Replies

Blogger, I have to ask, why is it so big a deal to say that Mary did not have any more kids? I am a Lutheran, and quite frankly I think it is more than likely that Joseph and Mary did not have sex. It makes sense logically, and isn't contradicted in scripture.

The big deal is that I believe it IS contradicted by Scripture; and, it is part of an overarching pattern. One has to explain Adelphos some other way than it is usually translated (brothers), protokos some other way than it is usually translated (first born in a succession) in Greek in that context, and until in some other way than the actual context indicates. Of course, there are other ways to translate Protokos and Ews(until)and other ways of understanding Adelphos; however, with the three elements all being present in Scripture and there being NOTHING in Scripture to indicate otherwise, it seems to be a great contradiction of Scripture to indicate that Jesus was an only child.

Beyond that, it is a part of an overarching pattern in Mariology. She has been exalted from being the blessed mother of Jesus and servant of God that she was to taking on the attributes of Christ. In fact, Ascribing attributes of Christ to Mary is something the Catholic church does regularly - in opposition to Scripture and very often at the instigation of "Mary" herself.

Study the apparitions that are revered by so many. Many are rather tame, but many are outright blasphemy.

Examples: Mary as Mediator

What Scripture says: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; . . ." [I Timothy 2:5]

What "Mary" says: Apparition of Mary to the children of Medjugorje, Bosnia "I am a Mediatress between you and God."

Mary as High Priest

What Scripture Says: "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." [Hebrews 7:26-28]

What "Mary" Says: Apparition of Mary to the children of Medjugorje, Bosnia "I am with you and day after day I offer your sacrifices and prayers to God for the salvation of the world."

Apparition of Mary to Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Akita, Japan 1973 "With my Son I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls."

Mary as Savior: What Scripture Says- "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." [Acts 4:12]

What "Mary" Says- Apparition of Mary to Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Akita, Japan "I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."

Apparition of Mary to Nancy Fowler, Conyers, Georgia, USA "Our Loving Mother said, `We are both revealing our suffering faces to you. Tell others we suffer for them in love.'" "During the vision, Jesus appeared to Nancy on the cross and, then, merged with an image of His Mother. This vision was repeated over and over and over and over. This vision appeared to show the oneness of their suffering." BR>
Mary as Goddess:

What Scripture says: Exodus 20:"8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. "

Apparition of Mary to Maximin Graud and Melanie Mathieu, LaSalette, France 1846 "I gave you six days for working. The seventh I have reserved for myself."

Interior Locution of Mary to Carlos Lopez, San Francisco, California, USA 1991-present

"I am the Morning Star whom announces the day, the Light which is near, the Light of God, the Light of Love, the Light of peace, the Light of eternal salvation... I will ascend to heaven to take possession of My throne alongside of My Son."

The Gospel according to "Mary": Apparition of Mary to Lucia Abobora, Fatima, Portugal 1917 "`Jesus . . . wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My Immaculate Heart' ..[Lucia later recalled,] `Before the palm of the right hand of Our Lady was a Heart encircled by thorns which seemed to have pierced it like nails. We understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary outraged by the sins of humanity, for which there must be reparation.'"

There have been many apparitions and more blasphemous sayings- but these particular ones have been blessed by the church as being real or have at least received favorable attention by the Pope and others.

There is so much more I could say. But, bringing it back to the subject of this thread- The Catholic church does not own Mary. They have in effect created a female deity (though they will not refer to her as such) whom draws attention away from the true Gospel of our Lord and Savior. If in the Movie Mary is depicted in a way that is unbiblical- then I will object to that portrayal. But to portray her as the Mary developed by the RCC, would be a distortion beyond words.

But, as many here have said, and has been long acknowledged by many Protestant Bible scholars, adelphos can mean siblings, or close cousins. First born doesn't always mean that there were more than the first.

If you have problems with the having Mary as co redeemer and co mediatrix, then I can see your point. But if she had kids with Joseph doesn't have much to do with the rest of the stuff you talked about.

There have been many apparitions and more blasphemous sayings- but these particular ones have been blessed by the church as being real or have at least received favorable attention by the Pope and others.

*That is simply a lie. Two consecutive Bishops of Mostar have declared the Medjugorge "apparitions" are not visions of Mary. Both Bishops have declared the seers liars.

Please, Sir. Take some time to learn the facts. When you make such posts, you do not prove the Catholic Church is heretical, you illustrate you do not know what you are talking about