Good stuff Quix, I too like most biblically literate protestants have no clue as to why RC’s push Mary so much, in ways so totally unrecognizable to the New Testament. The account in Acts (the Churches’ 1st 30 years or so) give no evidence at all to praying or giving veneration to dead saints, and, as a matter of fact, I believe Acts never once mentions Mary. Odd, since her veneration/worship is supposed to be so essential to the faith.
St. Paul too, in all his letters of central doctrine and advice to the 1st, foundational generation of Christians, never once mentions venerating dead saints, and yes, he like Dr. Luke author of Acts never once mentions Mary—only, and always Christ, our one Lord and Savior, the one Mediator between God and Man.
St. Peter too, in his 2 little books, never finds the paper to mention the vital importance of imploring dead saints (and there were many by then) to go before Christ for them....only, always Christ alone.
St. John, the caretaker of St. Mary from the cross on, in his 5 very profound books, never mentions praying to, or venerating statues of God’s loved ones in Glory. And, after his gospel account, he never mentions Mary again in his books—3 letters and the Apocalypse—either. Christ is all in all, God’s Word made flesh.
Surely Mary, as she herself said, is the most blessed of all women—having God the Son Himself as her son. That doesn’t make her sinless though—as the gospel accounts indicate—and I am sure she is angry, VERY angry, when focus on her obscures her all in all, Christ alone.
To read the Bible the way a Catholic must, is just proof that they are brainwashed by others and have failed to read it themselves. There are so many holes in their orthodoxy its hard to know where to start. Mary was a sinner like everyone else and needed the blood of Christ for her own salvation. Moses did what he was asked, Abraham did as he was aked, as did many others in the Bible. Even Jonah ended up doing what God asked after some prodding. Mary was submissive to the will of God, but she was still a human sinner and condemned to hell had it not been for the sacrifice of Jesus. No human can boast of anything concerning their salvation or they detract from the Grace of God. Even our faith is freely given by God to us. We couldn't force ourselves to have any faith in God on our own without God's intervention. As far as Mary's submission, I don't believe in "Plan B" from God. There was no doubt from the beginning of creation that Mary would be born and submit to the will of God. God knew from the beginning about Moses, Abraham, Ezekiel, Mary, Christ, Pilot, and me. There isn't anything that He doesn't know already. There never was any doubt that Mary would accept the will of God, just as God knew that I would accept Him and be saved when I was 43.
This is a very profound point. If Mary were qualified for special or particular grace, for a veneration above the apostles, and bordering on equality with Jesus Himself, Then why wasn't deference shown to her by those apostles?
Why is it that Christ's role is declared so perfectly as to leave no doubt of the intent of the Author, yet the claims for Mary's expanded role (that being more than the human mother of Christ) must be strenuously milked from hidden bits and pieces in a gnostic fashion?
I do not mean this to be an attack, but a reasonable observation that I would like an RC answer for.
Every line of yours, imho, is quite excellent. Thanks:
Good stuff Quix, I too like most biblically literate protestants have no clue as to why RC’s push Mary so much, in ways so totally unrecognizable to the New Testament. The account in Acts (the Churches’ 1st 30 years or so) give no evidence at all to praying or giving veneration to dead saints, and, as a matter of fact, I believe Acts never once mentions Mary. Odd, since her veneration/worship is supposed to be so essential to the faith.
St. Paul too, in all his letters of central doctrine and advice to the 1st, foundational generation of Christians, never once mentions venerating dead saints, and yes, he like Dr. Luke author of Acts never once mentions Mary—only, and always Christ, our one Lord and Savior, the one Mediator between God and Man.
St. Peter too, in his 2 little books, never finds the paper to mention the vital importance of imploring dead saints (and there were many by then) to go before Christ for them....only, always Christ alone.
St. John, the caretaker of St. Mary from the cross on, in his 5 very profound books, never mentions praying to, or venerating statues of God’s loved ones in Glory. And, after his gospel account, he never mentions Mary again in his books—3 letters and the Apocalypse—either. Christ is all in all, God’s Word made flesh.
Surely Mary, as she herself said, is the most blessed of all women—having God the Son Himself as her son. That doesn’t make her sinless though—as the gospel accounts indicate—and I am sure she is angry, VERY angry, when focus on her obscures her all in all, Christ alone.
Sure it does. Mary was present at the Pentecost at the birth of the Catholic Church. See Acts 1-2.
IMHO, it’s called demonic deception. satan will use anything and anyone to call attention away from the one true God.