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The Mother of God calls us to be 'Bearers of God'
Catholic Online ^ | 11/30/2008 | Deacon Keith A Fournier

Posted on 12/30/2008 8:43:49 PM PST by GonzoII

Men have crowded all her glory into a single phrase: The Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her.(Martin Luther)

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - From antiquity, Mary has been called “Theotokos”, or “God-Bearer” (Mother of God). It is a relatively recent phenomenon among some Christians that this term has even become controversial. Yet since the Protestant reformation – it has. So, sadly, it is this title which prevents some Christians from experiencing Mary as the gift that she is meant to be for the whole church and for the world. The word in Greek is “Theotokos”.

The term was used as part of the popular piety of the early first millennium church. It is used throughout the Eastern Church's Liturgy, both Orthodox and Catholic. It lies at the heart of the Latin Rite's deep Marian piety and devotion. This title was a response to the early threats to 'orthodoxy' or the preservation of authentic Christian teaching. A pronouncement of an early Church Council, The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., insisted “… If anyone does not confess that God is truly Emmanuel, and that on this account the holy virgin is the “Theotokos” (for according to the flesh she gave birth to the word of God become flesh by birth) let him be anathema.” The Council of Ephesus, 431 AD,

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; History; Orthodox Christian; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; spirituallife; theotokos; virginmary
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1 posted on 12/30/2008 8:43:50 PM PST by GonzoII
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To: GonzoII

Ave Maria!


2 posted on 12/30/2008 8:50:38 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: the invisib1e hand

Ave Jesus!


3 posted on 12/30/2008 9:01:52 PM PST by doc1019
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To: GonzoII
It lies at the heart of the Latin Rite's deep Marian piety and devotion.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I hope to write this a repectfully as possible.

Is is possible for Catholics to see how Catholic practices with regard to Mary are perceived by Protestant Christians? It is perceived by me that this respect for Mary is absolutely teetering on the very edge of idolatry.

I like believing and fully practicing Catholics. I **really** do. I wish we had a nation full of them.

But...When it comes to Catholic practices regarding Mary, I just need to switch on the tolerance mode and say, “Well that's how they do things. We don't do this in my church.”

4 posted on 12/30/2008 9:02:05 PM PST by wintertime (Good ideas win! Why? Because people are NOT stupid)
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To: the invisib1e hand
The Mother of God [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Mother of God calls us to be 'Bearers of God'
HE INCREASES AND SHE DECREASES [Mary, Mother of God]

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Mary, Full of Grace
Happy Mother's Day to Mary - the Mother of God
Catholic beliefs about Mary, the Mother of God
Mary, Mother of God
The Early Church Fathers on The Mother of God - Catholic/Orthodox Caucus

Mary, Mother of God
Mary in Feminist Theology: Mother of God or Domesticated Goddess?
Mary: True Mother of God
Feast of Mary, Mother of God (not a Holy Day of Obligation this year)
MARIAN DEVOTION - Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God

Mother of God
Virgin Mother of God
A Homily on the Dormition of Our Supremely Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
The Mother of the Son: The Case for Marian Devotion
Mary: True Mother of God

5 posted on 12/30/2008 9:05:36 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wintertime
It seems that many Protestants have switched to the "Acceptance" rather than tolerance mode. Must be something there! Hmmmm.

Protestants and the rosary

The Protestant Reformers on the Virgin Mary

Mary Is a Model Who Works With Us and in Us

The Real Presence and Mary

Christ, God's Gift Through Mary

Mary not just for Catholics anymore

Through Mary to Jesus

Her saving grace - the origins of the Immaculate Conception

Open to Life: Asking Protestants to Ponder Mary

6 posted on 12/30/2008 9:07:11 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: GonzoII; Religion Moderator

Caucus???


7 posted on 12/30/2008 9:10:39 PM PST by Pyro7480 (This Papist asks everyone to continue to pray the Rosary for our country!)
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To: Pyro7480

“Caucus???”

Not a Caucus thread.


8 posted on 12/30/2008 9:16:52 PM PST by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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To: wintertime
"I hope to write this a respectfully as possible."

Thanks.

If any Catholics are worshiping the Virgin Mary, they've got a problem. We do highly honor her though.

9 posted on 12/30/2008 9:24:32 PM PST by GonzoII ("That they may be one...Father")
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To: GonzoII

Ok, but as you know, you’re just inviting false doctrine about the Blessed Mother to be posted on here.


10 posted on 12/30/2008 9:25:05 PM PST by Pyro7480 (This Papist asks everyone to continue to pray the Rosary for our country!)
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To: GonzoII

Doesn’t matter. caucused or not, if you say anything against Catholics on this site, you are in deep dodo.


11 posted on 12/30/2008 9:36:41 PM PST by doc1019
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To: wintertime

Agreed. 1Timothy chapter 1 v.12: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners... chapter 2 v.5: “For there is ONE mediator between God and men, the MAN CHRIST JESUS.”

I would never minimize the role of Mary. HOWEVER, without the finished work on the cross and resurrection of her son even Mary had no hope of ever being in Heaven.


12 posted on 12/30/2008 9:47:12 PM PST by LeonardFMason
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To: LeonardFMason

Your lack of Catholic theology seems evident here.


13 posted on 12/30/2008 9:50:57 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: LeonardFMason

Let me re=phrase that.

Your lack of knowledge about Catholic theology seems evident here.

You know that Catholics do not worship Mary. We ask her to hear our prayers.


14 posted on 12/30/2008 9:53:44 PM PST by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: wintertime

Sure, there are some very uninformed Catholics out there. They confuse people.

Look, God selected her. She was conceived without sin so she could harbor Christ. She contributed her human genetic code to Him. She consented to give her life to that cause, no matter what. Christ loved and honored her. She spent her whole life serving Him. Through her, every aspect of human life (conception, birth, childhood, parenthood, marriage, death) was validated and lifted to a new form of holiness because it was lived with Christ.

We honor her above all other humans because she walked with Christ from His conception to his Ascension. She accepted God’s will every step of the way. She is worthy of praise and honor. She is not our idol— she’s our ideal.


15 posted on 12/30/2008 9:54:07 PM PST by Melian
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To: Salvation

No dis-respect but I have little interest in Catholic, Protestant, or any other so-called THEOLOGY.


16 posted on 12/30/2008 9:59:19 PM PST by LeonardFMason
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To: GonzoII

sigh!


17 posted on 12/30/2008 10:08:02 PM PST by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: Salvation

MARK Chapter 3 v31 to v35: “There came then his brethren and mother, and standing without(outside), sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he(the Lord Jesus) answered them saying, WHO IS MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN? And he looked round about on them(not his real mother or brethren) that sat around him and said, BEHOLD MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN! FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF GOD, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER, AND MY SISTER, AND MOTHER.” The Lord Jesus Christ, the SON OF GOD, makes it clear that Spiritual Relationships are preeminent and supersede ANY familial relationship.


18 posted on 12/30/2008 10:20:54 PM PST by LeonardFMason
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To: Salvation

MARK Chapter 3 v31 to v35: “There came then his brethren and mother, and standing without(outside), sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he(the Lord Jesus) answered them saying, WHO IS MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN? And he looked round about on them(not his real mother or brethren) that sat around him and said, BEHOLD MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN! FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF GOD, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER, AND MY SISTER, AND MOTHER.” The Lord Jesus Christ, the SON OF GOD, makes it clear that Spiritual Relationships are preeminent and supersede ANY familial relationship.


19 posted on 12/30/2008 10:21:23 PM PST by LeonardFMason
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To: LeonardFMason

“The Lord Jesus Christ, the SON OF GOD, makes it clear that Spiritual Relationships are preeminent and supersede ANY familial relationship.”

Indeed so. As John the Baptist said at Matt. 3:10, God was able to raise up children to Abraham from the stones.

Mary is treated with respect in Scripture, not worshiped or prayed to, or spoken of as interceding and certainly not treated as “Mother of God”.


20 posted on 12/30/2008 10:55:39 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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