize your role as essential to our cause and would only caution against the over deification of Mary.

Nice sentiments, but why do you have to bring up Mary? This thread is about the Apostle's Creed.

[Fudd Fan]

Thanks for your kind thoughts.

Just want to say though, that Mary is not deified. She intercedes for us and we pray to God through her.

God bless.

[Mad Dawg]

I think you have Mary confused with my mother-in-law. I would caution her against deifying herself, but I'm afraid of her. (Only kidding. My MIL is a great woman of prayer and I have no hesitation in asking her to pray for me. I also have no hesitation in asking Mary to pray for me. She is also a great woman of prayer -- possibly even greater than my mother-in-law, though I'm not going to say that, not too loudly anyway)

Mary is not a god or goddess. She's a great saint. Our Lord talks about the psalm which says,"You are gods," and it is certain that great saints, those who show forth most fully what God intended for each of us, at least in some degree, could be confused with a diety.

But, nope: Only one God. A bunch of angels, one of whom is rooting for me in a special way, and then the blessed. And yes, I ask the angels and the blessed (and some of them more than others) if they wouldn't mind rooting for me. And I do so because I am confident that the God whose Son described what He had to offer in terms of overflowing abundance -- shaken down, pressed together, running over -- told me so because He wanted me to take heart, to know that HE and not He alone (which would certainly be MORE than enough!) but a great heavenly host are cheering for me, wincing when I fall, yelling all the louder when I stagger to my feet, yelling themselves hoarse, exchanging high fives, waiting with eager longing for me to finish the race and join as partners with them and even with God, El Shaddai, the great and terrible, Lord of Armies, as we struggle to the best of our ability to haul, to cheer, and encourage, and when needed, rebuke and scold, our brothers and sisters into the kingdom.

Nope, not a diety, but a remarkable woman who shines like a light, but still only reflects (or maybe refracts, like a lens) the dazzling light of Him who overwhelms the darkness and sends it, chagrined and ashamed, scurrying off vainly looking for a place to hide from His Love.

Nope, not a diety at all. But it's time for my to pray my rosary.

[baa39]

Here is the entirety of the Church's teaching on Mary, called the Four Marian Dogmas. Note nothing about deification.

Immaculate Conception - conceived without original sin.
Bible, Angel Gabriel, "Hail Mary full of Grace", and confirmed by revealed truth, and ultimately by Mary herself at Lourdes.

Virgin Birth - again, scriptural and verified by revealed truth.

Mother of God - that's a pretty darn good reason to hold her in very high esteem!

Assumption into Heaven - where she now resides as Queen of Heaven.



LITANY of LORETO


Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.

Mother of divine grace, pray for us.

Mother most pure, pray for us.

Mother most chaste, pray for us.

Mother inviolate, pray for us.

Mother undefiled, pray for us.

Mother most amiable, pray for us.

Mother most admirable, pray for us.

Mother of good counsel, pray for us.

Mother of our Creator, pray for us.

Mother of our Savior, pray for us.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us.

Virgin most venerable, pray for us.

Virgin most renouned, pray for us.

Virgin most powerful, pray for us.

Virgin most merciful, pray for us.

Virgin most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of justice, pray for us.

Seat of wisdom, pray for us.

Cause of our joy, pray for us.

Spiritual vessel, pray for us.

Vessel of honor, pray for us.

Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.

Mystical rose, pray for us.

Tower of David, pray for us.

Tower of ivory, pray for us.

House of gold, pray for us.

Ark of the covenant, pray for us.

Gate of heaven, pray for us.

Morning star, pray for us.

Health of the sick, pray for us.

Refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.

Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of Angels, pray for us.

Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.

Queen of Prophets, pray for us.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Queen of Confessors, pray for us.

Queen of Virgins, pray for us.

Queen of all Saints, pray for us.

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us O Lord

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.