Posted on 10/15/2013 3:21:28 PM PDT by NYer
Most of us who are Catholics eventually get asked, “Why do you Catholics worship Mary?” More often than not the question is not a real question it is a rhetorical question. For a few of you who might not know what is meant by the expression “rhetorical question,” it refers to a “question” whose purpose is not to seek an answer, but, rather, to make a (usually hostile) point. For example the expression “Who do you think you are!?” is in the form of a question but it does not seek an answer. Instead it is meant as a rebuke. And so it usually is when we Catholics get asked the “question” Why do you worship Mary?” we’re usually aware that it is not a sincere question seeking a sincere answer. However, for those cases where an answer really is sought I might propose the following approach:
“Well, of course we don’t worship Mary since that would be a terrible sin. Worship belongs to God alone. We DO honor her though. Afterall, she is Jesus’ mother. But let me ask you a question. Why in your church, do you NOT honor Mary at all? Doesn’t scripture say Every generation will call [Mary] blessed because God who is mighty has done great things for [her]? (Luke 1:48-49) It seems to me that we Catholics are fulfilling scripture but that in your denomination you are not fulfilling or following it. So why don’t you honor her at all? Why don’t you call her blessed as the Bible says?”
Now stop there and wait for an answer. Don’t keep going. Just stop and wait. Have them answer for a change. We Catholics are always on the defensive, always in answer mode. But we ought to ask a few questions too. And try to avoid a merely rhetorical or hostile tone. Try to allow this question to be genuine, respectful, one meant to provoke thought. It is possible that many Protestants have never been asked this question or pondered an answer. Now it is also possible that your interlocutor will try to change the subject or evade an answer by piling on about Catholics but just repeat the question respectfully and ask for an answer. Remember your point is not to argue, be hostile or win an argument. Your point is to provoke thought and get a real answer. And even if the conversation ends badly or with no answer, you’ve planted a seed, a question that they will ponder even if they don’t admit it. Jesus often asked questions to proke thought and conversion. I will be doing a post on this next week.
A final thought on Mary. Another way to explain out devotion and love for Mary is that we are imitating Jesus. We love, honor, respect and entrust ourselves to her care because Jesus did all these things and we want to be just like Jesus. Consider that the very Son of God, dwelled in Mary’s womb, nursed at her breasts, was held in her arms, sat on her lap and entrusted himself to her care. Our Lord could have chosen to enter our world in other ways. Perhaps He could simply have entered the world as a full grown man. The fact is that He freely chose Mary to be his mother and he was truly her Son. As her son he loved and honored her as any good son must and as her son he entrusted himself to her care. All of this serves to highlight Mary’s dignity and to show us how devotion to her is in perfect imitation of Jesus himself.
What more need we say: Jesus our Lord and God honors and loves Mary, and his very scriptures sing her praises; so too His Angel Gabriel and countless saints. When we honor Mary we imitate the very Son of God and fulfill Holy Scripture. Certainly our Lord is pleased that we love and honor his mother.
Here’s a little viseo I recently put together. The Music is from the Daughters of St Paul, “I Am Thine” from the Handmaiden of the Lord Album:
Do you think the poster I was responding to was referring to the conception which resulted in the birth of Mary or the birth of Christ?
Amen!
We remain human after passing from this earth. It is not audacious to say that we do not become Deity. Omniscience is an attribute of God, not humans.
I’m not sure what you were referring to. I made my statement clear and concise. You do know there is a group of Catholics which believe Mary was born of a virgin, do you not?
Most Protestants do NOT honor Mary, which is the point. Why are you in the minority?
The Orthodox also revere Mary, and they have been separated from Rome for a thousand years. Ever think they might not have something to say about the matter?
If we remain human, then we do not cease to be part of mankind. A mother does not cease to be a mother by dying.
Then you are a Nestorian, who denies that Jesus was in fact the God-man, born of the Virgin, body and soul and divinity, inseparable.
Bait Threads...
I read but normally do not reply..
We remain human after passing from this earth. It is not audacious to say that we do not become Deity. Omniscience is an attribute of God, not humans.
While it is true we do not become Deity, we will be given heavenly bodies. Do you know what our heavenly body is capable of doing? I sure don’t.
I'm not sure what your point is.
Who said anyone ceased to be part of mankind?
Mary too was part of mankind and is in Heaven along with all other saints. Since she is human she is not omniscient.
It's the Unseen that is fascinating to me- what with billions of souls and all.....God Bless.
Huh? Mary was a virgin. But Mary was not a deity. Mary was born a human and died as a human. Jesus was born as a man, tempted as a man and died as a man. He did so to save us the horror of Hell. He was resurrected and ascended into Heaven.
Our relationships do not end when we die. That is an inference from our profession to believe in the Church as the Communion of Saints.
The term “Mother of God” is a loose translation of the term, “Theotokos” — God-bearer.
It is more a statement about the One who was in her womb (the Son, who was both fully man and fully God) than it is about herself (no one believes that she is, say, the source of God Himself).
so the Mother of God was stained by sin ?
the Almighty God couldn’t do anything better in the search for the bearer of His Beloved Son ?
why put human limitations on The Almighty ?
and as for dead believers,when does your eternal life begin ?
I will add, of course, that whenever I read threads like this one or see the term “Theotokos/Mother of God” used in a way that is meant to cast glory onto Mary, I am reminded of Luke 11:27 - 28.
Any honor due Mary has less to do with whether she physically bore our Lord and more to do with whether she listened to the word of God and obeyed it. I personally believe she did so in a manner worthy of the highest praise... but, as I am not Catholic, I believe this is a point best left to Christian liberty rather than an essential point of that gospel that saves souls.
catholics only love/use Luther when he’s convenient, and in this case, when he’s also wrong.
BINGO!
we can respect and admire her just like any other saint that we may read about and admire and respect.
i dont reject Mary, I reject what the roman catholics have turned Mary into.
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