Posted on 07/17/2008 5:17:32 PM PDT by markomalley
| Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - This year 2008, the Marian Shrine of Lourdes is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In these 150 years pilgrims have continued to flock to this place of grace, to honour the Mother of God. All the many places “visited” by Our Lady have a special mysterious touch of her presence in our midst. Our Lady seems to make a continual visitation to peoples and nations and now and then she stays a while, just as she went to her cousin Elisabeth and remained with her for three months (cfr. Lk 1, 56). The places in which Our Lady “stays”, are places of miracles: at Cana, Lourdes, Fatima… Mary tells her Son about our needs, her words have the power to obtain the impossible. “Nothing is impossible for God ” (Lk 1, 37) the Archangel Gabriel told Our Lady on the day of the great Announcement, and the humble maiden of Nazareth never doubted. Wherever Our Lady “stops”, a presence of peace and serenity is felt and we are enveloped in a climate of eternity, as if time had stopped and everything gives way to this presence of Heaven, the presence of Our Lady. The “visit” of the Lord's grace is always new. Our Lady has been given a unique task. No other saint visits peoples and nations and "stays" for a while in places where people are in special need. Mary's visit gives her Son a chance to work miracles: to heal body and soul, to convert and sanctify, to bless and forgive, to transform our misery and superficiality into the wine of his Divine mercy and patience. What a great privilege it is to visit Mary who has visited us and has come to stay for a while, whispering to every heart “you are my child”! Mary's universal motherhood becomes “visible” in places such as Lourdes, where people from all over the world come seeking protection and help in Mary chosen by the Lord to be His Mother and our Mother. The grotto of Lourdes, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette for the first time 11 February and for the last time on 16 July, 1858, draws an unceasing flow of pilgrims. The flow of people is similar to the nearby River Gave, flowing gently only a few metres away. At the grotto pilgrims seem to hear a call to let themselves be carried on the “current” of grace towards what gives the heart true happiness, the sweet peace of God's house. Immaculate Mary of Lourdes tells us to make our life here on earth a continual welcoming of God into our heart, through a life of prayer, nourished by the sacraments, a life spent loving God and neighbour. If we listen to Her we will have no regrets. If we do “whatever He tells us” (cfr. Jn 2, 5), we will "see” the miracle of a change in our life. This is greatest miracle and God desires to work it, he never refuses especially when it is requested by His most Holy Mother. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us! (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2008) |
Original question: Do you believe that Mary is your mother?
(Answer) No, of course not. She’s the mother of my dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
Next question: So, then, how do you understand the assertion by +Paul that we are "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17)?
Next answer: I don’t understand what that assertion has to do with Mary. I am a joint-heir with Christ. I’m not the only joint-heir. All born again believers are joint-heirs.
Exactly, and that is the point. As +Paul said in the verse immediately preceding, that we are the children of God (Rom 8:16, cf John 1:12, phil 2:15, 1 Jo 3:1). In fact, +Peter stated that we are partakers of the divine nature (2 Pe 1:4). We are members of His Body (1 Cor 12, Rom 12:5, etc.). In fact, we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1) to fill up that which is lacking (KJV: behind) in the afflictions of Christ (Col 1:24 -- before you say anything, look it up!, also, cf 2 Cor 1:5-7, Matt 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23).
We are to identify ourselves that closely with Christ. We are to truly be able to call out, Abba, Father, from the depth of our being.
I do not think that any of the above is terribly controversial. (Difficult, sometimes, yes -- we still have the dead flesh to deal with -- cf Rom 7:24 -- but not controversial)
The question is, if you identify yourself this closely with Christ, how can you NOT identify the handmaid of the Lord (Luke 1:35) whose soul was pierced by a sword (Luke 2:35) as your mother?
And, again, let me re-emphasize that I ask this not to mock or deride you, but rather to understand.
If there is a conflict which would you choose?
Please note the event is recorded in all four Gospels, three with essentially the same recollection and only Luke differing.
It should be noted Luke was farther removed from actual events than the writers of the other three Gospels.
I din’t realize we could pick and choose what to believe in the Bible.
Luke 22:
47And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
49When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Matthew 26
47And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
51And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mark 14
42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
47And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took
me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
50And they all forsook him, and fled.
John 18
7Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
12Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Two of them say "I was there".
One says "Peter told me".
And the fourth, a differing account, says "I heard it from an eyewitness".
Whichever one provides the detail.
Unless Matthew, Mark and John contradict it, I will go with the Gospels as a whole, rather than trying to argue from the silence of the others.
They differ in that one includes a detail the others left out.
Do not imply that they contradict each other.
Protestants, as a whole, don’t identify with Mary as their mother. I never have and never will. I see no need to.
You’ve read enough of my posts on these threads to know how I feel about such things. Should it surprise you? Noooo.
You can't get much broader than the Catholic way:
- Catholics can be saved if they believe the Word of God as taught by the Church and if they obey the commandments.
- Other Christians can be saved if they submit their lives to Christ and join the community where they think he wills to be found.
- Jews can be saved if they look forward in hope to the Messiah and try to ascertain whether God’s promise has been fulfilled.
- Adherents of other religions can be saved if, with the help of grace, they sincerely seek God and strive to do his will.
- Even atheists can be saved if they worship God under some other name and place their lives at the service of truth and justice.
A double separation from the actual source?
You remain true to form.
Yes, dear.
Creep.
LOL.
I realize this. But I don't understand it.
I never have and never will.
Never is a long, long time.
I see no need to.
And, for that, I grieve.
I'll leave you with the words of +Paul:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
- +Paul, to the Ephesians, 1:17-28
You're in my prayers...
I appreciate your prayers and concern, Mark. Truly. But Mary just doesn’t have the place in my heart like Jesus does. There’s no place for another. I don’t disrespect her, I just don’t believe she’s all that important in the general scheme of things. Jesus is.
*contempt
*hostility
*intolerance
*personal attacks
*bitter and snarky remarks by non-Catholics
on an obviously Catholic thread
Blessed Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!”
Thanks for posting that picture....
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