Posted on 10/15/2013 3:21:28 PM PDT by NYer
Most of us who are Catholics eventually get asked, “Why do you Catholics worship Mary?” More often than not the question is not a real question it is a rhetorical question. For a few of you who might not know what is meant by the expression “rhetorical question,” it refers to a “question” whose purpose is not to seek an answer, but, rather, to make a (usually hostile) point. For example the expression “Who do you think you are!?” is in the form of a question but it does not seek an answer. Instead it is meant as a rebuke. And so it usually is when we Catholics get asked the “question” Why do you worship Mary?” we’re usually aware that it is not a sincere question seeking a sincere answer. However, for those cases where an answer really is sought I might propose the following approach:
“Well, of course we don’t worship Mary since that would be a terrible sin. Worship belongs to God alone. We DO honor her though. Afterall, she is Jesus’ mother. But let me ask you a question. Why in your church, do you NOT honor Mary at all? Doesn’t scripture say Every generation will call [Mary] blessed because God who is mighty has done great things for [her]? (Luke 1:48-49) It seems to me that we Catholics are fulfilling scripture but that in your denomination you are not fulfilling or following it. So why don’t you honor her at all? Why don’t you call her blessed as the Bible says?”
Now stop there and wait for an answer. Don’t keep going. Just stop and wait. Have them answer for a change. We Catholics are always on the defensive, always in answer mode. But we ought to ask a few questions too. And try to avoid a merely rhetorical or hostile tone. Try to allow this question to be genuine, respectful, one meant to provoke thought. It is possible that many Protestants have never been asked this question or pondered an answer. Now it is also possible that your interlocutor will try to change the subject or evade an answer by piling on about Catholics but just repeat the question respectfully and ask for an answer. Remember your point is not to argue, be hostile or win an argument. Your point is to provoke thought and get a real answer. And even if the conversation ends badly or with no answer, you’ve planted a seed, a question that they will ponder even if they don’t admit it. Jesus often asked questions to proke thought and conversion. I will be doing a post on this next week.
A final thought on Mary. Another way to explain out devotion and love for Mary is that we are imitating Jesus. We love, honor, respect and entrust ourselves to her care because Jesus did all these things and we want to be just like Jesus. Consider that the very Son of God, dwelled in Mary’s womb, nursed at her breasts, was held in her arms, sat on her lap and entrusted himself to her care. Our Lord could have chosen to enter our world in other ways. Perhaps He could simply have entered the world as a full grown man. The fact is that He freely chose Mary to be his mother and he was truly her Son. As her son he loved and honored her as any good son must and as her son he entrusted himself to her care. All of this serves to highlight Mary’s dignity and to show us how devotion to her is in perfect imitation of Jesus himself.
What more need we say: Jesus our Lord and God honors and loves Mary, and his very scriptures sing her praises; so too His Angel Gabriel and countless saints. When we honor Mary we imitate the very Son of God and fulfill Holy Scripture. Certainly our Lord is pleased that we love and honor his mother.
Here’s a little viseo I recently put together. The Music is from the Daughters of St Paul, “I Am Thine” from the Handmaiden of the Lord Album:
Just wait, you’ll be accused of defending pedophiles any minute now. I’m not even a Catholic and I got smeared.
My question is why do these religion threads always turn into a snark-fest? Riddle me that. Then look internally.
Good question. I keep searching for God — but when I come to Free Republic all I find is infighting and claims of doctrinal purity. Who can be right when everyone is wrong? No wonder conservatives can’t win.
This fighting on doctrinal issues is not helping. He said: “Go and find out what this means, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
And Hosea also included: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Although it says in Luke that Mary is blessed, Jesus also said the weak in spirit, the meek, the peacemakers,the persecuted, the pure of heart, the merciful, those who mourn, and those who thirst for righteousness are blessed as well. It seems, by definition, Mary belongs to a pretty big group. How does one member of this class get elevated above others? Are some more blessed than others?
She is an important figure without doubt, as Abraham and Moses are. I’m not sure why anyone would pray to her.
She was a human, not a deity, not even an angel. Praying to her would have no more effect than praying to Moses. They were human, and have passed into the blessed eternity. They’re beyond us now.
Honor and worship have two different meanings...but you already know that..
There is nothing wrong teaching a sermon about Mary on Mothers day...
So, you are suggesting that perhaps he should never have posted his theses on the cathedral door? Or, is that a mistake with which you agree? Cafeteria Protestantism.
Yeah, I wouldn’t search for God among all this conflict, although occasionally on FR, a genuinely good theological debate occurs.
A very nice, sterile and theological statement.
Do you believe in the communion of believers (saints)...??
Both living AND dead (which means passed into the unseen)...??
If yes, then does Mary qualify as part of the unseen body of believers??
Is she worthy of communion by the living, especially because she bore the living Christ....??
“Or, is that a mistake with which you agree? Cafeteria Protestantism.”
Is your Pope infallible in all he does and everything he utters? Or are you applying a higher standard to Martin Luther than you do the Pope?
Whether she was worthy or not, it’s not Scriptural.
That’s my point. I respect your belief in that you believe she should be venerated, bit it’s not taught in the Bible.
Mary is not omniscient. She cannot hear the prayers of all the people praying/speaking to her because she is only human.
But you “honor” her by violating the 2nd Commandment.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
The Bible tells us “Then He said to the disciple. “Behold they mother!” John 19:27. That is sufficient.
What do they believe?
“It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary’s soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God’s gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin” - Martin Luther’s Sermon “On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God,” 1527.
Martin Luther was a roman catholic priest.. took him a lifetime to get de-programmed.. and he was only partially successful..
Never met her. Hope she was a nice lady. Don’t expect to ever meet her.
Mary was a product of a regular conception as the regular blessed person she was.
The audacity of this statement is astonishing. You have no idea what someone can or cannot hear once she has passed from this world into the next.
The Cross bore the living Christ. I don’t think that would be enough for it to cure a woman with a disease, as was reported when Helen, mother of Constantine, went to Palestine, and had various relics dug up for her.
Even if they found the right one rather than burying some fakes for her to find.
Well, apparently, that distinction is not working, because I was solidly in the "news" forum and don't have the slightest interest in religion.
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