Posted on 12/27/2018 6:19:11 AM PST by ebb tide
In his Christmas greetings to the employees of the Holy See on December 21, Pope Francis spoke about Our Lady and Saint Joseph in the Nativity scene being full of holiness and joy.
He continued: “And you will tell me: of course! They are Our Lady and Saint Joseph! Yes, but let us not think it was easy for them: saints are not born, they become thus, and this is true for them too.”
According to Catholic doctrine Our Lady was conceived without original sin and therefore born a saint. Francis is known for often speaking without thinking.
Ping
Not without thinking, but for not remembering he's supposed to pretend he's Catholic instead of saying what he really believes.
Perhaps he meant “saintly” as the word is commonly understood now. That she was conceived without sin does not mean she did not experience difficulties. The pope could have conveyed that without blundering into contradicting the faith. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.
But and here is the big but. Why is it necessary to tone down the joy of the Nativity and the obvious adoration of Mary and Joseph? I’ve known other preachers who do this. As if letting ourselves be caught up in that moment means we will turn away from human suffering and be ever oblivious to it. We know what comes for the Holy Family. We don’t know how many moments of unbridled happiness they had throughout the life of Christ. But we know they had this one. Sharing it year after year needs no tempering.
In view of the unique merits of Jesus the Christ child, Mary's sinless nature was "Granted by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, this preservation from original sin is an absolutely gratuitous divine favour, which Mary received at the first moment of her existence."
Through the anticipated merits of Jesus on the Cross. See Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus.
Thank you for the reply.
That was a lot to read and digest. Thanks for the reply.
How can peoplewhobelieve in God not believe that through Him All things are possible?
Why is it necessary to tone down the joy of the Nativity and the obvious adoration of Mary and Joseph?
Right there is something to think about. The Catholic Doctrine goes to great length to explain the difference between adoration and veneration. It is a word game as anyone with common sense would see. You failed to note the difference because there is none.
All glory and honor belongs to God. He is a jealous God.
Joh_6:32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven.
Now, did Jesus tone down the excitement about honoring Moses? Or did Jesus point to a higher truth and who was really deserving of honor?
It is a very slippery slope between adoring the creator or one of his creatures. Best not to get on it.
Now, thanking God for what He did through Mary and Joseph is another matter...………………………...
Frankly out of the vast list of things he has said that he should be criticized for this one would not make my top 1000. He could have misspoken.
How can Mary have been conceived without original sin?
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It has nothing to do with how she was conceived, but with the special nature conferred on her by God at the time she was conceived. She was not subjected to the curse of original sin everyone else, except Christ, has.
Not when you take into account all of the other comments he has made about Mary since his election. Anyone who gives him the benefit of the doubt at this point is just part of the problem.
This explained it well enough, I think -
Doesn’t impact me one way or another, but (without deeper research) it’s at least an argument.
You are kinder about this than I would be.
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