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:
we agree with what luther is right on and reject what he is wrong on, and to determine that we test his words by what the bible says.
that was made explicitly to John to physically take care of his mother. not as a fighurative claim/command to all christians that Mary was their mother.
darn right she was. and God used her in His plans anyway, just as he’s used all great saints and every other believer.
-— , I reject what the Roman Catholics have turned Mary into. ——
You mean, the Mother of God? That’s quite an exalted role in human history, isn’t it?
” My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”
i reject your own-worded description. i was clear in what i said. all your dogma about her is extra-biblical and unsupported.
Does she deserve more honor than Moses, Paul, John the baptist, King David or Daniel?
No...they will continue in Heaven
AMEN, 10 years ago we could almost have actual doctrinal discussions. Those days are over.
Unlike the Catholics and Mormons I see no reason to believe that humans will assume qualities of Deity like omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence.
We will have perfect bodies because they won't be tainted by sin but qualities of Deity? No...we will still be human.
Nice post and not snarky.
When you find Luther’s “Bible alone” theory in the Bible, let me know.
Until then, “if he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.”
And what if the “church” BECOMES the pagan or tax collector? Through NOT following the Bible alone as its sole authority, but inventing doctrines and traditions meant to strip the “faithful” of their time, money, and goods? We know we haven’t seen THAT before. Past, present, and future of the “church of man-made doctrines”.
There is only 1church, there are many flavors. As long as salvation through Christ alone is preached, it’s a Christian Church.
Of course we honor Mary. Same as we honor all the other children of God throughout the Bible, and each other. But we don’t worship them and put our trust in them for our salvation.
Papists think that if we don’t kneel before altars of Mary, offer incense and confess Mary as our savior, that we must not honor her. It’s the same reaction the old Pagans probably used to have if you didn’t worship their particular deity, but preferred maybe Jove or some other god to give your attention to.
“When you find Luther’s “Bible alone” theory in the Bible, let me know.”
Wow, you literally say this in every thread. Have you noticed that? I feel bad for Catholics. They’re so Bible-illiterate that they only have one or two catch phrases to use when they’re baiting Christians for not being idolaters just like them.
Before or after he rejected common Catholic heresies?
How is kneeling before her graven image, surrounded by candles and music, unabashedly praying to her, asking for favors & forgiveness & guidance, promising devotion, and declaring her perfection & power & worth, anything BUT worship?
“When you find Luther’s “Bible alone” theory in the Bible, let me know.”
You forgot “sola fide” and “sola gratia”. Meanwhile I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.
Why? Because it’s the Achilles heel of Protestantism.
Which Bible should we follow? The Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant Canon? “The Bible” can’t answer that question. The answer to that question requires an extra-biblical authority.
Similarly, it’s logically impossible for any passage in the Bible to refer to the entire Bible, because the books of the Bible weren’t collected until long after each of the books were written.
So Catholics find it ironic that Protestants criticize Catholic doctrines that aren’t explicitly stated in the Bible. even though Luther’s doctrine of “the Bible alone,” as the sole rule of faith, isn’t in the Bible.
You may not understand this argument, but that won’t prevent me from making it, when Protestants accuse Catholics of holding extra-biblical doctrines.
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