It is really rude for people to come into these devotional threads and trash our faith. This wasn't a theological debate, but Rosary was starting a celebration of a major religious feast day.
So, instead of being able to celebrate our faith, these people think they have to troll us. It makes it very difficult for us to say anything devotional when this happens.
This is like racism. It's religious bigotry.
I understand that the rosary is not Biblical.
The Bible doesn't say much about Mary. The last record of her speaking was her counsel to the servants at the feast at Cana at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry:
"Whatever he says to you, do it." (meaning what ever is Biblical.)
Moreover Mary teaches us about salvation that we should look unto God alone, for she did not trust in herself.
The last time she is mentioned in the Biblical narrative is in the opening chapter of Acts where she is found praying with the disciples before the coming of the Holy Spirit. From then on, the Bible is silent about the rest of her life and about her death.
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
God Bless
No, Blessed Mary wasn't special! She was just picked out of how many billions of women to be the vessel of our Salvation. Billions upon billions, yet she merits no consideration beyond the consideration one would give to a stranger. Blessed Mary gave back what Eve took away. No! No future generations will call her blessed, you'd think that was Scriptural or something!
Now that I've got that off my chest, I wonder if anyone remembers Leonard Cohen's Song of Bernadette? This song is part of Jennifer Warnes' Famous Blue Raincoat CD. It's simple and beautiful, and I really love it.
There was a child named Bernadette
I heard the story long ago
She saw the Queen of Heaven once
and kept the vision in her soul
No one believed what she had seen
no one believed what she had heard
that there were sorrows to be healed
and mercy, mercy in this world
So many hearts I find
broke like yours and mine
torn by what we've done and can't undo
I just want to hold you
won't you let me hold you
like Bernadette would do
We've been around, we fall, we fly
we mostly fall, we mostly run
and every now and then we try
to mend the damage that we've done
Tonight, tonight I just can't rest
I've got this joy here inside my breast
to think that I did not forget
that child, that Song of Bernadette
So many hearts I find
broke like yours and mine
torn by what we've done and can't undo
I just want to hold you
come on let me hold you
like Bernadette would do
I just want to hold you
won't you let me hold you
like Bernadette would do
Even that old troubador Cohen gets it. God Bless Leonard and may the Blessed Mother keep an eye on him too.
I agree.
Hear the laughing in Mecca and Medina?
That's the sound of Muslims making merry while Christians argue with each other over points of religion while they plot our common doom.
Christians shouldn't criticize the beliefs of other Christians. We should be aiming our guns at our real enemies in Islamdom.
May I say it...?
;-)