Powerful Lady!
This is what the Church teaches...
We've noticed.
Is this merely an interesting trinket; or an indicator of TRUTH in the Catholic Church?
If you say you don’t worship idols will you accept the challenge? A simple yes or no. So far no Catholic has said yes or no.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. CCC 971
Chapter VIII, Part 4, of Lucem Gentium further states:
IV. The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the Church
66. Placed by the grace of God, as God’s Mother, next to her Son, and exalted above all angels and men, Mary intervened in the mysteries of Christ and is justly honored by a special cult in the Church. Clearly from earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all their dangers and necessities.(21*) Hence after the Synod of Ephesus the cult of the people of God toward Mary wonderfully increased in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own prophetic words: “All generations shall call me blessed, because He that is mighty hath done great things to me”.(301) This cult, as it always existed, although it is altogether singular, differs essentially from the cult of adoration which is offered to the Incarnate Word, as well to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it is most favorable to it. The various forms of piety toward the Mother of God, which the Church within the limits of sound and orthodox doctrine, according to the conditions of time and place, and the nature and ingenuity of the faithful has approved, bring it about that while the Mother is honored, the Son, through whom all things have their being (302) and in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell,(303) is rightly known, loved and glorified and that all His commands are observed.
67. This most Holy Synod deliberately teaches this Catholic doctrine and at the same time admonishes all the sons of the Church that the cult, especially the liturgical cult, of the Blessed Virgin, be generously fostered, and the practices and exercises of piety, recommended by the magisterium of the Church toward her in the course of centuries be made of great moment, and those decrees, which have been given in the early days regarding the cult of images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin and the saints, be religiously observed.(22*) But it exhorts theologians and preachers of the divine word to abstain zealously both from all gross exaggerations as well as from petty narrow-mindedness in considering the singular dignity of the Mother of God.(23*) Following the study of Sacred Scripture, the Holy Fathers, the doctors and liturgy of the Church, and under the guidance of the Church’s magisterium, let them rightly illustrate the duties and privileges of the Blessed Virgin which always look to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity and piety. Let them assiduously keep away from whatever, either by word or deed, could lead separated brethren or any other into error regarding the true doctrine of the Church. Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our mother and to the imitation of her virtues. Lucem Gentium 66 and 67.
This is what the Church teaches, that Mary is worthy of veneration and love, but that it differs essentially from the cult of adoration which is offered to the Incarnate Word, as well to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it is most favorable to it. It is what Catholics believe.
So why would you expect Catholics to discontinue practices that are encouraged by the Church as being perfectly acceptable to God and a means to obtain His graces? It would be like one of us insisting that you accept the challenge to pray the Rosary every day for a month. Knowing what you believe about the Rosary, it would be disrespectful for us to insist on you doing something that you would not want to do. So would you please show some respect for Catholics and stop insisting on us doing something that we do not want to do?
The Roman Catholic Church may teach that, but what is taught by the RCC is not supported by Scripture.
66. Placed by the grace of God, as God’s Mother, next to her Son, and exalted above all angels and men,...
Not supported anywhere in the NT. It is more false teaching on the part of Roman Catholicism.
Clearly from earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all their dangers and necessities.
Again, not supported by the NT. Mary is never referred to as the "mother of God".
Further, no one in the NT is ever directed to "take refuge in all their dangers and necessities" under Mary's protection.
We do have this though from the NT.
6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NASB
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:31-35 NASB
14This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15 NASB
It is amazing that in all of the NT we don't have a single verse from any of the writers instructing us to pray to Mary or to rely upon Mary for anything.
Catholics are correct when they call this a cult. For that is what it is.
So why would you expect Catholics to discontinue practices that are encouraged by the Church as being perfectly acceptable to God and a means to obtain His graces?
If bowing before an idol, praying to the image depicted by the idol, wearing pieces of cloth, medals, etc, is what is taught by the RCC, then indeed, the use of the word cult is appropriate.
It would be like one of us insisting that you accept the challenge to pray the Rosary every day for a month. Knowing what you believe about the Rosary, it would be disrespectful for us to insist on you doing something that you would not want to do. So would you please show some respect for Catholics and stop insisting on us doing something that we do not want to do?
Yet Catholics insist non-Catholics join the Roman Catholic church almost daily on these forums. Are Catholics being "disrespectful" when they do so?
Would it be "disrespectful" to show the Mormon or Muslim where they are in error?
That Roman Catholics so vehemently defends this idolatry and worship of Mary, in spite of the numerous admonitions in Scripture against idolatry, is most unfathomable.
THIS is...
Luke 11:1-13 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Please show us ONE place in Scripture where we are told, commanded, taught, or encouraged to pray to ANYONE but God.
Show us where we are told to pray to angels, Mary, those who are named saints by the Catholic church.
No way in which practices which are forbidden by God are *acceptable* to Him.
CANNOT happen.
It may be acceptable to the Catholic church but the Catholic church is not God.
How did Jesus teach us to pray? Who did HE tell us to pray to and why?
““All generations will call me blessed”: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.”
And right there the Roman denomination goes off the rails!
Calling Mary blessed by God is not part of worship - which is reserved for God alone.
This points out that Roman Catholics do worship Mary... and it is endorsed.
Powerful Lady!
This is what the Church teaches...
We've noticed.
Is this merely an interesting trinket; or an indicator of TRUTH in the Catholic Church?