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To: All
From another thread -- no source given [Sorry]

Having confidence in you, O Mother of God, I shall be saved.

MOTHER OF GOD

The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 declared Mary the Mother of God (Greek, Theotokos) in order to safeguard the divinity of Christ, which was being attacked by the Nestorians, a heretical group which had recently arisen. Since Christ was God in the flesh (Col 2:9, Jn 1:1,14), Mary is the Mother of God the Son. Both Luther and Calvin (along with all the major Protestant Founders) agreed. But she is a creature, like us, and is not worshiped in Catholicism as a sort of goddess. She is venerated due to the unfathomable honor of having been chosen to bear and raise the incarnate God.

MARY'S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Catholics believe that God saved Mary in a special way, preventing her from sin, because of her extraordinary role and proximity to God the Son and Holy Spirit (Lk 1:35). An angel called Mary highly favored or full of grace in Lk 1:28. The Greek word, kecharitomene, means "completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace." On this and other grounds, Catholics hold that she was free of sin from conception and throughout her life. Even Luther agreed! The medieval theologians constructed an interesting word-picture to illustrate how Mary was just as saved as we are (Lk 1:47), yet in a different sense. Imagine a pit in a forest path, representing the quagmire of sin. All of us are in that pit, wallowing in the mud. But God will pull us out of it and redeem us, provided we are willing. With Mary, God did something different. He never allowed her (unlike us) to fall into this pit. But in both cases, whether through prevention or rescue, it is equally true that it is God alone who saves. Mary is everything she is due to the unmerited, free grace of God, not because of some intrinsic superiority, regarded as originating separately from God.

ARK, TEMPLE, TABERNACLE, AND MARY

The closer one is to God, the holier one must be (e.g., Ex 3:5, Deut 23:14). God's presence imparts holiness (1 Cor 3:13-17, 1 Jn 3:3-9). The Jewish high priest entered the "Holy of holies" in the Tabernacle or Temple only once a year, under pain of death (Lev 16:2-4,13). The Ark of the Covenant was so holy only a few could touch it (Num 4:15, 2 Sam 6:2-7). Scripture compares Mary to the Ark (Lk 1:35 & Ex 40:34-8 / Lk 1:44 & 2 Sam 6:14-16 / Lk 1:43 & 2 Sam 6:9). If mere inanimate objects can be so "holy" due to proximity with God, how much more so Mary, who bore God? Protestants often have difficulty with this conception because of their faulty view of mere external, "legal" justification, which doesn't necessarily lead to actual, objective holiness.

MARY'S ASSUMPTION

The Assumption is not an arbitrary presumption. It follows from Mary's sinlessness. Since bodily decay results from sin (Ps 16:10, Gen 3:19), the absence of sin allows for instant bodily resurrection at death (i.e., the Assumption). Mary shared (in a secondary, derivative fashion) in her Son's victory over sin, death, and the devil (Heb 2:14-15), as foretold in Gen 3:15. She was the "firstfruits" of Christ's work on our behalf, which will eventually put an end to death and result in all saints having glorious, incorruptible bodies. It was proper and appropriate for Mary - since she was the mother of God the Son - to "prefigure" the redeemed world to come by means of both her Immaculate Conception and Assumption. Scripture speaks of occurrences similar to the Assumption: Enoch (Gen 5:24; cf. Heb 11:5), Elijah (2 Ki 2:11), St. Paul (2 Cor 12:2,4), the so-called "Rapture" (1 Thess 4:15-17), risen saints after Jesus' Crucifixion (Mt 27:52-3). It is illogical and unacceptably dogmatic to assert that an event couldn't have happened because it was not recounted in Scripture. This would be as foolish as saying that Jesus couldn't have done any miracles other than those we find in the Bible (see Jn 20:30, 21:25). If the Assumption is not that radically different from many other occurrences in Scripture, flows from the interrelated theological notions explicitly found there, and is supported by the testimony of early Christian Tradition, it is neither "idolatrous" nor "unbiblical" to believe in it.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

All the Protestant Founders (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, etc.) firmly believed in Mary's Perpetual Virginity, but some Protestants since have claimed that Jesus had siblings. The Greek word for "brother," adelphos, can and does mean many things in Scripture: nationality (Acts 3:17,22), neighbor (Mt 7:3, 23:8), even all mankind (Mt 25:40). Several other biblical arguments exist also. No one sought to deny this Tradition until the late 4th century, when one Helvidius unsuccessfully tangled with St. Jerome.

MARY OUR SPIRITUAL MOTHER AND INTERCESSOR

The idea of Mary as the Mother of believers is derived most directly from Jn 19:26-7, where Jesus tells St. John from the cross to "behold thy mother." Mary is also Mother and symbol of the Church in Rev 12:1,5,17. Catholics believe that they greatly benefit from Mary's intercession because of her sinlessness (Jas 5:16). Since Mary is incomparably more alive and holy than we are, to ask for her prayers (Rev 5:8, 6:9-10) is good biblically-based "spiritual sense."


10 posted on 08/22/2005 8:56:28 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Titles attributed to Mary

Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Born: unknown; celebrated September 8

Died: assumed; celebrated August 15

Canonized: the day she was assumed

Feast Day: July 16

Also known as: Adam's Deliverance; Advocate of Eve; Advocate of Sinners; All Chaste; All Fair and Immaculate; All Good; Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin; Aqueduct of Grace; Archetype fo Purity and Innocence; Ark Gilded by the Holy Spirit; Ark of the Covenant Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; Basillica of Saint Mary Major; Blessed Among Women; Blessed Virgin Mary; Bridal Chamber of the Lord; Bride of Christ; Bride of Heaven; Bride of the Canticle; Bride of the Father; Bride Unbrided; Cause of Our Joy; Chosen Before the Ages; Comfort of Christians; Comforter of the Afflicted; Conceived Without Original Sin; Consoler of the Afflicated; Co-Redemptrix; Court of the Eternal King; Created Temple of the Creator; Crown of Virginity; Daughter of Men; David's Daughter; Deliverer From All Wrath; Deliverer of Christian Nations; Destroyer of Heresies; Dispenser of Grace; Dwelling Place for God; Dwelling Place Meet for God; Dwelling Place of the Illimitable; Dwelling Place of the Spirit; Earth Unsown; Earth Untouched and Virginal; Eastern Gate; Ever Green and Fruitful; Ever Virgin; Eve's Tears Redeeming; Exalted Above the Angels; Feast of the Immaculate Conception; Fleece of Heavenly Rain; Flower of Jesse's Root; Formed Without Sin; Forthbringer of God; Forthbringer of the Ancient of Days; Forthbringer of the Tree of Life; Fountain of Living Water; Fountain Sealed; Free From Every Stain; Full of Grace; Garden Enclosed; Gate of Heaven; God's Eden; God's Olive Tree; God's Vessel; Handmaid of the Lord; Healing Balm of Integrity; Health of the Sick; Helper of All in Danger; Holy in Soul and Body; Holy Mountain of Our Lady; Hope of Christians; House Built by Wisdom; House of Gold; Immaculate; Immaculate Conception; Immaculate Heart; Immaculate Heart of Mary; Immaculate Mary; Immaculate Mother; Immaculate Virgin; Incorruptible Wood of the Ark; Inventrix of Grace; Inviolate; Joseph's Spouse; Kingly Throne; King's Mother; Lady Most Chaste; Lady Most Venerable; Lady of Good Help; Lady of Grace; Lady of Mercy; Lady of Peace; Lady of Perpetual Help; Lady of the Rosary; Lady of Sorrows; Lady of Victory; Lamp Unquenchable; Life-Giver to Posterity; Light Cloud of Heavenly Rain; Lily Among Thorns; Living Temple of the Diety; Loom of the Incarnation; Madonna; Madonna of Saint Luke; Marketplace for Salutary Exchange; Mary of the Hurons; Mary the Blessed Virgin; Mary; Blessed Virgin; Mary; Help of Christians; Mary; Mother of God; Mary; Queen of Africa; Mary; Queen of Angels; Mary; Queen of Peace; Mary; Star of the Sea; Mediatrix; Mediatrix and Conciliatrix; Mediatrix of All Graces; Mediatrix of Salvation; Mediatrix of the Mediator; Minister of Life; Mirror of Justice; More Beautiful Than Beauty; More Glorious Than Paradise More Gracious Than Grace; More Holy Than the Cherubim, the Seraphim and the Entire Angelic Hosts; Morning Star; Most Venerable; Mother and Virgin; Mother Most Admirable; Mother Most Amiable; Mother Most Chaste; Mother Most Pure; Mother Inviolate; Mother of Christians; Mother of Christ's Members; Mother of Divine Grace; Mother of God; Mother of Good Counsel; Mother of Jesus Christ; Mother of Men; Mother of Our Creator; Mother of Our Head; Mother of Our Savior; Mother of the Church; Mother of the Mystical Body; Mother of Wisdom; Mother Undefiled; My Body's Healing; My Soul's Saving; Mystical Rose; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin; Nature's Re-Creation; Nature's Restoration; Neck of the Mystical Body; Never Fading Wood; New Eve; Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris; Notre Dame of Chartres; Notre Dame of Easton; Nourisher of God and Man; Olive Tree of the Father's Compassion; Only Bridge of God to Men; Our Immaculate Queen; Our Lady; Gate of Heaven; Our Lady; Help of Christians; Our Lady; Mother of the Church; Our Lady; Queen of All Saints; Our Lady; Queen of the Apostles; Our Lady in America; Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace; Our Lady of Africa; Our Lady of Altotting; Our Lady of Bandel; Our Lady of Bandra; Our Lady of Banneux; Our Lady of Baeuraing; Our Lady of Calvary; Our Lady of Charity; Our Lady of Consolation; Our Lady of Copacabana; Our Lady of Czestochowa; Our Lady of Europe; Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Good Council; Our Lady of Good Help; Our Lady of Good Remedy; Our Lady of Grace; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of Guadalupe of Estramadura; Our Lady of High Grace; Our Lady of Hungary; Our Lady of Japan; Our Lady of Kevelaer; Our Lady of Knock; Our Lady of La Leche; Our Lady of La Vang; Our Lady of Las Vegas; Our Lady of LaSallette; Our Lady of Limerick; Our Lady of Loreto; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of Lujan; Our Lady of Madhu; Our Lady of Mariazell; Our Lady of Medjugore; Our Lady of Mercy; Our Lady of Montserrat; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Aylesford; Our Lady of Nazareth; Our Lady of Peace; Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Our Lady of Pompeii Our Lady of Pontmain; Our Lady of Prompt Succor; Our Lady of Providence; Our Lady of Ransom; Our Lady of Safe Travel; Our Lady of Salambao; Our Lady of Shongweni; Our Lady of Sorrows; Our Lady of Tears; Our Lady of Victory; Our Lady of Walsingham; Our Lady of the Americas; Our Lady of the Assumption; Our Lady of the Cape; Our Lady of the Gulf; Our Lady of the Hermits; Our Lady of the Highways; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary; Our Lady of the Holy Souls; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception; Our Lady of the Incarnation; Our Lady of the Kodiak and the Islands; Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery; Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal; Our Lady of the Pillar of Saragossa; Our Lady of the Pines; Our Lady of the Prairie; Our Lady of the Presentation; Our Lady of the Rosary; Our Lady of the Scapular; Our Lady of the Snows; Our Lady of the Turumba; Our Lady of the Valley; Our Lady of the Wayside; Our Lady of the Woods; Our Lady Who Appeared; Our Own Sweet Mother; Paradise Fenced Against the Serpent; Paradise of Innocence and Immortality; Paradise of the Second Adam; Paradise Planted by God; Patroness and Protectoress; Perfume of Faith; Preserved From All Sin; Protectress From All Hurt; Queen of All Saints; Queen of Angels; Queen of Creation; Queen of Heaven; Queen of Heaven and Earth; Queen of Martyrs; Queen of Peace; Queen Unconquered; Refuge in Time of Danger; Refuge of Sinners; Reparatrix; Reparatrix of Her Parents; Reparatrix of the Lord World; Rich in Mercy Rose Ever Blooming; Sacred Heart of Mary; Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit; Scepter of Orthodoxy; Seat of Wisdom; Second Eve; Singular Vessel of Devotion; Sister and Mother; Source of Virginity; Spiritual Vessel; Spotless Dove of Beauty; Star of the Sea; Star That Bore the Sea; Suppliant for Sinners; Surpassing Eden's Gardens; Surpassing the Heavens; Surpassing the Seraphim; Sweet Flowering and Gracious Mercy; Tabernacle of God; Tabernacle of the Word; Temple Divine; Temple Indestructible; Temple of the Lord's Body; Theotokos; Throne of the King; Tower of David; Tower of Ivory; Tower Unassailable; Treasure House of Life Treasure of Immortality; Treasure of the World Undefiled; Undefiled Treasure of Virginity; Undug Well of Remission's Waters; Unlearned in the Ways of Eve; Unplowed Field of Heaven's Bread; Unwatered Vineyard of Immortality's Wine; Vessel of Honor; Victor Over the Serpent; Virgin Inviolate; Virgin Most Faithful; Virgin Most Merciful; Virgin Most Powerful; Virgin Most Prudent; Virgin Most Pure; Virgin Mother; Virgin of Charity; Virgin of Copacabana; Virgin of Virgins; Wedded to God; Woman Clothed With the Sun; and Workshop of the Incarnation.


12 posted on 08/22/2005 9:06:15 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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