You twist my words in an attempt to defend your theology. I never said that her soul was “dead.” Indeed, I specified the opposite: it’s alive and not preoccupied with you, but with her Lord.
The truth is that Mary’s body is dead — there was no corporeal assumption of Mary — and she’s got better things to do than to listen to your prayers and pass them along to the Father.
Why, I wonder, do Roman Catholics pray to Mary as their intercessor, when Jesus is available as our intercessor? Is Jesus not sufficient? No need to answer; I already know what you’ll say. You’ll recount the story given by “Saint” Alphonsus Liguori, which I heard a while back and which I found explained in some blog I googled:
“In one portion of his writings, he described an imaginary scene in which a sinful man saw two ladders hanging from heaven. Mary was at top of one and Jesus on top of the other. When the sinner tried to climb the one ladder, he saw a angry face of Christ and fell defeated, but when he climbed Mary’s ladder he ascended easily and was openly welcomed by Mary who brought him into heaven and presented him to Christ! Then all was well. The story was supposed to show how much easier and more effective it is to go to Christ through Mary.
“The same writer said that the sinner who ventures to come directly to Christ may come with dread of his wrath, but if he prays to the Virgin, she will only have to ‘show’ the son ‘the breasts that gave him suck’ and his wrath will be immediately appeased!”
The Lord has a long tradition of calling out a remnant from among His people. His Church became so corrupt and heretical that He did this again some 500 years ago. I thank Him that He did bring Reformation to His Church, a beautiful bride “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
No “home to Rome” for me; my home is found in Heaven. No earthly priest for me; Christ is sufficient as my great high priest. No ongoing sacrifice of Christ’s body; His death at the cross was sufficient.
Well put.
I don't know why for the life of me we cannot communicate with each other(Catholics and Protestants in general) without getting nasty about it.
These are simply my beliefs and if you choose not to believe them than that is your choice.
For your information, one of my very good friends is a Baptist. And unlike what most of you think about us Catholics, I don't think that she is going to rot in Hell for her beliefs.
I actually went to a few of her Bible study sessions for awhile as she had invited me to. I have to say that I could relate to what was being said despite the fact that I didn't agree with some of what was said. The one thing that will always stick out in my mind is how some of the people in the group could not help but to bash the Church. They knew I was Catholic by the way. They would make snide little comments etc. She would apologize for it but I told her not to because I was really on her turf anyway.
What I just don't get is the absolute hatred that some Protestants have for us Catholics.(I don't know if that includes you). I went to a Bible study at my own church and I can honestly tell you that not one nasty comment was ever made about the Protestants. So I just don't get it. I swear, some of you just don't have it in you to be civil.