Many non-Catholics have been trained from childhood to believe that one of the clear proofs of the falsity of Catholicism is to be found in the honor that is paid to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church, and in the innumerable trusting prayers that are offered to her by Catholics. At the same time it is true that many non-Catholics, when they learn what are the genuine foundations of Catholic devotion to Mary, are drawn by it so irresistibly that ultimately they become Catholics. For the truth is very simple and clear, and is all contained in the following two truths.
1. Mary is the Mother of God (Luke 1:43). Catholics do not believe that God was bound by any compulsion to have a Mother; they believe that He chose to have a Mother and all that this implies. He chose to permit His human body to be formed in her womb (Luke 1:35).
He chose to permit her to bring Him forth as a tiny baby into the world. He chose to let her feed Him at her breast, carry Him in her arms, guard Him from danger, and teach Him as any child would be taught, to walk and speak and pray. He thereby chose to grant Mary a power over Him that only love can bestow (Luke 2:51). Catholics believe that in choosing a mother, the Son of God chose to grant her the power over His will that the love of a good mother always wields over a good son.
2. Mary is a mother to all men. Catholics believe that the Son of God chose to come into the world through a mother in order that that mother might accept as His brothers all the children of the sinful race of man. He set an example as to how she should be honored and loved. He prepared her for this motherhood of all by asking her to suffer every conceivable form of pain (Luke 2:35), thus teaching her sympathy for the sorrows of her children.
Had she been His Mother alone, He would have spared her from pain, because He had the power to do so and because He loved her with an infinite love. He wrought His first public miracle at her request (John 2:1-11), and when He was dying He reminded her that she had been destined from the beginning to be a Mother to all (John 19:27). Catholics therefore believe that Mary will be as eager to help them, in troubles of soul and body, as every natural mother is eager to promote the welfare of her child.The rosaries that Catholics recite are but the expression of their belief in these two truths (Luke 1:48). They know that if Mary speaks to her divine Son in their behalf, there can be no doubt about their receiving an answer to their prayers.
5 comments:
This is an interesting post. We do not believe that Mary was the mother of God, but only of Jesus Christ after his incarnation. In other words, Jesus was Mary's son only as a man.
But Jesus Christ had always been the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, and the Word, from eternity past, and it was him who created mankind, including Mary, from the beginning.
Our first mother was Eve, not Mary, and Eve is the mother of us all.
But this aside, why do Catholics feel the need to pray to Mary?
Does not Jesus Christ hear our prayers? Does not he forgive us from all our sins?
Doesn't he, Jesus Christ, alone, had promised to meet all our needs?
Doesn't he alone intercede for us to the Father?
And we as a Church the Bride of Christ, and not a "husband" to Mary?
Salviano Adão said; translated from Portuguese to English...
Adam Salvian has left a new comment on your post "WHY CATHOLICS PRAY TO MARY":
VERY GOOD, BEAUTIFUL BLOG! I believe that God created man and left the instruction manual, the "HOLY BIBLE" The Bible is the divine revelation of God's word and not canned goods, I usually say: "People need to stop eating all that give.
And start questioning! "Someone hears something from someone, and speaking out, without question, without knowing if it's true or not. People need to ask! Does my belief is in accordance with the law of God?
Is religion I was born I was always told the truth? When a person dies it goes to where? She comes back? The Bible supports homosexuality? Who does not inherit the kingdom of God? What should I know about idolatry, images and sculpture? What should I know about the one baptism?
Does it have a sequel to salvation? Who do I confess me, who can forgive me? Religion saves someone? These and other questions and answers: www.aunicaverdadeemsuapropriabiblia.blogspot.com You can say, I am saved Amen! Let those who are not behind this, "If you want to get along with the world is hypocritical, but if you want to get along with He is true!" Publicize this site because: "Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send famine upon the land, not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
And Rovers will sea to sea, and north to the east, run everywhere, seeking the word of the Lord, and not find it. "(Amos 8 See chapter 11 and 12) Talk to other people, why "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness: but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter chapter 3. see 8) and " Who will have all men to be saved and come to know the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. (see chapter 2 IA Timothy 5:06) Be Your Bible , Catholic or Evangelical, here you will take your questions. www.aunicaverdadeemsuapropriabiblia.blogspot.com know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8 see Chapter 32) If you have the courage to ask, the Bible will have the courage to answer!
Frank Blasi said:...why do Catholics feel the need to pray to Mary?...
When Catholics pray to Mary and the other saints in Heaven they are not bypassing Christ, whom they acknowledge as the sole Mediator between God and man. They are going to Christ through Mary and the other saints. They are asking Mary and other saints to intercede for them before the throne of Christ in heaven.
"Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." (James 5:16) How much more availing is the unceasing prayer of the sinless Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ! St. Paul asked his fellow Christians to intercede for him: "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith." (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)
And again: "I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company." (Romans 15:30-32) Christ must particularly approve of our going to Him through Mary, His Blessed Mother, because He chose to come to us through her. And at Cana, He performed His first miracle after a word from His Mother. (John 2:2-11)
It is clear in Sacred Scripture that the saints in Heaven will intercede for us before the throne of Christ if they are petitioned in prayer (Revelations 8:3-4), and it is clear in the records of primitive Christianity that the first Christians eagerly sought their intercession. Wrote St. John Chrysostom in the fourth century: "When thou perceivest that God is chastening thee, fly not to His enemies, but to His friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to Him, and who have great power." If the saints have such power with God, how much more his own Mother.
Thankyou for taking the time to answer my comment on why do Catholics feel the need to pray to Mary.
I have looked at your answer to this question, and you quote Paul's request for other saints to intercede on his behalf while he was going through trying times.
But these people were alive at the time when Paul made that request. Sometimes I ask my friends at our church to pray for me when I face challenging moments. Paul here was doing exactly the same.
I think the difference in your beliefs from that of mine is to do with the definition of the word "saint". We believe that the Bible address every true believer as a saint. In most of Paul's letters, he opens with:
The saints at Corinth, at Galatia, at Ephesus, at Colossius and so on. There was no stigma applied to the term in those days. Every believer was a saint, and if Paul was so easy with the use of the term, why can't we refer to ourselves as saints too, since the Bible has allowed this?
And there is also another problem.
If the saints who Paul were praying to were people who had recently died - Paul must have known many of them personally - should they had been all in Purgatory?
Then to me at least, if people spoke directly to Christ while he was alive on earth, why do we need mediators now? After all, the woman in Samaria and the canaanite in tyre were both redeemed by Jesus Christ direct, without any intercessors.
I hope you find this discussion nof interest,
Frank.
Frank Blasi said...
I have looked at your answer to this question, and you quote Paul's request for other saints to intercede on his behalf while he was going through trying times.
God Desires and Responds to Our Subordinate Mediation / Intercessory Prayer
1 Tim 2:1-2 - because Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), many Protestants deny the Catholic belief that the saints on earth and in heaven can mediate on our behalf. But before Paul's teaching about Jesus as the "one mediator," Paul urges supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people. Paul is thus appealing for mediation from others besides Christ, the one mediator. Why?
1 Tim 2:3 - because this subordinate mediation is good and acceptable to God our Savior. Because God is our Father and we are His children, God invites us to participate in Christ's role as mediator.
1 Tim. 2:5 - therefore, although Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and man, there are many intercessors (subordinate mediators).
1 Cor. 3:9 - God invites us to participate in Christ's work because we are God's "fellow workers" and one family in the body of Christ. God wants His children to participate. The phrase used to describe "fellow workers" is "sunergoi," which literally means synergists, or cooperators with God in salvific matters. Does God need fellow workers? Of course not, but this shows how much He, as Father, loves His children. God wants us to work with Him.
Mark 16:20 - this is another example of how the Lord "worked with them" ("sunergountos"). God cooperates with us. Out of His eternal love, He invites our participation.
Rom. 8:28 - God "works for good with" (the Greek is "sunergei eis agathon") those who love Him. We work as subordinate mediators.
2 Cor. 6:1 - "working together" (the Greek is "sunergountes") with him, don't accept His grace in vain. God allows us to participate in His work, not because He needs our help, but because He loves us and wants to exalt us in His Son. It is like the father who lets his child join him in carrying the groceries in the house. The father does not need help, but he invites the child to assist to raise up the child in dignity and love.
Heb. 12:1 - the “cloud of witnesses” (nephos marturon) that we are surrounded by is a great amphitheatre of witnesses to the earthly race, and they actively participate and cheer us (the runners) on, in our race to salvation.
1 Peter 2:5 - we are a holy priesthood, instructed to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. We are therefore subordinate priests to the Head Priest, but we are still priests who participate in Christ's work of redemption.
Rev. 1:6, 5:10 - Jesus made us a kingdom of priests for God. Priests intercede through Christ on behalf of God's people.
James 5:16; Proverbs 15:8, 29 - the prayers of the righteous (the saints) have powerful effects. This is why we ask for their prayers. How much more powerful are the saints’ prayers in heaven, in whom righteousness has been perfected.
1 Tim 2:5-6 - therefore, it is because Jesus Christ is the one mediator before God that we can be subordinate mediators. Jesus is the reason. The Catholic position thus gives Jesus the most glory. He does it all but loves us so much He desires our participation.
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