Mary: Holy Mother

Catholic Pages ^ | 6/18/09 | Scott Hahn

[bdeaner]

Biography for Scott Hahn



Dr. Scott Hahn was born in 1957, has been married to Kimberly since 1979, and has six children. An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Hahn has delivered numerous talks nationally and internationally on a wide variety of topics talks related to Scripture and the Catholic faith. Hundreds of these talks have been produced on audio and videotapes by St. Joseph Communications. His talks have been effective in helping thousands of Protestants and fallen away Catholics to (re)embrace the Catholic faith.

He is currently a Professor of Theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990, and is the founder and director of the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology. In 2005, he was appointed as the Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith (Doubleday: New York, 2007) and Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace (Doubleday: New York, 2006) are the titles of his newest books. He is also the author of Understanding the Scriptures (Midwest Theological Forum: Chicago, 2005), Letter and Spirit (Doubleday: New York, 2005), Swear to God (Doubleday: New York, 2004), Scripture Matters (Emmaus Road: Steubenville, 2003), Lord Have Mercy (Doubleday: New York, 2003), Understanding Our Father (Emmaus Road: Steubenville, OH, 2002); First Comes Love (Doubleday: New York, 2002); Hail Holy Queen (Doubleday: New York, 2001), The Lamb’s Supper (Doubleday: New York, 1999); A Father Who Keeps His Promises (Servant Publications: Ann Arbor, MI 1998), co-author (along with his wife, Kimberly) of Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism (Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 1993), and co-editor of Catholic for a Reason I, II, III and IV (Emmaus Road: Steubenville, OH 1998). Dr. Hahn has also written numerous articles in lay and academic publications.

Scott received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a triple-major in Theology, Philosophy and Economics from Grove City College, Pennsylvania, in 1979, his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1982, and his Ph.D. in Biblical Theology from Marquette University in 1995. Scott has ten years of youth and pastoral ministry experience in Protestant congregations (in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Kansas and Virginia) and is a former Professor of Theology at Chesapeake Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 1982 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia. He entered the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, 1986.

[Laur]

How can I be removed from a thread that I didn’t sign on for in the first place? I’d like to be removed from the Catholic thread and the general religion thread, if possible.

[bdeaner]

What do you mean, removed from a thread? I did not ping you. You just added yourself by responding on the thread.

[Salvation]

I am sending you to the Religion Moderator who can tell you how to fix your problem.

[Salvation]

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

[bdeaner]

Great links!

[WKB]

Baptist ping

This entire thread could have been summed up in a few little
verses:

John 14 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (and my mother)

AND
John 10:30
I and the Father and our mother are one.”

AND
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

[vladimir998]

“In 2005, he was appointed as the Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.”

I wonder what that job really entails. He’s in Steubenville, Ohio. Latrobe close, but not just a 20 minute drive away! I know he gives talks there: http://www.saintvincentseminary.edu/video/scotthahn2008.lasso

[vladimir998]

Well, I guess I stumbled over my own answer: http://www.saintvincentseminary.edu/programs/popebenedictchair.lasso

[bronxville]

Thanks bdeaner. Saving for a later read.

[bdeaner]

You are in Latrobe? Cool. I’m in Pittsburgh. My family and I just took a Pilgrimage to the chapel at Franciscan University on Pentecost. I’ve seen Scott Hahn give lectures a couple times in the area — and many times on EWTN. The breadth and depth of his knowledge of scripture is amazing, but I am most impressed with his humility.

[metmom]

That’s a whole lot of rationalization and explanations of why Mary should be elevated to that level.

Christ alone died for our sins and only God can forgive us for the sins that we commit against Him, just as forgiveness for anything has to come from the person sinned against.

Mary is not Deity. I did not sin against her, but against God. Only Jesus died for us. The forgiveness has to come from Him through that perfect sinless sacrifice.

[Salvation]

**Christ alone died for our sins and only God can forgive us for the sins that we commit against Him, just as forgiveness for anything has to come from the person sinned against.**

Exactly what Catholics belive.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“You are in Latrobe? Cool. I’m in Pittsburgh.”

Actually I’m no where near Latrobe. I’ll be driving through Western Pennsylvania in about 13 days though! My best friend in this world lives in western Pa.

“My family and I just took a Pilgrimage to the chapel at Franciscan University on Pentecost. I’ve seen Scott Hahn give lectures a couple times in the area — and many times on EWTN. The breadth and depth of his knowledge of scripture is amazing, but I am most impressed with his humility.”

I had the chance to see him speak in person about a decade ago. His knowledge is amazing. He’s “scary smart” as the kids say.

[Religion Moderator]

If you do not wish to see Religion Forum posts, do NOT use the “everything” option on the browse. Instead, browse by “News/Activism.” When you log back in, the browse will reset to “everything” - so be sure to set it back to “News/Activism.”

[bdeaner]

This entire thread could be summer up in a few little verses:

John 14 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (and my mother)<

That's a very poor summary of the article. Doesn't even come close. Be honest -- you didn't read it.

The problem with your statements is that you assume the Catholic Church teaches us to worship Mary. But that is just not true. It is a common misunderstanding, but a big mistake.

The misunderstanding is based on the meaning of "veneration." You are talking about ADORATION, or worship. Yes, this is reserved for the Lord, as the Catholic Church agrees.

But veneration is a synonym for "honor." The 4th commandment says we are to honor our mother and father. In other words, we should venerate them, and by doing so, we not only take nothing away from the Lord, we please Him by obeying His commandments.

Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ. We worship the Lord, and we venerate or honor His Mother, because, in imitation of Chirst, we obey the 4th commandment.

The Lord is pleased when we venerate Mary. It shows that we understand and obey His Commandments.

Also, note that the early church fathers, and even the Reformers, encouraged the veneration of Mary and believed in her virgin birth. It is thoroughly Biblical, as Scott Hahn's analysis demonstrates -- although his analysis here is just the tip of the iceberg.

[bdeaner]

That’s a whole lot of rationalization and explanations of why Mary should be elevated to that level.

To what level? Did you even read the article?

[WKB]

If Mary is so important why is she not mentioned in Scripture after Acts Chapter 1.14 ?. Except for one time in Romans which may or may not be the mother of Jesus, the name Mary is not even found in the NT after Acts.
In fact other than passages about the Birth of Jesus
Mary is mentioned just a few times.
We are told to honor our father and mother. Jesus said
he was to bring Honor to His Father but he never tells
us to honor His mother.
I am not interested in what the writings and traditions of men have to say on this subject only what The Bible has to say.

[bdeaner]

If Mary is so important why is she not mentioned in Scripture after Acts Chapter 1.14 ?. Except for one time in Romans which may or may not be the mother of Jesus, the name Mary is not even found in the NT after Acts. In fact other than passages about the Birth of Jesus Mary is mentioned just a few times. We are told to honor our father and mother. Jesus said he was to bring Honor to His Father but he never tells us to honor His mother. I am not interested in what the writings and traditions of men have to say on this subject only what The Bible has to say.

St. Paul informs us that, united in Christ, we "make joy complete by being like-minded, have the same love, being one in spirit and purpose" as Him (Phil. 2:1-2). Our Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Commandments of the Lord, and in fact came to fulfill the old law (Matt. 5:17-18). Therefore, it follows, He was and is obedience to the fourth commandment: He honors His Blessed Mother. In imitation of the Lord -- in being like-minded, in being one in spirit and purpose -- we also should honor His Mother. And certainly we should never denigrate her, or fail to give her due credit for special grace the Lord gave her in choosing her to be the Mother of His Son. Such a failure would be a dishonor.

The logic is fairly simple, if we lay out the three premises upon which we surely agree:

Premise 1: One of the Ten Commandments is to honor thy father and mother.

Premise 2: Mary is the Mother of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Premise 3: Jesus obeyed the Ten Commandments.

Premise 4: St. Paul commands us to be like Christ -- being one in spirit and purpose.

Based on the above premises, we can conclude, first, Jesus honored His Mother. We know this because of Premises 1, 2 and 3. We also can conclude, based on the addition of Premise 4, that we are also to Honor Mary, Christ's Mother, because we are informed Scripturally that we should be united with Christ in spirit and purpose. If Christ's honors His mother, then being united in spirit and purpose with Chirst, we should honor Her as well. This is basic logic, founded in Scripture. Not everything in Scripture is explicit, as we know with regard to the Trinity. But with a little exposition, the truth can be seen to be very clear.

Mary does show up in the New Testament after Romans 16:6. See Revelations 12:1-5, 17.

[bdeaner]

If Mary is so important why is she not mentioned in Scripture after Acts Chapter 1.14 ?. Except for one time in Romans which may or may not be the mother of Jesus, the name Mary is not even found in the NT after Acts. In fact other than passages about the Birth of Jesus Mary is mentioned just a few times. We are told to honor our father and mother. Jesus said he was to bring Honor to His Father but he never tells us to honor His mother. I am not interested in what the writings and traditions of men have to say on this subject only what The Bible has to say.

St. Paul informs us that, united in Christ, we "make joy complete by being like-minded, have the same love, being one in spirit and purpose" as Him (Phil. 2:1-2). Our Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Commandments of the Lord, and in fact came to fulfill the old law (Matt. 5:17-18). Therefore, it follows, He was and is obedience to the fourth commandment: He honors His Blessed Mother. In imitation of the Lord -- in being like-minded, in being one in spirit and purpose -- we also should honor His Mother. And certainly we should never denigrate her, or fail to give her due credit for special grace the Lord gave her in choosing her to be the Mother of His Son. Such a failure would be a dishonor.

The logic is fairly simple, if we lay out the three premises upon which we surely agree:

Premise 1: One of the Ten Commandments is to honor thy father and mother.

Premise 2: Mary is the Mother of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Premise 3: Jesus obeyed the Ten Commandments.

Premise 4: St. Paul commands us to be like Christ -- being one in spirit and purpose.

Based on the above premises, we can conclude, first, Jesus honored His Mother. We know this because of Premises 1, 2 and 3. We also can conclude, based on the addition of Premise 4, that we are also to Honor Mary, Christ's Mother, because we are informed Scripturally that we should be united with Christ in spirit and purpose. If Christ's honors His mother, then being united in spirit and purpose with Chirst, we should honor Her as well. This is basic logic, founded in Scripture. Not everything in Scripture is explicit, as we know with regard to the Trinity. But with a little exposition, the truth can be seen to be very clear.

Mary does show up in the New Testament after Romans 16:6. See Revelations 12:1-5, 17.