Replies

Thank you so much for your encouragements, dear brothers in Christ, Quix and Markbsnr!

Of a truth, I do not claim that the person depicted in the photograph of that sculpture was Mary, blessed virgin mother of the Incarnate Word, Jesus.

The rest of the sidebar dealt with why, and objections as to why, I am offended by any thing or any one being draped on the Cross in lieu of my Lord Jesus Christ as if to say he or it is equal to Him. Spiritually, I perceive that kind of “art” as an insult to the body and blood of Christ.

The Cross, testifying by its image the blood and body of Christ, truly is that sacred to me.

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? – Hebrews 10:29

For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God. – Deut 4:24

Even if no other mortal were offended by that kind of art, it would still offend me.

Beyond that I only have two remarks pertaining to vladimir998’s condemnations at post 5474:

1. I am not and have never been anti-Catholicism much less anti-Catholic. Half my beloved family is Catholic and my dearest sister in Christ is Catholic.

2. To paraphrase an often used Catholic saying, I will never apologize for the Holy Spirit.

Now I shall leave this sidebar with my prayers for God's abundant blessings for all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

Maybe it’s me but I still don’t understand why people want to go around, looking to be offended. But if that’s someone’s thing, hey, more power to him/her. Crusing the internet for pictures to be offended by, seems like a total waste of time to me. But ya know, who am I? It’s not like I’m a mod or something.

I’ve seen more “offensive” Mary pictures here on FR than I have in all my travels on two continents for 49 years. Takes some work to be offended, I guess.

Adding them to heated threads seems like something that a person would do to fan flames. Maybe not you, Dear Sister in Christ Alamo-Girl, but maybe someone else might. Afterall it was Dan Rather that popped a memo onto 60 minutes to slander, true or not, that was the intent.

But here’s the facts
1. An artist took a picture of a gravestone.
2. It’s in Nicaragua and has nothing to do with a Catholic FReepers on this thread
3. He called the statue “Mary” in the title of his photo
4. There is no proof of who it is
5. Alamo Girl is offended
6. The person in the grave who commissioned the stone doesn’t care at all (but I bet would be offended by this as would the artist)
7. I’m pretty offended that the picture is used to show how evil Catholics are and no one gives me a second glance.

Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a citadel.”
So anyone who is looking to be offended, I can do nothing about that. You (plural) choose it. Perhaps spending some time in prayer and less looking for pictures on the internet would do a soul well.