Posted on 10/21/2008 6:22:38 AM PDT by Ottofire
Mary Worship Still Alive in Catholicism
10/21/2008 - Tur8infan Benedict XVI is reported (link to report) as recently praying to Mary: "We implore you to have pity today on the nations that have gone astray, on all Europe, on the whole world, that they might repent and return to your heart," the text of the prayer reads.
This is a prayer that is openly idolatrous. Mankind needs to turn, not to the heart of Mary, but to the Son of Mary, Jesus Christ the Righteous. The true and proper object of worship is God alone.
Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Benedict XVI is also reported as praying to her, "If you will not help us because we are ungrateful and unworthy children of your protection, we will not know to whom to turn."
This prayer demonstrates the underlying blindness of Catholicism. There is a place to which not only all of Europe in general, but Mr. Ratzinger in particular ought to turn for help, and whose protection should be sought: the throne of the Most High God, by the intercession of the Son of God, Jesus Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
But though Jesus is the Son of Mary, and though Mary is greatly blessed to be the Mother of our Saviour, yet Jesus himself said:
Matthew 12:48-50
48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
And again:
Mary 3:33-35
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
It is almost as though Jesus was concerned lest some might foolishly fall into the trap of worshiping his blood relatives! Indeed, here is Jesus' own condemnation of the error of adoration and veneration of Jesus' mother. They do not hold a special place in the kingdom of God, but are like all those who do the will of God. Yet Catholicism, as can be seen from this event, continues to elevate Mary improperly to the status of, in effect, a goddess to whom prayers are offered.
Benedict XVI did not even omit to provide a sacrifice to this de facto goddess. It is reported that, "In a gesture of filial love, the Pope then offered the Madonna a golden rose." One is reminded immediately of the similar offerings presented by the Philistines to the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament, particularly given Catholicism's claim (or at least the claim of her apologists) that Mary is the "ark of the New Covenant."
Finally, we should note that Benedict XVI is reported not to have left Jesus entirely out: "...The secret of Pompeii is the rosary: "This prayer leads us through Mary to Jesus." But, in fact, the Rosary leads men away from Jesus, as can be seen in the idolatry illustrated in the prayers above. Benedict XVI is reported to have claimed, "The rosary is a spiritual weapon in the struggle against evil, against all violence, for peace in hearts, in families, in society and in the world."
But, in fact, sadly it is an extra-Scriptural innovation: unknown to the apostles and unpracticed for centuries and centuries following Christ's ascension. The Early Church Fathers didn't say the Rosary, and neither should you: it is a tradition of men, not of God.
-TurretinFan
***However, you must admit that the number of paintings, statues, and stained glass windows elevating Mary holding the baby Jesus positioned in places of honor at Catholic churches look mighty like graven images.***
It might look like it to you because you have little understanding of the Catholic religion. Tell me, do you have a picture of your mother? Does that mean that you WORSHIP her, or that you love her?
And if you think that Catholics don’t pray directly to God, just attend one Mass and listen to what the priest says, especially at Communion time. Or simply read the words of the Our Father which we Catholics say often.
All y’all have bigger problems than worrying about what you think Catholics believe”
“US PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VOTES TO ALLOW “UNRESTRICTED RIGHT” TO ABORTION TILL VIABILITY
WASHINGTON, June 24, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Friday to affirm the “unrestricted right” to abortion prior to the child being able to survive on his/her own outside the womb. After viability, the assembly says, late term abortion is still acceptable but pastoral and medical counsel is advised and it is suggested only in cases of rape, incest, fetal suffering, and to preserve the health and life of the mother.
Judy L. Woods, moderator of the denomination’s advisory committee on litigation said “We affirmed the fundamental right to (abortion) prior to viability. But after viability, we have said that although there is still a right to choose, that choice has to be undertaken after prayer and pastoral consultation . . . and only in certain circumstances.” The denomination also voted to continue to fund late-term abortions under the church’s medical benefits plan. http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jun/02062401.html
We face a social and moral disaster if Comrade Zero, Plugs and the Thugocracy is elected.
I WAS raised around Catholics (I even have a family member who was one) and I do have an opinion. I don’t know what business it is of any of these people to attack a person on how he or she worships. If the Catholics want to go through Mary, Francis of Asisi, the Apostles, to get to Christ that’s fine with me. One thing for sure...this hateful article will get about 200 posts some of them from God fearin ‘Christians”.
There isn’t a stained glass window of my mother or a statue of her holding me or a painting of her BEHIND THE PULPIT at church.
Both. Pray means “ask.”
“Or simply read the words of the Our Father which we Catholics say often.”
I don’t have a problem with that. But YOU do.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Explanation: The pagans often repeated the same phrases over and over again. Pray your own prayer. Not one written by someone else.
Why ask only one or the other? Why the false dichotomy?
So by the time that God hears the prayer, it’s third hand? And if he hears it the first time, then why go to Mary? Does this not seem a little odd?
I hope you're not praying the Our Father then, unless you claim authorship.
What seems odd to me is the insistence on the false dichotomy. I can only presume you never ask others to pray for you, lest God get your prayers third hand (and why bother at all, since he hears you the first time).
That seems a little odd.
well, why worship God alone when you have the Mother of God ? It’s only reasonable to assume the mother is equal to (at least) the God she bore.
/revulsion
Lots of prayers worded similarly have been promulgated over the centuries.
He has the power to stop inaccurate propagation of such prayers.
He has the power to make a big issue of such outrageous wording.
I’m waiting.
The wording as posted is blasphemous. Whoever wrote it, whoever prayed it—it’s blasphemous. And it doesn’t take a genius to know that.
It’s your turf. Post the correction.
So did Jesus. See Matthew 26:39-44.
Search ALL of my posts on this thread. Have ANY of them been hateful? All of them are meant in loving criticism and instruction. We are called by scripture to point out what we believe to be fallacies and incorrect beliefs by fellow Christians. I can back up everything I said with scripture IN CONTEXT.
Like I said, I wasn’t raised around Catholics, but the ones I know say that they are actually discouraged from reading the bible and asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal the meanings in it. I merely seek to get Catholics to crack open a bible and READ IT for themselves.
Mary is holy (set apart, just as God said), yet she was a mere human who died because of her sins. And, as I said, NO ONE, not even Mary, wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus of Nazareth, could conceive just exactly who Jesus was until he rose from the grave and walked among them.
To answer the perplexed RCs here who think it hateful that PROTESTants might post an article like this and openly criticize marriolatry (sp?) ... let me assure you we do it in the name of Jesus, The Christ.
We do it because the practice is heresy of the highest and worst ilk.
Why? Because Mary is not God.
Being Catholic, I avoid the error you made (as quoted) above.
Hang in there, old boy!
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