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To: Petrosius
Catholics do not give a divine status to Mary and the saints.

For one, as said above, hearing multitudes of prayer is a prerogative, privilege and attribute only ascribed to almighty God, and is a mark of the Divinity of Christ, who alone is the mediator btwn man and God the Father, and ever lives to do so. And by Him believers have DIRECT access into the holy of holies. (Heb. 4:19; 7:25; 10:19) You cannot extrapolate support from this from praying to others hear on earth.

In addition,

Thinking of souls above what is written. (cf. 1Cor. 4:6)

It should be kept in mind that my objection is not to Mary being honored as the holy chosen vessel to bring forth Christ, or even to allowing Gn. 3:15 to refer to Mary, but to the excess ascriptions, appellations, exaltation, and adoration (and the manner of exegesis behind it), ascribed to the Catholic Mary, whether officially or by Catholics (with implicit sanction of authority), and which uniqueness and exaltation parallels that of Christ:

For in the the Catholic quest to almost deify Mary, it is taught by Catholics*,

Mary was a holy, virtuous instrument of God, but of whom Scripture says relatively little, while holy fear ought to restrain ascribing positions, honor, glory and powers to a mortal that God has not revealed as given to them, and or are only revealed as being possessed by God Himself. But like as the Israelites made an instrument of God an object of worship, (Num. 21:8,9; 2Kg. 18:4) Catholics have magnified Mary far beyond what is written and warranted and even allowed, based on what is in Scripture.

In addition, although (technically) Mary is not to be worshiped in the same sense that God is worshiped, yet the distinctions between devotion to Mary and the worship of God are quite fine, and much due to the psychological appeal of a heavenly mother (especially among those for whom Scripture is not supreme), then the historical practice of Catholics has been to exalt Mary above that which is written. As the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "By the sixteenth century, as evidenced by the spiritual struggles of the Reformers, the image of Mary had largely eclipsed the centrality of Jesus Christ in the life of believers." (Robert C. Broderick, ed., The Catholic Encyclopedia, revised and updated; NY: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1987, pp.32,33)

The practice of praying to departed saints and Mary was one that developed, helped by pagan influences, for Scripture provides no example of any believer praying to anyone in Heaven by the Lord, and reveals that doing otherwise was a practice of pagans, including to the “Queen of Heaven.” (Jer. 44:17,18,19,25). The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that a further reinforcement of Marian devotion, “was derived from the cult of the angels, which, while pre-Christian in its origin, was heartily embraced by the faithful of the sub-Apostolic age. It seems to have been only as a sequel of some such development that men turned to implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. This at least is the common opinion among scholars, though it would perhaps be dangerous to speak too positively. Evidence regarding the popular practice of the early centuries is almost entirely lacking...,” (Catholic Encyclopedia > Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary) Yet, as expected, it imagines this practice came from the apostles and NT church, but which never exampled or instructed it, and instead showed that the believer has immediate access to God in the Divine Christ, (Heb. 10:19), who is the all sufficient and immediate intercessor between God (the Father) and man. (Heb. 2:17,18; 4:15,16) To the glory of God

126 posted on 03/20/2014 9:19:55 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: daniel1212
Why is it so many FRoman Catholics see discussing the topic of Mary as either "she were some loathsome animal that is being worshiped by pagans" or "she is the Mother of God who is made to be the dispenser of all grace towards our salvation"??? Doesn't Scripture tell us the right way - that Mary is blessed among women, she was and is honored for her faithfulness and her obedience to Almighty God?

What is it with some who are so quick to take offense at any and every chance as if it is their calling in life to defend Mary? Is there some kind of indulgence for doing that? I have NEVER read one post from anyone that calls Mary a "loathsome animal" nor has anyone said anything that disparages her in any way. We can and should trust what God has revealed in Scripture and take our cues from Him.

224 posted on 03/20/2014 9:06:09 PM PDT by boatbums (Simul justis et peccator.)
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