Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Are You More Blessed Than the Virgin Mary?
Desiring God ^ | 12/15/2010 | Jonathan Parnell

Posted on 12/15/2010 5:09:09 PM PST by RnMomof7

In the sermon descriptively entitled, “That Hearing and Keeping the Word of God Renders a Person More Blessed Than Any Other Privilege That Ever God Bestowed on Any of the Children of Men,” Jonathan Edwards writes: The hearing and keeping the word of God brings the happiness of a spiritual union and communion with God. ‘Tis a greater blessedness to have spiritual communion with God and to have a saving intercourse with him by the instances of his Spirit and by the exercise of true devotion than it is to converse with God externally, to see the visible representation and manifestations of his presence and glory, and to hear his voice with the bodily ears as Moses did. For in this spiritual intercourse the soul is nigh unto and hath more a particular portion than in any external intercourse. ‘Tis more blessed to be spiritually related to Jesus Christ—to be his disciples, his brethren and the members—than to stand in the nearest temporal relation, than to be his brother or his mother. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, ed. Nancy Guthrie, 57.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Ecumenism; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: blessed; catholicbashing; edwards; marianobsession; mary; scripture
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 901-915 next last
To: johngrace; bkaycee

Do you go to daily mass?


361 posted on 12/16/2010 4:58:47 PM PST by RnMomof7 (Gal 4:16 asks "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 343 | View Replies]

To: RnMomof7

Catholic Doctrine

on

The Blessed Virgin Mary

 

The Catholic Church teaches that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the holiest human being that ever walked the earth, after Our Lord. Her holiness also exceeds that of all the angels, even the highest Seraphim! No other mere creature gives such glory to God. Our Lord gave The Blessed Virgin to all mankind when he entrusted St. John with her care as he was dying on the Cross. "Woman, behold thy son... Son, behold thy mother." Catholic commentators agree that all mankind was represented there in the person of St. John. Our Lord gave us his most precious treasure! We should treasure her, to honor Our Lord if for no other reason.


362 posted on 12/16/2010 4:59:26 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FourtySeven

Grope grope.

Sigh.


363 posted on 12/16/2010 5:00:26 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 289 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

“Kecharitomene is a perfect passive participle of charitoo, meaning “to fill or endow with grace.” Since this term is in the perfect tense, it indicates that Mary was graced in the past but with continuing effects in the present. So, the grace Mary enjoyed was not a result of the angel’s visit.”

Your reasoning is a bit faulty here. Within the perfect tense there is no indication of the amount time past but only that the results persist into the present of the person speaking.

Mary had already found favor with God and was in favor at the time of the angel’s greeting. It says nothing about when in the past and nothing about the future.


364 posted on 12/16/2010 5:25:27 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 337 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Being born into a certain religion and place now endows one with special abilities? Enough ignorance of the Greek, of the English and the Scriptures has made the silliness of that supposition abundantly obvious.


365 posted on 12/16/2010 5:33:26 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 351 | View Replies]

To: Cronos; Gamecock
I take it that you agree with this so far?

You take it wrong. There's lots of error leading up to the one I pointed out.

1. We say that creed too every Sunday.

2. Mary was born with original sin, just like the rest of us. The Bible teaches that only Christ was free of sin at His birth.

3. OK, so? How is Mary testimony materially different than what we read in the rest of the NT, “He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23), or when Thomas declares, “My Lord and My God.”

4. Ditto 3.

5. I think I answered that one, along with the rest. Mary is in no different state than Zacharias, Elizabeth, Simeon, John the Baptist, etc.

This is quite different from the OT saints who were saved by the salvific act on the Cross

And I fail to see the logic that gets you there, as I said before. You response here isn't any better.

366 posted on 12/16/2010 5:38:29 PM PST by topcat54 ("Dispensationalism -- like crack for the eschatologically naive.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 348 | View Replies]

To: Quix

Thanks for proving my point.

Give up your hatred and come to Christ. He is waiting.


367 posted on 12/16/2010 5:41:50 PM PST by IrishCatholic (No local Communist or Socialist Party Chapter? Join the Democrats, it's the same thing!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 358 | View Replies]

To: Cronos

Cronos asked:
“... modern Judaism is a continuation of the faith of the OT. Why would you say otherwise? really?”

Jesus. ... and by saying that I am not trying to be neither sarcastic nor condescending. As I said before, there is a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of Rome when it comes to the connection between the OT and NT, and who is who ... and why.

Look at the Encyclopedia Judaica’s article on the Pharisees.


368 posted on 12/16/2010 5:48:28 PM PST by Belteshazzar (We are not justified by our works but by faith - De Jacob et vita beata 2 +Ambrose of Milan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 336 | View Replies]

To: Cronos; Gamecock
Abraham was happy to see Christ's day of sacrifice on the cross as the OT saints were saved at that point,

But John 8 doesn't express it that way. Let's look again.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.
And he saw it (past tense) and was glad. Doesn't say anything specific about the cross. In fact, it says nothing more or less than what Mary declares.

For there Is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Was Jesus born a Savior, or did He become at Savior at some later time?

the only logical conclusion is that HE protected her from sin, He in fact "saved" His mother, His created being.

Don't confuse logic with superstition. There's nothing logical about your set of propositions and how they allegedly fit togther.

369 posted on 12/16/2010 5:54:51 PM PST by topcat54 ("Dispensationalism -- like crack for the eschatologically naive.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 348 | View Replies]

To: maryz; caww
caww: Why would soldiers leave their armor and instruction manuel at home?

maryz Utterly inept analogy.

Utterly appropriate analogy..... for someone who actually knows the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

370 posted on 12/16/2010 5:54:53 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: IrishCatholic; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Captain Beyond; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; ...

Your

heart/mind reading is

100% inaccurate . . . as anyone who knows me face to face could tell you . . .

and as a lot hereon could assert . . . were there ears to hear and eyes to see.

I encourage you to abaondon a deceptive idolatrous structure of theological bureaucratic power mongering elites who have constructed slippery slides to hell.


371 posted on 12/16/2010 5:56:45 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 367 | View Replies]

To: Quix; IrishCatholic

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Scripture text: Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.


372 posted on 12/16/2010 5:58:31 PM PST by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 371 | View Replies]

To: Quix

373 posted on 12/16/2010 5:59:38 PM PST by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 358 | View Replies]

To: bkaycee; RnMomof7

The problem the Catholics have is that they don’t see that blessed and full of grace don’t equate to sinless.

They are not synonyms.


374 posted on 12/16/2010 6:05:42 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 323 | View Replies]

To: narses
And who
"exalts alternate deities"?
.
.

UNCOUNTED
MILLIONS OF
ROMAN CATHOLICS
.
ALL OVER THE WORLD
.
AT THE ENCOURAGEMENT
AND
FACILITATION OF
THE VATICAN
.
REGARDLESS
.
of
all the weasel words
documents
&
rationalizations
to the contrary.
.
Trumped-up
plausible deniability
DOESN'T WASH
WITH GOD ALMIGHTY.
...
SELF-JUSTIFICATION
DOESN'T WASH WITH GOD ALMIGHTY!
.
RITUAL DOESN'T CUT IT
WITH GOD ALMIGHTY!
.
EXCUSES
DON'T CUT IT
WITH GOD ALMIGHTY
.
.
.
In some countries,
it is a reasonable guess
that of the 20-30% practicing Roman Catholics,
the percentage who
EXALT ALTERNATE DEITIES
would be 85-95% or more.
In other countries, it might be
as low as 15-50%
Sometimes, on FR, it appears to be
90%. Other times, 70%
Sometimes, maybe as low as 30-50%.
.
.
.

Below are a list of brazen examples
from a very popular devotional
VERY SANCTIONED, APPROVED AND ENCOURAGED
by the Vatican system & hierarchy.
.
.
.
Some have said that the language below
is 'merely' hyperbolic adoration.
I don't think that's what
GOD ALMIGHTY WOULD LABEL IT.
I'm convinced that
GOD ALMIGHTY
CALLS IT
BRAZEN DEMONICALLY
FACILITATED, ENCOURAGED & LED
IDOLATRY AND BLASPHEMY.
He doesn't usually mince words.
.
.
.
WERE MARY HERSELF POSTING ON FR
I BELIEVE HER DENOUNCIATIONS OF SUCH
WOULD BE MUCH MORE FIERCE THAN MINE!
.
.
.
I was involved in a house church
famous all over Southern California
for its deliverance ministry and follow-up.
Mental hospitals and pastors sent their worst cases
to us--the ones they gave up on.
By God's grace, Christ's Blood and Holy Spirit
operating in servant-hearted love through
a lot of dedicated people who opened their homes
to such folks,
many were set free--lastingly free.
.
.
.
I learned a lot in that church.
One of the things that I OBSERVED,
I see a LOT hereon.
there's a characteristic
TYPE OF RESPONSE
WHEN A PERSON AWASH
IN DEMONIC INFLUENCES
(I don't think it matters
whether they are resident
or hovering around)
GETS CHALLENGED, EXHORTED,
HAS THEIR PRIDE PRICKED.
I see a LOT of that TYPE of response, hereon.
.
.
.

Below are the examples
of exalting other deities.
They are real.
They are serious.
They are owned,
operated in,
manifested in,
heart-felt wallowed in
by millions of Roman Catholics around the world.
Pretending otherwise does not change the facts.
White washing it with magicsterical diplospeak
doesn't change the facts.
Rationalizing it with 101 weasel words
doesn't change the facts.
.
.
.

the FACTS are easy enough to see below
for anyone with
more discernment than a gnat's.
.
.
.

Those reading this with any consciousness above comotose
no longer have any excuse.
.
.
.
Holy Spirit will be nudging, urging, forsaking of all such
--ALL HINT OF SUCH--
IGNORING HIS LEADING, NUDGING, URGING
in such matters can be spiritually deadly.
Very spiritually deadly.
.
.
.

ONCE AGAIN,
just a small part of
THE EVIDENCE: .
.
.

Here's the title:

http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Meditations-Mysteries-Rosary-Ferraro/dp/0819801577/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272938246&sr=1-2

And it carries the official sanctions of:

ni•hil ob•stat
n.
1. Roman Catholic Church An attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals.
2. Official approval, especially of an artistic work.

WITH RICHARD CARDINAL CUSHING’S IMPRIMATUR

Let me track down the brief portion of quotes upthread . . .

Here they are:

However, as we've seen through a variety of sources--a pile of them in Ferraro's manual about the Rosary--the Roman Catholic et al/Vatican Edifice disagrees with a lot of the claims of RC's hereon to the contrary.

p.32
.
[Quixicated emphases below]
Mary is crowned Queen of heaven and earth, dispenser of all graces . . .

p32
4 - She became Queen of Purgatory, where she exercises her power as mediatrix in behalf of these suffering souls.

5 - She became Queen of us sinners, to assist us through the dangers of this life and to help us in difficulties.

6 - She became the ruler of hell, that trembles at her slightest gaze and is defeated by her power.

"Just as a rock extracted from earth will precipitate into the abyss, so will man, left without Mary's help, quickly slide toward hell." --Richard of St Victor

p37
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come; Thy kingdom come through Mary! --Partial Indulgence

p41
"Mary is the tree of life to those who grasp her, and he is happy who hold her fast." --Prov. 3:18

p43
1 - "Hail Mary, beloved daughter of the Father, Mother of the Divine Son, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, complement of the most august Trinity!"

p45
6 - To her was granted grace greater than that conferred upon all others, 'that she might vanquish sin in every respect.'
.
[Qx: I guess Christ's vanquishing sin was unnecessary--or ineffectual without Mary's assistance?]

p46
7 - "Mary is the dawn of God because, just as the dawn marks the end of darkness and the beginning of day, so Mary indicates the end of vices and the beginning of virtue."
.
[Qx: I guess Christ's conquering on The Cross and HIS conquering trip to hell were unncessary?]

9 - God loved Mary so much that He gave her the keys to His heart. 'No one can go to God without Mary drawing him.'
.
[Qx: I guess Holy Spirit has been relegated to a 'Walter Mitty' role as spouse of Mary? That's SOME POWER to cancel & take over HOLY SPIRIT'S role to draw men to God!]

p47
4 - "Mary, trusting in the word of the angel, destroyed the sin Eve committed by trusting in the serpent.'
.
[Qx: Evidently, she beat Christ to the job of vanquishing sin!]

5 - "She desired the safety of everyone, went in search of it, and obtained it; it was also through her that this salvation was wrought."
.
[QX: What an unnecessary waste of precious Blood and suffering on THE CROSS!!!/sar]

p47
10 - "As Noah's Ark saved all the animals that entered it, so Mary saves all the souls that entrust themselves to her care."

p50
8 - "If she were not so holy as she is, how could God appoint her to be the ladder of Paradise, the advocate of the world, meatrix between HIm and us?"

p50
4 - "By becoming Mother of God, Mary belongs to the order of hypostatic union; hence she participates IN the infinite sanctity of God."

375 posted on 12/16/2010 6:11:28 PM PST by Quix (Times are a changin' INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 373 | View Replies]

To: RnMomof7

Yes! Twice a week and on sunday. Also watch ewtn daily mass. Read the daily mass readings.


376 posted on 12/16/2010 6:11:29 PM PST by johngrace (God so loved the world so he gave his only son! Praise Jesus and Hail Mary!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 361 | View Replies]

To: Cronos
Mary clearly indicates that God (Jesus Christ) has already saved her. How is that possible if he has not yet been on the Cross or even been born yet?

Because like Abraham, she believed in the promises of God. Abraham didn't see Christ on a cross either.

However, it is clear -- Mary was saved before the sacrifice on the Cross by her Savior, her son, our Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

The only thing that is 'clear', is this is more manmade 'doctrine' to support Mariology and its excesses.

377 posted on 12/16/2010 6:13:41 PM PST by xone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 332 | View Replies]

To: Quix



378 posted on 12/16/2010 6:15:53 PM PST by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 375 | View Replies]

To: xone

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Scripture text: Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.


379 posted on 12/16/2010 6:17:11 PM PST by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 377 | View Replies]

To: bkaycee; Cronos; RnMomof7; presently no screen name

I have no clue where bkaycee grew up and yet what bkaycee relates is also similar to my experience.

Cronos, while you may not have encountered it in your travels, it’s obviously widespread enough that we both had similar experiences. Rnmom and pnsn have also related similar experiences in other threads.


380 posted on 12/16/2010 6:17:35 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 238 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 341-360361-380381-400 ... 901-915 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson