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
And, manage to somehow square up that hatred with their faith in God and Christianity.
Infallibility merely guarantees that the pope (or an ecumenical council ratified by him) will not speak or define in error. It is entirely possible that revelation defined through this means will be given in stages. This is because the charism is brought to bear on specific questions or controversies, as they come up. As an illustration, even our understanding of the nature of Christ was given in this way, spread out in the six earliest Ecumenical Councils, from Nicaea to Third Constantinople. If that is "clarification," then, yes, popes and ECs can "clarify" in this way.
Never! Better to chug seawater after a week without liquids than to do that. Nimmer! Jamais! Nunca!
I see you caught the deficiencies in this regard also. It's especially cheeky to complain about the alleged deification of Mary when one is not even a Christian himself, at least as measured by the standard of believing in the Trinity.
I’ve a serious question. I’ve always been confused about this “praying to Mary”...
My understanding is that the only entities capable of hearing prayers are the Divine (the “members” of the Trinity). Mary was a human, a specially chosen human, but not “divine” in the least. How is it that you think she can hear your prayers?
Do you pray to any of your ancestors and expect them to hear you?
Read Revelation 5 carefully.
***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.***
Not one written by someone ELSE? Try this one:
The Our Father was taught to us by JESUS. Luke 11.1
Jesus also said the Matthew 6:7 quote. How many times has a priest told you to say x number of “Our Fathers” and/or x number of Hail Mary’s as penitence? I would say that qualifies as babbling. And how many times have you said the Lord’s prayer without thinking of the meanings of the words? I have, before I knew better. I would say that also qualifies as babbling.
What's despicable about a crucifix with an image of Mary holding the baby Jesus on the back side of it?
Don't hold your breath waiting to get a straight answer to that question. My expectation is to get a parsing of words, or some declaration about not demonstrating the chesed because the question was asked. But that's just based on experience and may not be what happens; who knows.
Its called blasphemy.
Bingo! Now you're getting it! It's all from God. You've finally taken a step toward understanding the Catholic faith.
Explain.
But...apparently not. In at least one person's case.
This ought to be good.
See post 195.
I have come to understand that as to Mary, and to the crucifix, Catholics really don’t “get it.”
The crucifix is at its heart, a lie. Christ dead and pierced on the cross is not the Gospel message. Had he not risen, his death would have been in vain; the fact that he was and is victorious over death is what is important.
Placing Mary on that cross is another iconic lie; she did not die for us, nor did an infant. The words of the Lord made plain that who his mother was is irrelevant to our salvation, and to his victory. To try to include Mary on the cross is to blurr the line between a godly, obedient woman and Semiramis (Ishtar, Ishi, Isis, Astarte), and soil the Lord’s wonderful gift to his Father’s elect.
Blasphemy.
The crucifix is at its heart, a lie. Christ dead and pierced on the cross is not the Gospel message. Had he not risen, his death would have been in vain; the fact that he was and is victorious over death is what is important.
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness" - 1 Cor. 1: 23.
Like I said, you just don’t get it. You cannot look at it objectively, and see the Biblical picture.
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