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

[narses]

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

No I did not. And making it personal is against the rules.

[boatbums]

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.

Really? Mark Shea actually believes this? It has got to be one of the dumbest things I have ever read from the self-proclaimed Roman Catholic "apologists". Let me ask you this. Are Catholics "homophobic"? The homosexual lobby spits out this claim whenever anyone suggests the Bible is against homosexual conduct and prohibits it. We can certainly say that God calls such conduct a sin and, as a society, we should not condone behavior God condemns, but are we "homophobic" by doing so? Are we in fear of or afraid of homosexuals? NO, of course not. That is a silly and stupid thing for them to say.

So, by what right do Catholics have to claim anyone who does not hold to the same glorification of Mary, Jesus' mother, that others do, qualify as Mariaphobia? JUST AS STUPID! I can honor and praise Mary for her faithfulness and bravery in the things God called on her to do. I can agree she is blessed among women and strive to be the same kind of faithful Christian as she was. But, I do not consider her the "Mother of God" nor do I believe she is the spiritual mother of all Christians. I don't believe we are to "pray" to her nor expect her to have any special "in" with God because she is his mother and he has to listen to her. I don't believe we should erect statues of her to burn candles in front of nor do I believe she has any special powers to "deliver" people from Purgatory (there IS no such place, but that's another thread all its own). There are many things that I believe some people go overboard in consideration of Mary and it has only escalated over the centuries to where it has become a cult all to itself.

But, am I afraid of Mary? Do I think I am missing something by not joining with others who adore and worship/venerate her? Nope. I believe all glory and honor and praise should go to the one who deserves all the glory and honor and praise - the Lord Jesus Christ, Almighty God incarnate. Without him, nothing else would exist that exists. I prefer to give HIM what is due Him and which He will share with NO ONE else. Mariaphobic Response Syndrome, that's a joke, right?!

[SENTINEL]

A "saint" is a DEAD HUMAN, and if you took the time to read the bible, you'd find that we're not supposed to be trying to communicate with the dead. That is occult activity. You'd also find that God is NO RESPECTER OF HUMANS.

You're also not supposed to be praying/worshiping/kissing statues which are usually called "Graven images" or "idols". Look at the second commandment.

My God is not dead, he's alive ! He's God enough that I don't need to scheme behind his back with dead humans to trick him into getting what I need. I don't have to "politic" and "rumor" or "work" my way to heaven. My God is NOT A BUREAUCRAT !

[haffast]

Changeable Traditions and Doctrines of Men:

"Mariology of the Popes"

"Pope Pius XII dedicated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He prescribed this Feast for the whole Church in 1944 and placed his pontificate under the special patronage of the Virgin,[62] and was called the most Marian pope in Church history.[63] His life and pontificate were clearly marked by his Marian veneration. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariology_of_Pope_Pius_XII#Pius_XII

[haffast]

Changeable Traditions and Doctrines of Men:

"Mariology of the Popes"

"Pope Pius XII dedicated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He prescribed this Feast for the whole Church in 1944 and placed his pontificate under the special patronage of the Virgin,[62] and was called the most Marian pope in Church history.[63] His life and pontificate were clearly marked by his Marian veneration. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariology_of_Pope_Pius_XII#Pius_XII

[boatbums]

I see a lot of dissing of Mary from non-Catholics on FR.

Interpretation:

"Dissing of Mary" is anytime someone tries to discuss the Biblical facts about the woman who bore our Savior, Jesus Christ.

[SENTINEL]

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

No I did not. And making it personal is against the rules

The title of the article is "Mariaphobic...."

Yes, you did.

[Uri’el-2012]

When the Roman "church" stops using phrases
like "Queen of heaven" and "Mother of god"
that would be a first step to following YHvH
and His salvation.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[narses]

“A “saint” is a DEAD HUMAN,...”

Really? So that whole “eternal life” thing, not true?

What denomination teaches you these things?

[Salvation]

"Never apologize for the

Blessed Virgin Mary!"

~~Mother Angelica

 

[narses]

When the Roman "church" stops using phrases like "Queen of heaven" and "Mother of god" that would be a first step to following YHvH and His salvation.

What odd sect teaches that belief? Or is it just you and your own private "church"?

[narses]

“Yes, you did.”

Nope, and insisting that I did simply makes you look - well - foolish.

[SENTINEL]

Do you know any dead humans who have been risen from the "deep sleep", resurrected to eternal bodies like Christ's and met Him in the air ? I sure don't.

That is what is written in the bible.

[narses]

Really? So that whole “eternal life” thing, not true?

What denomination teaches you these things?

[SENTINEL]

Well you got me there, Another poster posted the article claiming in the title that Christians are "MARIAPHOBIC".

You're just an innocent bystander defending the claim.

[freedomfiter2]

Thanks, I’ll take all the prosperous blessings I can get and the same to you.

[narses]

You finally got around to the facts, good job!

[steve86]

She’s 95, saw her ten minutes ago, and yes, she does.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-— But, I do not consider her the “Mother of God” -—

Is Jesus God? Was Mary Jesus’ mother?

That’s all that the Church means by the title. The Church does not teach that Mary existed before God.

[roamer_1]

If she were sinless, then of course she would be chosen.

Not so, as if she were sinless, there would be no point to Yeshua. And if any can be MADE sinless, what need is there for any of it?