Hopefully, they'll know how to defend themselves against claims of 'idol worshipers' ;-)
I'm quoting you D. All Catholics need more Apologetics and Bible Study to answer these claims!
"In scripture, Mary is addressed in Luke 1:28 with "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" (or in the NIV, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you" - all of my research leads me to believe that this is a highly flawed translation based upon the old manuscripts). The original languages indicate a complete filling of grace, that was completed and perfected in the past and for all eternity (there are so many verb tenses in Greek that we really have trouble translating them properly). She was THE ONLY PERSON ever addressed in the pages of scripture with such strong positive language. If you're completely filled with grace from time immemorial and it has been completed in perfection, then certainly the Mother of Our Lord deserves a great deal more honor than she receives in virtually every non-Catholic church I've ever attended.
Here's another one: Mary, visiting Elizabeth, who is carrying John the Baptist in her womb - Luke 1:42-43 (NIV) reads "In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blseed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the MOTHER OF MY LORD should come to me?" (emphasis mine, not NIV's). Not the mother of his human nature, as if one can parent a 'nature,' or as if nature and substance (divinity and humanity) can be separated. But, mother of my Lord! How have so many Protestant theologians so totally missed the boat on this one?
It is also interesting to note that at least Martin Luther and John Calvin among the early reformers maintained a strong devotion to Mary. Amazing stuff!
St. Thomas Episcopal Church on 53rd and 5th has a Marian chapel, and a sign out front inviting people to come in and pray the rosary there.
Interesting how MOST Protestants STILL measure themselves by the yardstick known as the Roman Catholic Church.
An honest question, with no malice: Isn't it true that devotion to Mary is emblematic of the "feminization of Christianity" that started in the 1300s? I've always heard that Marianism was not part of the early Church tradition and that, as the Church became more female in terms of its regular attendents, Mary was invoked on an increasing basis.
later read.
Hmmmm, interesting; I've heard similar things over the past few years. As a former Anglican who started praying the Rosary when still Anglican, I certainly won't complain about this trend! :)
I've been saying the rosary now every morning for about three months. I listen to the chanted rosary on the internet. While I listen, I move between about four other sites which have images of the various mysteries. I also read about the mysteries. I wasn't even aware that JPII had started another set of mysteries, the Luminous so I enjoy learning those. When you include the mysteries, the rosary becomes even more Biblical. It takes about 30 minutes. Usually by the time I'm done (about 30 minutes), I've entered what I call a "zone" much like people (including me) do when they have been exercising. It's a very satisfying way to begin the day.
I was in a Christian Book Store the other day and was surprised and pleased to see rosaries for sale.
I visited the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches in Walsingham in September 2004. The original Slipper Chapel is wonderful, but the new chapel at the Roman Catholic shrine is too modern for my tastes. The Anglican church could pass for Catholic.