Am afraid you may well be wrong.
I suspect such folks DO believe such texts.
They just MAY have a shred of reality testing left sufficient to clue them in that trying to defend such texts would be another case of diminishing returns.
Mad Dawg made an earnest effort. I think the rationalizations are shallow and transparently hollow. However, I’m not sure when I’ll get to dealing with them one by one.
Perhaps you or others would rise to that task.
Yes, and that is why I have continued to ask for scripture references. I can believe or rationalize anything and make it appear somehow attached or apart of my Christian faith...many counterfeits do that quite well....but in more serious matters of faith if it does not stand the test of scripture then it is just another matter of someones opinion....admirable as it may be...it does not pass the truth test. Praying to Mary, asking someone who is dead to intercede in prayer from the other side is too close to that of conjuring up spirits IMO and we all know how Saul fared for his effort to do so...it's not as though he was asking for a evil entity to appear...he was seeking just the same... someone from the other side.
I am not as interested in debating someones opinion on how or why some might see Mary in the light they do....but I have determined thus far there just isn't scripture to support the authors statements....and that of so many other catholic writers who place undue emphasis and actually encourage making Mary into an 'image' they adore and worship. As if somehow because it's made in the image of Mary it's ok to do so...or any of the other Saints who have special authority of assignments within the catholic faith. It looks like idolatry,... the people who follow these images look like they are worshiping,.... and those who bow before them likewise.....so what else could it be but that??? Idol worship...which God clearly states not to do or follow the practices of the pagans who do that as well.