On Marianism.
Absolutely Mary is blessed among women, and absolutely she will be called blessed by all generations. There is a far cry from being blessed though, to being venerated and prayed to.
Note that Mary refers to her humility (in the Magnificat), and says God has done great things TO her. She rejoices in God. Nowhere does she exalt herself, or place herself as a person who should be prayed to or venerated.
Throughout the scriptures, godly prayer is directed only towards God... all else is idolatry. It is one of the marks of His divinity that we are instructed to pray in Jesus' name (Jn 14:13). Some would say that we are only asking Mary to pray for us, as we might ask any other person to pray for us, but especially with Mary, this walks a dangerously thin line.
Similarly for worship, we are told to worship God alone. It is again noteworthy that Jesus accepts worship from people during His time (see Jn 9:38).
The healing of the woman who touches Jesus' clothing is a fascinating question. Is God's power 'magic' that can be invoked and used by men because it inhabits and resides in objects... or was the 'power going out of Jesus' done through her faith and the grace of God? I would say the former goes strongly against what God tells us about Himself throughout scripture. There is no power in the Spear of Destiny, the Holy Grail, or any other object. Power and our faith reside in God alone, and in Him alone do I place my trust.
Jesus is never a bad son, but He is absolutely a true Son to our truest Father, the God of Abraham and Isaac, who is ever faithful. Does Christ exist to fulfill our wishes and make us 'happy'? Does He exist to make His human mother happy? Or does He exist and derive perfect joy from doing the will of our Father in heaven? Note the incident where Christ stays behind after the Passover. When His parents find Him, Mary says,
"Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:48b-49)
Is Christ a bad son here, or a perfect son?
Does Mary exist to call Christ to her desires and will, or is she the servant of the Lord?
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered, "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38)
Oh... and to be honest, I don't read much about Catholicism. The whole Protestant/Catholic debate is a rather dead issue to me, and I'm actually quite surprised to see people still beating the poor dead horse.
Oh, understood about your comment about considering scripture in it's totality, but there are clear and definite instances where it is clear that people have not even attempted this.
In all things, may God be glorified, and we be humble.
In the Gospel according to Patton (admittedly a debated work) the word is, "Do not take council of your fears."
I find nothing that tells me the road to salvation is anything other than straight and narrow - a thin line, the transgression of which is perilous. So yes, it's a dangerous line. I walk it boldly and invite you to do so as well. Let's rock 'n roll!Shall we say, "I can't risk this because it's dangerous?" Safety is staying in bed -- and now there are bedbugs, so nothing is safe. Might as well go after adventure!
or was the 'power going out of Jesus' done through her faith and the grace of God
Clearly In Mary's case, that of the handmaid of the Lord, such "power" as "Goes out" involves her faith. And it's ALL grace upon grace!
It is because, and only because, of the great things that God has done for Mary that we venerate and celebrate her. This hit me in a big way this Assumption Day when I realized anew that What Jesus holds out to all the faithful is already fulfilled in her.
In her is realized, by grace and grace alone - grace manifested in faith which enabled her to give a whole-hearted Yes to God - what I hope for you and me, the union of the created will with the Creator's will.
It is only cartoon imagery that has Mary bending Jesus to her will. And much beyond that and we get into how/whether prayer affects God's will, where I fear to tread.
Are you a parent? It seems to me it's all there implicitly, all in parenthood. Two things keep me from wholeheartedly wanting what the 'orrible brat child wants: (1) She doesn't always want what's best, (2)Sometimes I'm selfish.
If I could rely on the 'orrible brat child's always wanting the very best, and if I were always ready to set my will aside in favor of the very best, then my will would always conform to that of the 'o.b.c.
Mary's Child always wanted what was best. Mary (and I suppose this is more controversial) had already at the moment of His conception (if not before) given herself as God's handmaid, in a way us guy type individuals will never quite 'get'.
< pant, pant > ;-)
Since you don't know that much about us filthy Papists, let me say that the finding of the young Jesus in the temple is one of the "mysteries" of the Rosary. So over the years I've had the chance to give it a LOT of thought! (I started with the Rosary in 1967. I'm old. Have pity! Get me a beer!) And yeah, I think it a wonderful example of what you get when an adolescent boy is also God the Son of God, namely: confused parents. But I think it is our projection that make Mary's question a rebuke. I don't think saying "Um, Son? What was THAT about?" is necessarily querulous.
basta!