Mariaphobic Response Syndrome: Part One

MarkShea.com ^ | 2005 | Mark P. Shea

[Salvation]

 

Mariaphobic Response Syndrome: Part One

Recently, I participated in an online conversation about the Blessed Virgin. As an Evangelical convert to the Catholic faith, I can empathize with the deep fears many Evangelicals have about Mary. It's a terror that runs way down into the guts and marrow of many Evangelicals. It's a deep, unreasoning and nameless fear that does not lose any of its power even when every so-called "basis" for the fear is debunked. And like many irrational fears, it has the odd quality of distracting us from reality and clear thinking.

To illustrate what I mean, let me sum up not a few discussions I have witnessed between Catholics and Evangelicals.

Evangelical: You must not worship Mary!

Catholic: Relax. I don't worship Mary.

Evangelical: Oh, but you do!

Catholic: Actually, I think I'm the only one qualified to make that call, aren't I?

Evangelical: But it looks to me like you worship her! You pray to her and ask her to intercede for you, don't you?

Catholic: Yes, I do like to talk to my mother about things. But I don't worship her and I don't think she's God. She's a creature, a fellow Christian (albeit the great one). How would you feel if I said, "You worship your barber! I know you do, because you sometimes ask him to pray for you?"

Evangelical: That's totally different!

Catholic: Actually, it's exactly the same. Which is why Scripture says don't judge by appearances. If you'd just ask me rather than telling me, I'd be happy to tell you what I worship. I worship Jesus Christ fully present in the Holy Eucharist-body, blood, soul, and divinity.

Evangelical: I don't think the Eucharist is Jesus' body and blood, but simply a symbol. But let's not argue over such fine points of theology as "transubstantiation". We both celebrate Communion in our own ways. And that's the important thing.

Catholic: Did you hear me? I said I fall down in worship and adoration before something that looks just like a piece of bread and a cup of wine. I say "Hosanna" to it. I adore it as the very God of the Universe! The Eucharist is my Lord and my God, my salvation, my life, the very source of my being!

Evangelical: Yes. I think that's a bit overboard, but let's not argue about it. You have your version of Communion and I have mine. Now: about Mary worship--don't you see how incredibly dangerous it is for you to commit the grave sin of idolizing Mary....

If this were the only time I'd seen exchanges like this I would laugh it off as a singular incidence of obtuseness. But, in fact, it's not at all uncommon to see Evangelicals devoting weirdly disproportionate amounts of energy to the strange task of persuading Catholics to cease doing what they are not doing while cheerfully and warmly ignoring what they are doing.

To be sure, that doesn't mean I think Evangelicals should get on the ball and start a campaign against Eucharistic Adoration. On the contrary, I think Eucharistic Adoration the highest duty of the human race and something that should be encouraged till the glory of the Lord covers the face of the earth as the waters cover the sea. But I do think it mighty odd that somebody who doesn't believe the Eucharist is Jesus Christ cares passionately that I not fall down in worship of Mary-whom I do not adore-yet shrugs indifferently when I fall down in worship of the Host.

It gives one the strong impression that there's something other than concern about idolatry here. That something is what I call Mariaphobic Response Syndrome: the irrational terror of the Blessed Virgin that paradoxically makes her loom far larger in many Evangelical imaginations than in Catholic ones.

As a recovering MRS sufferer, I can tell you that she is perhaps the single biggest obstacle facing the potential convert to the Church from Evangelicalism. The papacy? Small beer! The Eucharist? Got it. Sacred Tradition? Not a problem! Mary?

Something in the gut stirs. The terror that the whole Catholic faith is a vast charade flares up in the mind. Say what they will, the "Catholic Mary" is some terrible pretty face on the worship of Babylonian deities! Must. Get. Out! Must. Escape! It's all a trick! Once I'm in the Church I'll be ushered into the Secret Chambers where Scary Marian Rites of Worship take place in the secret rooms beneath the sanctuary! There'll be no escape! I will be forced to worship the Goddess!!!!!

Then you enter the Church and reality hits you: Mary gets small. Or rather, she resumes her normal place. You discover the comic fact that nobody thinks she's another God, as you feared. You discover the even funnier fact that a small minority of Catholics think she's another Pope. But more on that in my next column...

Copyright 2005 - Mark P. Shea

[count-your-change]

And who is Mark Shea? Some blogger who who suffers from Scripturaphobia? He creates his own mythical character and undercuts his own arguments.

ho hum. Next?

[Former Fetus]

I would like to comment as a Catholic convert to the Evangelical church. I do not fear Mary. Maybe, as a little girl, I used to "fear" spending recess praying the Rosary as a punishment for any minor infraction in class. But I do no fear Mary. I admire her, her faith, her role in the Salvation story. I just don't light candles or pray to her.

On the other hand, I agree with you that it is far more serious how we differ in our views of the Eucharist. When I've gone home in the past, I would go to mass with my parents but would not partake of the Eucharist. The differences are too big, too important, to be swept under the rug. My mom did not like it, but I thought that if it was given to me with the belief it was the Body and Blood of Christ, and I received it as a symbol... well, at the very least it showed a tremendous lack of respect to both my parents and my beliefs. So I just sat in the pew and spent the time in prayer.

[GeronL]

My point is that she is not a deity

[steve86]

Comments of this kind are disingenuous because Protestants know Catholics reject Sola Scriptura. But still, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year (you’re gonna need the prosperous part!)..

[Salvation]

“To pray,” as a verb, has two very distinct meanings:

1 : to make a request in a humble manner
2 : to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving

2 is worship

1 is a request to a saint or the Blessed Mother.

[Salvation]

Did I say that the Blessed Virgin Mary was God?

[fattigermaster]

“Mariaphobia”? Talk about tearing a page right out of the LGBT tactical manual...

Make sure to plasticize that victim card; one rainy day or forget it in the wash and you’ll have no one to blame but yourselves.

[ctdonath2]

Yet another article demeaning those who disagree with key Catholic principles for sound reasons. No discourse, just insults.

[GeronL]

Another post yesterday claimed she was the “mother of God”, as if she birthed the universe and he only claimed credit. He is much much older than mortal, human Mary.

[narses]

Prayer is worship. Prayer is worship. Prayer is worship. Prayer is worship. Prayer is worship. Prayer is worship.

Well, not really.

But if you want A to equal B then in your own special world, it can.

Would you pray for me, brother?

[ctdonath2]

Pretty obvious you’re worshiping Mary if you contend she’s in a position to offer graces.

[ctdonath2]

“Would you have Jesus if it had not been for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s “YES” to the Archangel Gabriel?”

Yes. She was chosen, not asked.

[ctdonath2]

The Bible does not indicate we should be fearful of Mary any more than any other sinner. She was chosen as a vessel, not imbued with power.

[Mad Dawg]

I have a pretty deep devotion to Mary, but I agree that “mariaphobic”, unless Shea was trying to be funny, doesn’t move the ball in any helpful direction.

[Salvation]

Did you read the article? He tells who he is.

[ctdonath2]

Hail Sentinel, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst men,
and blessed is the savior of thy soul, Jesus.
Holy Sentinel, Child of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

...doesn’t sound quite right, does it? According to Catholic rationale, this should be perfectly acceptable.
Reducto ad absurdum.

[Salvation]

Mary is the Mother of God — she is the mother of Jesus Christ, true God and true man, the second person of the Holy Trinity.

Are you saying that you don’t believe in Jesus, that you don’t believe in the Trinity?? What??

[ctdonath2]

Sorry, mistook the meaning of “fear” for a moment.

[SENTINEL]

I'll pray for you, but not to you.

Prayer is a form of worship to be reserved for God. It's the very first commandment.

Why do you Catholics believe that God is so flawed he has to be nagged by his completely human mother to take care of his children ? You act as though His kingdom is a giant Chicago-style bureacracy where who and what you know will get you ahead.

Disgusting and unChristian if you ask me.

Don't you forget you started this thread accusing Christians of being afraid of a dead human woman.

[Salvation]

Two kinds of prayer

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2973991/posts?page=25#25