Because Mary Said “Yes…” — A Reflection For The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

SaltAndDignity ^ | March 25, 2015 | Fr. Thomas Rosica

[Steelfish]

Because Mary Said “Yes…” — A Reflection For The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

March 25, 2011 by Fr. Thomas Rosica

Standing in the middle of the present day city of Nazareth is the mammoth Basilica of the Annunciation, built around what is believed to be the dwelling of Mary. In a grotto-like room at the heart of the basilica is a small inscription on an altar. It reads, “verbum caro hic factum est,” here the Word became flesh. There, it is believed, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and her response changed the world forever.

Imagine yourself in Mary’s place, asked to say “yes” to a divine plan so vast, so profound and so seemingly impossible that you cannot comprehend it. “How can this be?” she asks, bewildered. She is rooted in the faith of her ancestors, and yet now an angel has appeared in the midst of everyday life, extending a startling invitation. “You have found favor with God,” the angel says, “and you will conceive and bear His Son.” Will she accept?

It is Mary above all others who can teach us what it means to live by faith, and how to respond when God’s providence disrupts the daily course of our lives, overturning its rhythms and expectations. Despite her fears and uncertainty over how this promise could be fulfilled, she still answered “Yes.” Are we able to respond to God this way?

When we reflect on the Annunciation to Mary, and her acceptance of the angel’s message, we also reflect on our own vocation — our own calling from God. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” — an echo of Mary’s “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

Each time we commit ourselves to embracing God’s call and accepting His will, we mark a new point on the path of our relationship with Him. For the rest of her life, Mary pondered her extraordinary encounter with God, turning the weight of the angel’s message over and over again in her heart. From the manger to the cross, Mary’s life was radically changed — her relationship with God profoundly deepened — the moment she said “Yes.”

Mary received and welcomed God’s Word in the fullest sense — becoming impregnated with it, and bearing it to the world. Angels might not appear in our doorsteps, but we do encounter God in each of our daily prayers, and he whispers to us a similar invitation: Will we accept His love and bring it joyously to those around us? Will we trust in His providence, even when we can’t see the path ahead? Amid the noise of everyday life, will we listen for and embrace his call?

When making his pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Annunciation, Pope Benedict XVI offered this prayer to the humble Virgin of Nazareth. It speaks for all of us who likewise seek to accept God’s will with joy:

Mary, Mother of the “Yes,” you listened to Jesus, and know the tone of his voice and the beating of his heart. Morning Star, speak to us of him, and tell us about your journey of following him on the path of faith."

[knarf]

God didn’t ask her permission

[RaceBannon]

Examples of Maryolatry



Also See the Article:
Rome's Mary on the Cross and on God's Throne




Mary crowned Queen of Heaven, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome




Mary sitting in the place of God on the Ark of the Covenant, St. Stanislaus Kostka, Chicago




Mary, Queen of Peace, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome




Mary on the cross with Christ, Poland




Mary on the cross with Christ, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Rome's Mary on the Cross and on God's Throne

For photos of Mary on God’s throne, Mary the Queen of Peace, Mary hanging on the cross, Mary adored by the apostles, and Mary on the ark of the covenant see the following:
www.wayoflife.org/database/maryolatry.html
_____________________

In spite of claims of contemporary Catholic propagandists, the Roman Catholic Church worships Mary. They use the term “venerate,” but it is the same thing.

According to Rome, she was immaculately (sinlessly) conceived, participated in Christ’s suffering for mankind, ascended bodily to Heaven, was crowned Queen of the universe, and intercedes for sinners. 

During a radio message concluding the Jubilee of the Redemption, April 28, 1935, Pope Pius XI gave the Catholic Mary the title Co-redemptrix. At least five times Pope Paul II referred to her by this title in his papal statements. In his general audience in 1997, he said that Mary “collaborated in obtaining the grace of salvation for all humanity” (Vatican Information Service, April 9, 1997). This pope dedicated himself and the whole world to Mary. 

The influential book The Glories of Mary by Alphonsus Mary de Liguori, a Catholic saint, calls Mary our Life, our Help, our Advocate, our Guardian, our Mediatress, our Salvation, and the Hope of Sinners. Chapter 5 says “Mary’s intercession is necessary for our salvation.” This book was tested 20 times by the rules of Pope Urban VIII and Pope Benedict XIV and was said to contain not “one word worthy of censure.” It was pronounced to be without error by Pope Pius VII and by Pope Leo XII. Pope John Paul II acknowledged Liguori’s influence in his own idolatrous affection for Mary. Liguori’s book continues to be published today with the imprimatur [Latin meaning “let it be printed”] of various Catholic authorities. 

MARY ON THE CROSS

In the Church of the Mother of God of Polish Martyrs in Warsaw, Poland, Mary is depicted hanging on the cross holding the child Jesus. 

Outside of the main Mary basilica in Rome (Santa Maria Maggiore) there is a large crucifix with Jesus hanging on one side and a crowned Mary hanging on the other. 

This statue depicts Rome’s dogma that Mary is the co-redemptress with Christ and that she intercedes for men from Heaven and aids in their salvation. 

Note the following quotations from the Vatican II Council: 

“As St. Irenaeus says, she being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert with him in their preaching ... ‘death through Eve, LIFE THROUGH MARY.’ This UNION OF THE MOTHER WITH THE SON IN THE WORK OF SALVATION is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, chap. 8, II, 56, pp. 380- 381). 

“Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but BY HER MANIFOLD INTERCESSION CONTINUES TO BRING US THE GIFTS OF ETERNAL SALVATION. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of ADVOCATE, HELPER, BENEFACTRESS, and MEDIATRIX” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, chap. 8, II, 62, pp. 382-383). 

A plaque in the Chapel of the Virgin of the Grace at Saints Vincent and Anastasius Church in Rome says, “Cardinal Benedetto Odescalchi, who became the pope with the name of Innocent XI, initiated THE WORSHIP OF THE IMAGE, placed on the altar in 1677, and wanted his heart to be buried here, not in the main chapel.” 

This is only one example of many that could be given of the term “worship” used in regard to Mary in Rome’s churches.

MARY ADORED BY THE APOSTLES

In the Church of the Mother of God of Polish Martyrs in Warsaw, Poland, Mary is also surrounded by the 12 apostles who are adoring her rather than Jesus Christ. 

MARY ON THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic church in Chicago features an image of Mary on the very Ark of God. She is sitting above the Ark in the place that was occupied by God’s presence in the Tabernacle, and she is surrounded by adoring cherubim. This blasphemous image occupies the central altar where Mass is performed. The church’s official literature says that the image depicts the Catholic doctrines that Mary was immaculately conceived and sinless, that she participated in Christ’s suffering for mankind, and that she was bodily assumed into glory and crowned Queen of Heaven. The icon depicting Mary as the Ark of Mercy was dedicated in May 2008. Since then the church has been open 24 hours a day as an invitation for “pilgrims from all around the world to immerse themselves in the spring of grace, mercy, and power” that is supposedly flowing from the image. 

This is pure blasphemy. The Ark of the Covenant was located in the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament tabernacle and was the place where God’s presence dwelt (Exodus 25:22). Angels do not worship creatures (Acts 14:11-15; Rev. 19:10). 

Roman Catholic churches are filled with idols. Mary is reverenced with far greater fervency than Jesus. Every “evangelical” or “Baptist” or “Protestant” who has said positive things about Rome and who has participated in ecumenical relations with Rome or who has failed even to lift his voice against Rome’s gross heresies will answer to God for the refusal to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and for keeping silence in the face of evil.

MARY QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE

The Roman Catholic Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe is located in Orlando, Florida, near Disney World. The basilica’s official brochure says it “emphasizes devotion to the Mother of God as one of the God-given gifts enabling us to reach that salvation for which Christ gave us His life on the cross.” Thus, according to this Catholic document Mary plays a role in salvation, which is a blasphemous lie. That Rome’s Mary is worshipped as queen of heaven is clear evidence that she is a Christianized pagan idol, for the only queen of heaven mentioned in the Bible is a goddess that the Jews were worshipping at the time of the destruction of the First Temple (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-25). The ancient mother-goddess worship, which began at Babel and spread throughout the world, was baptized by the Roman Catholic Church as the Madonna-Child.

________________________

For photos of Mary on God’s throne, Mary the Queen of Peace, Mary hanging on the cross, Mary surrounded by the apostles, and Mary on the ark of the covenant see the following:
www.wayoflife.org/database/maryolatry.html

[ctdonath2]

Bingo. Mary didn’t say “yes”. Wasn’t a choice.

[knarf]

I do already ... perfectly organic ... and God doesn’t mind, neither.

[BigCinBigD]

“God didn’t ask her permission”

Wouldn’t that be considered rape?

[Biggirl]

He did.

[knarf]

Not much different than Buddhist iconery ...

[knarf]

chapter and verse, please

[Biggirl]

I see this thread had gotten some “bashers”.

[Biggirl]

First Chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

[Biggirl]

Luke 1:38.

[knarf]

What part of “Thou shalt .. “ is the request ?

[RaceBannon]

The Babylon mystery religion is world wide :)

[knarf]

Affirmation of the event accomplished ... not giving permission

[RaceBannon]

I see that this thread attracts those who refuse to admit the obvious, too.

[Biggirl]

I gave the verse and passage of Luke, 1:38. That is proof of her “yes”.

[Biggirl]

You have your opinion, I have mine. I will stick with mine.

[Biggirl]

It did not take too long for the “Catholic Bashers” to show up.