Radio Replies First Volume - Devotion to Mary

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[GonzoII]

Devotion to Mary

1411. It is unscriptural to attribute power to Mary.

That is a very unscriptural statement. At His mother's request Jesus changed water into wine at Cana, though He had said, "My time is not yet come." St. James tells us that "the prayer of a just man availeth much." Jas 5:16. How much more the prayer of Mary!

1412. Does the Bible sanction such prayers to Mary?

Yes. All through the Bible you will find God conferring favors through the prayers of others. In the Old Testament we read of the prayers of Abraham, Moses, and of the various prophets. In the New Testament, St. James tells us to "pray for one another," in the text I have just quoted. If we must always pray directly to God and may not ask the prayers of others, why did St. Paul write to the Thessalonians, "Pray for us that we may be delivered from importunate and evil men?" 2 Thess 3:2. Why did he not ask that directly of God, instead of asking the prayers of the Thessalonians? Or would you be more scriptural than the New Testament itself?

1413. There is but one mediator; there is no place for Mary.

Christ is the principal mediator in His own right. Mary is a secondary mediatrix, through, with, and in Christ. Without Him she would have no power, and therefore He is the source of all mediation with God on behalf of men.

1414. How can you blend the mediation of others with that of Christ?

It follows from the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Remember that, by Baptism, every Christian is incorporated with Christ. St. Paul says, "Christ is the head; ye are the members." So close is this union that Christ says, "Whoever gives you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to me; amen, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." Mk 9:40. Every Christian is Christ in a most intimate way. St. Paul tells us that if a baptized person sins, he takes the members of Christ and makes them the members of iniquity! When that same St. Paul was persecuting the Christians before his conversion, Christ appeared to him and said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest Thou Me?" He did not say, "Why persecutest thou My disciples?" He could equally say, when we pray to Mary or to the saints, "What asketh thou of Me?" When we honor Our Lady or the Saints, we honor, not their own merely human and created nature, but we honor Christ in them according to the doctrine of Scripture. The Catholic Church is the only completely scriptural Church.

1415. Do Catholics believe that Mary is omnipotent?

No. God alone is omnipotent. But through Mary we have access to the omnipotence of God.

1416. How do you know that Mary hears you?

The Catholic Church guarantees that, and she is here to tell us the truth about such things in the name of Christ and with His authority. Reason also assures us that, as she could know our prayers in this life and pray for us in turn, so she can do so in the more perfect state in heaven. Finally experience proves it, for she has manifested her power in thousands of concrete instances in answer to prayer.

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[annalex]

I read what the text says

You don't. The text does not contain any disapproval of the woman's act. Note, too, that she did not just remarked calmly, that Mary is blessed; she lifted up her voice. It was also a reaction to a miracle and the solemn proclamation "But if I by the finger of God cast out devils; doubtless the kingdom of God is come upon you". We have the primary elements of veneration: praise and love. We do not have a request for intercession and we do not have an expressed desire to imitate. But intercession we get from other scripture (especially, John 2:1-11 and John 19:26-27) and by directing the woman to the virtue of obedience, Christ urges her to also imitate Mary.

do not worship God by focusing on the created

Really? Don't we worship God as creator of all, primarily? Remember that "How great thou are" hymn; does it not accord with your manner of worship?

[Mr Rogers]

Here is what the text says, per the NAB - a Catholic approved translation:

“While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.’

He replied, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’”

If someone claims those verses TEACH veneration of saints and hyper-veneration of Mary, then nothing I write will help them - except, “Repent!” Jesus wasn’t rude to the woman, but someone who reads what Luke wrote and Jesus said as approval cannot be helped by human words - those who deny the words of God will deny anything a human pens as well.

I post the words again so anyone reading this thread can decide for themselves what Jesus taught:

”While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.’

He replied, ‘Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.’”

[annalex]

Why are you looking at translations — that don’t prove your point anyway — when I read and can explain the original?

There is no disapproval of the woman except in the broadening of the focus to all saints. There is no exclusion of veneration of Mary.

More reading, less spinning. That’s the Catholic way.

[Mr Rogers]

I use translations because a little Greek can be worse than no Greek. A simplistic reading of word meanings, apart from grammar and context - to include context from how words are used both in classical Greek and in translating the Septuagint - can lead to error in translating.

Jesus did not attack the woman, but neither did he commend her. “RATHER” indicates she was missing the point, not spot on.

“More reading, less spinning. That’s the Catholic way.”

Not spinning. I’ve cited the verses, and added footnotes from Catholic translations and other texts making the same point - that it isn’t a physical relation that we need to focus on, but spiritual, and that Jesus also said, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Let any who read this thread decide for themselves who is paying attention to the text, and who is not. It only has two sentences:

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

[Mr Rogers]

“I wish I could come some day to understand this drive among protestants to deprecate the Mother of God.”

Don’t worry. Someday you will know why we don’t call her “Queen of Heaven”, or “Spouse of the Holy Spirit”! Hopefully that day will come while repentance is still possible...

[Petronski]

I have no need to repent from disagreeing with your own personal interpretation of Scripture.