laimed to have an apparation from an angel teaching them to pray in the spring of 1916. They were asked to pray repeatedly by the angel who appeared to them. This is why the Catholics were convinced that they have to pray repeatedly.Posted on 03/24/2015 8:06:07 AM PDT by RnMomof7
Just last Sunday, a local newspaper paper released an article teaching that the praying of the Holy Rosary is Bible-based. In the first two paragraphs, the writer admittedly says that there is no passage in the Bible teaching nor mentioned about the praying of Rosary.
However, in the following paragraphs, the writer justified the praying of the Rosary basing it on the repetition of historical events of some Bible characters (like Gideon as he mentioned) about Israel’s history.
I don’t know if the writer of this article did some research about the origin of rosary and how it was deeply encouraged for Roman Catholics.
Praying of Rosary was encouraged when Lucia Dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto claimed to have an apparation from an angel teaching them to pray in the spring of 1916. They were asked to pray repeatedly by the angel who appeared to them. This is why the Catholics were convinced that they have to pray repeatedly.
The flaw however in the story was that, the angel gave two sets of completely different prayers. The angel appeared to the three children three times.
Then after a year, 1917, it was said that Our Lady of Rosary had an apparitions for 7 times. In her second apparition the Our Lady said:
“I wish you to come here the 13th of next month; that you say the Rosary every day, and that you learn to read. In succeding months I will tell you what else I want.” “I would like to ask you to bring us to Heaven“, said Lucy. “Yes, Giacinta and Francis will be among the few, but you must stay here for a long time. Jesus wants to help Himself of you to make Me known and loved. God wishes you to remain in the world for some time because He wants to use you to establish in the world a devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by myself to adorn His throne.” Lucy asked: “Will I stay here alone”?, “Don’t be discouraged , I will not abandon you ever. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and through it will conduct you to God.”
Now here are the flaws of this apparition. First, the Our Lady is telling the children to teach the people to make her known and be loved. Note that the apparition was initiated not by Jesus, nor an angel, but the very person who wants to be made known. It is like, someone came to you and asked you using the name of your friend to introduce her to other people that you know.
The second flaw, Our Lady promises salvation to those who embrace this command. A completely heretical claim, and totally in contrast to what the Bible is saying. The Bible is very clear in saying that “…whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” Only God can give salvation. This is the Biblical truth that cannot be altered, deducted nor added.
Third flaw, Our Lady claims that her immaculate heart will be our refuge and through it will conduct you to God. This is another contradiction to what the Bible is saying. “Come to me all you labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest (Matt.11:28)”, “I am the way the truth and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)”.
The truth is, there is only one mediator between God and man, it is only Jesus Christ (Hebrews chapters 6,7,8,9, and 10)
This is the statement coming from the third apparition:
“In october I will tell you who I am, that which I want, and I will do a miracle that all can see and believe. Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say often this prayer, especially during any sacrifice: “O my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for all the sins commited against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.“
The flaw of the third apparition is the claiming of honor which belongs to Jesus Christ, and the idea of co-equality with Jesus. Though she did not claim co-equality, but the fact of showing that people committed sins against her proposes the idea of deity that people needs to be so sorry for not recognizing her. The Bible tells us that there are three persona where we committed sins, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now, here comes the Mary, an addition to the Holy Trinity.
“You have seen Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save future souls God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved.” Then She said:” If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecution of the Church. The good will be martyed, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed…But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world“. “Do you want to learn a prayer?” the vision asked, “Yes we do!” the children responded. “When you recite the Rosary, say at the end of each decade: Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy.“
Now let’s look at this additional quotations from the third apparition. This is more like “Our Lady” centered command rather than “Jesus” centered command. Russia will be consecreted to Our Lady of Rosary than instead of Jesus. Notice the number of recitation of the Rosary. At the end of each decade (10), there is only one calling for Jesus help.
This is quoted from the last (6th) apparition
“I am the Lady of the Rosary, I desire here a chapel in my honor to be built, that people continue to recite the Rosary every day. Will the war finish. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.” Then Lucy asked: “may I ask you for cures and conversions, will you grant them?”. “Some yes, others no. It is necessary that they ask pardon for their sins, that they don’t offend God our Lord, and that he is already too much offended.” “Do you Want anything else from me?” Lucy asked. “I do not want anything more.“
The flaw of the 6th apparition is that the Lady of the Rosary is asking for a chapel in “HER” honor, and not Jesus’ nor the Father’s honor. We have to note that taking glory which supposed to be for God is a serious sin, this is idolatry.
The apparition is completely directing people in a wrong path. It is completely in contradiction with what the Bible is saying. The Bible warn us about these kinds of apparitions in Galatians 1:8 “But even though we (referring to Paul and his companions) or an angel from heaven, which should preach to you any gospel other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.” This is a strong warning that we should be careful in believing apparitions especially if it gives another teachings that what the Bible already have taught us.
Just some additional observations concerning the apparition of Our Lady of Rosary. Our Lady appeared “6” times. In Hebrew culture (the Israelite culture), 6 is the imperfect number. A number usually associated with evil things. Thus, the number of the Beast in the Book of Revelations tells us that it is 666.
Another observation is the dates of the apparition. The apparition dates are significantly on the 13th of every month of that year. Even until, Roman Catholics believe that 13th is always associated with evil things like Friday the 13t h bad luck and not placing 13th floor on buildings. Not to mention all the horror movies that happens on Friday the 13th.
Now let me ask you, do you really believe that these apparitions comes from God? These apparition and commands are completely in contrast to what the Bible teaches us. They are “Our Lady of Rosary” centered rather than “God” centered. The apparitions promotes glory and honor for “Our Lady of Rosary” rather than the glory of God. And finally, even culture related things are in contradiction to the apparitions. Not to mention its lack of Apostolicity and Biblical support.
Yes it's been pointed out to me that contains a great list of topics as in an outline. I find that when I remember the first part of the outline which is remembering to Whom I'm praying and laying that at His feet I get the most peace. So much so that I often don't even need to bring requests because Knowing Him I know I don't need to worry.
It's when the prayer becomes rote ("babbling"-NIV) that it becomes meaningless. Others have made note of this point beforehand.
It's probably NKJV that uses vain repetitions which is very pointed at Catholic "hail Mary's" and such.
Is there any recorded example where anyone prays the Lord's Prayer- verbatim, in any letter or epistle?
THAT IS NOT TO SAY we should not recite the Lord's Prayer but there are many recorded prayers after Christ gives the model - and they are all inspired and all beautiful! (Amen?)
I find John 17 to be Amazing and divine. I've tried to memorize it and I don't think the Lord will allow it.
I'll be back later for that scripture.
Where is Sola Scriptura in the Bible?
This is shear hypocrisy, demanding that Catholics adhere to principles that Luther invented, while exempting their own teachings from Luther's traditions.
“If he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.” —Jesus
Rationalize that passage as you see fit, because, let's face it, at bottom, no individual Protestant regards any authority as greater than his personal interpretation of Scripture.
Amen.
Btw, good conversation my friend. Thanks! :-)
Very well said. I’ll continue to say the Rosary even if others don’t.
It is not necessarily that the priest went off the reservation. When we were covering the passages in which Jesus’s brothers and sisters, we did not skip over it. We simply read the passages as they are written. Maybe the priest personally believed that the brothers and sisters were actually Jesus’s cousins or Joseph’s children from a prior marriage. He didn’t say. He didn’t offer an opinion. He didn’t try to twist the meaning of words. He offered no spin. He just presented it as it is written without offering opinions, theories, dogmas, or doctrines. We were in the “no spin zone” to borrow a phrase.
Honoring the Virgin Mary, conceived without sin as the holy vessel who would give birth to Jesus our Savior, with the title of Mother of God, does not mean that she is thought a goddess. It’s an honorific.
As a Catholic who gets berated in the workplace by Calvinist hardliners, I find threads pitting “Papists” versus “Bible Thumpers” to be always a fun read.
It does seem that if Jesus had any brothers Jesus would not have asked John to take care of his mother.
10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
If you're not praying to Almighty God, it is idolatry. Or, in this case, Mariolatry.
Hoss
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Not necessarily. The Bible specifically mentions Jesus had brothers and sisters, including most notably St. James-—to whom CNN devoted an entire program to a few nights ago. I am NOT a fan of CNN, but that was an interesting and accurate program. Since I have no problem believing that Mary and Joseph consummated their marriage after Jesus’s birth, I have no problem in believing other brothers and sisters followed Jesus’s birth. I don’t feel compelled to make things up, like they were Joseph’s children from before his marriage to Mary or they were cousins. Don’t need to go there. Content and satisfied reading the Bible as it is written. Don’t need any spin. The Lord commands us to be fruitful and multiply and physical intimacy is God’s gift between a husband and a wife. Don’t see any reason why God’s most precious gifts would have been denied to Mary and Joseph.
Maybe so... but he did say (a lot):
"It is written..."
Hoss
A lot of truths. He is and was God.
That doesn’t tell me that the Bible is the sole rule of faith.
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