Replies

The passage in 1 John says that the Sacrament of Holy Orders is sufficient to guide against seduction of heresies, but in order to not merely resist the heresy in our heart but also defeat it and teach others, study of Tradition and Scripture becomes necessary, as the letters to Timothy make clear.

Indeed the scripture tells is the story of the Cross, but unlike the scripture, the crucifix is visibly present at all times and operates on a different level than a written word. The Devil can quote the Bible too, but he cannot look at the Cross.

The "different view" on the Christian imagery has been debunked eleven centuries ago. See #360 for a basic outline, and a link to do more study. But the point is not that a Protestant might be reluctant to hang a Catholic object in his home, but that the very idea of looking at an image of Christ is repugnant to someone who imagines himself Christian.

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

God calls each one of us to be a saint.

September 12, 2006

Holy Name of Mary

This feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3); both have the possibility of uniting people easily divided on other matters.

The feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in 1513 and in 1671 was extended to all of Spain and the Kingdom of Naples. In 1683, John Sobieski, king of Poland, brought an army to the outskirts of Vienna to stop the advance of Muslim armies loyal to Mohammed IV in Constantinople. After Sobieski entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he and his soldiers thoroughly defeated the Muslims. Pope Innocent XI extended this feast to the entire Church.

Comment:

Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways, wherever those may lead us. Honored under the title “Queen of Peace,” Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice, a peace that respects the fundamental human rights (including religious rights) of all peoples.

Quote:

“Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be his own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs” (Marian Sacramentary, Mass for the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary).