Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Kolokotronis

Ok...I really do not mean to sound offensive and do not really want to Stir sh@t. I am curious though, how is mary the all holy one, I never got that.


20 posted on 10/17/2005 6:19:50 PM PDT by Xenophon450 (In a world of spoonfed emotion, intelligence can save.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies ]


To: Xenophon450
She is the most holy of mortals, not through her own merit, but through God's grace, so that she could be a fit mother for God and the new Ark of the Covenant.

Stop and think about it for a moment . . . she carried God for nine months in her body, and raised him from a baby until he began his ministry.

22 posted on 10/17/2005 6:43:01 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

To: Xenophon450

Mary is considered the pattern for all christians to emulate - she said "YES" to God in a way that allowed the total invasion of her body, the total subjugation of her will to the Divine will. Form that point on, her life was literally not her own anymore. Likewise, anyone who would be a christ folower must needs follow the Christbearer (I have no greek font - but it is rendered "Theotokos." We, as Christians are called to be Christbearers in our own right - we bear his imprint - the pattern of godliness - (He is called the FirstFruits of all creation). Yes, Mary is special - and she is holy (set apart for God's purposes - not her own). Amen?


23 posted on 10/17/2005 6:44:24 PM PDT by LibreOuMort ("...But as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

To: Xenophon450

"Ok...I really do not mean to sound offensive and do not really want to Stir sh@t. I am curious though, how is mary the all holy one, I never got that."

That's not an offensive question at all. One of the earliest of the Fathers, +Ignatius of Antioch, +Peter's successor as bishop there and by tradition the child who sat on Christ's knee, wrote this in a letter in the first century:

"If it is made possible, I intend to come to you in order to see the faithful gathered in Jerusalem, and especially the Mother of Jesus: they say of her that she is honorable, affable, and arouses wonder in all, and all wish to see her. But who would not wish to see the Virgin and to converse with her who bore the true God? ...With us she is glorified as the Mother of God and the Virgin full of grace and virtue. They say of her that she is joyful in troubles and persecutions, does not grieve in poverty and want, and not only does not get angry with those who offend her but does good to them still more... All who see her are delighted."

In the second century, +Ireneus of Lyons wrote:

"The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed through the obedience of Mary; for what Eve, a virgin, bound by her unbelief, that Mary, a virgin, unloosed by her faith!"

By the 300s, the holy Father +Ephraim the Syrian was writing:

"Come, let us wonder at the virgin most pure, wondrous in herself, unique in creation, she gave birth, yet knew no man; her pure soul with wonder was filled, daily her mind gave praise in joy at the twofold wonder: her virginity preserved, her child most dear. Blessed is He who shone forth from her!"

By 431, The Church at the Third Ecumenical Council declared her the Theotokos, the God Bearer, the Mother of God.

As you can see, there was, and as is evidenced by what you have read on FR when this topic comes up, is, a 2000+ year old tradition within The Church that Mary is All Holy. It is, as we say, what The Church always and everywhere has believed...including the bishops who established the canon of the NT.


24 posted on 10/17/2005 6:44:50 PM PDT by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson