[Salvation]

For your information and discussion.

Absolutely no flaming.

Because the other thread was closed down -- this has to be a Catholic/Orthodox Caucus only thread.

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Judith Anne]

Thanks for posting, Sal. Peace be with you this Holy Week.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Thanks for posting this! May you have a blessed Holy Week and joyful Easter, Salvation!

[Mad Dawg]

In my thinking about the Marian Doctrines I find it helpful to think of Mary as a bearer of the Kingdom because she was the bearer of the King.

This line of thinking emphasis the eschatological aspects of Our Lady's role in Salvation History. And in considering the Dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, rather than getting all tangled up in the sort of legalistic issues of whether "falling asleep" in in every instance the "wages of sin" or of the nature and meaning of original "debt" and original sin is, we can see in Mary the "coming true" of all the promises made to us.

There "will be a time" when the blessed are sinless and the scars of their self-inflicted wounds will be made glorious. Our Lady is "currently" sinless. There "will be a time" when soul, united with resurrected body, the blessed will know and enjoy God, within and without, with perfection piled on perfection. Mary currently knows and enjoys God with all bliss and perfection.

Our Lord is God's promise to us, and the fulfillment of His promise. Our Lady, I think, is first and chief among the recipients of that promise.

[BaBaStooey]

This book is a wonderful read (especially for non-Catholics who want to better understand the Catholic Church and why she venerates Mary the way she does).

[BaBaStooey]

I also love the way the quote from Genesis Chapter 2 refers to Mary, and how she is sometimes portrayed (like on the Miraculous Medal) crushing a serpent with her foot.

[SuziQ]

Yet, this death was not accompanied by pain and suffering but rather, according to St. Francis de Sales, was a death of love, with Her soul leaving Her body out of Her great desire to be re-united with Christ.

I seem to remember reading something about the "Dormition of Mary", which would mean she simply 'fell asleep in the Lord', and then was assumed into heaven.

[andysandmikesmom]

Thanks very much for the ping....I am very appreciative of all this information being put forth, and I surely will take the time to read it....being as I am not a Catholic, but am seriously considering studying the Catholic faith, I am sincerely interested in all of this...so again, many thanks...I am quite sure that there are others out there, the same as me, seeking information, and we do appreciate the time and effort it takes to set these threads up, for the use of all...