“You shall know them by their fruits.” So says Matthew 7:15-20. When I think upon those who have extolled the virtues of offering prayers to Mary, I call to mind many charitable, blessed, and righteous souls. Mother Theresa, Padre Pio, Bernadette, etc., etc. Even Martin Luther would agree (https://churchpop.com/2017/03/07/5-surprising-quotes-from-martin-luther-on-the-blessed-virgin-mary/) Are you are saying that in their humble and earnest piety, they were being misled by infernal powers to utter damnation? That by their devotion to God and others they were really doing the devil’s work? Are you suggesting that really what they are doing is conjuring evil spirits?
I don’t think those who regularly recite the Hail Mary are the people you need to worry about or feel threatened by.
Here, in reply to an article about a teacher persecuted for inviting students to pray, you decided to offer up a sarcastic remark to give vent to your anti-Catholic bigotry. Unlearner, you are better than that. And if you want to convert people to you way of thinking, a little charity and humility would server you far better.
I will be sure to offer a Rosary for your special intentions. There is nothing wrong with the way you pray. There is certainly nothing wrong in praying only to Christ. But nourishing a hatred for what you ignorantly suppose others to believe is self-destructive and unhelpful.
Despite our disagreement, I wish to thank you for the excellent conversation.
All my best to you and your family.
“I call to mind many charitable, blessed, and righteous souls. Mother Theresa, Padre Pio, Bernadette, etc., etc. Even Martin Luther”
Thankfully, I do not have to give an account for these people. That is between them and God. I do not intend to praise or condemn any of these by saying more. I would only caution that many godly men of the Bible had serious flaws. For example, I would not justify polygamy on the basis of men of faith in the Bible practicing it.
“Are you suggesting that really what they are doing is conjuring evil spirits?”
The extent to which evil spirits are involved in carnal worship practices is speculative. I certainly consider it possible to open up the door to evil spirits through idolatrous practices. God looks at the heart.
“Here, in reply to an article about a teacher persecuted for inviting students to pray, you decided to offer up a sarcastic remark to give vent to your anti-Catholic bigotry.”
There are plenty of Catholic caucus threads. They are often devoted to Mary, prayers to Mary and other saints, and other traditions that many Protestants find offensive. I do find the prayers to Mary being promoted offensive. If it offends you that I am offended, then I suppose we will just both be offended. That may just be part of life. It does not mean I hate you or think you hate me. However, I have stated my reasons.
When Catholics advocate their devotion to Christ and God, you will never hear me complain. When they talk about ending abortion, they will have my appreciation. If they feel various rituals they do in private bring them closer to God, and they are not spreading them to others, it is none of my business. But I am too familiar with what praying the Rosary means to pretend this is OK.
On the other hand I will give you this. Non-Catholics should not be surprised when a traditionally Catholic school actually carries out Catholic traditions. A Catholic school that admits non-Catholics should not force them to participate in such practices, but Catholics should be at liberty to observe their own faith, obviously. In that sense I share your feelings of being offended at the secular authorities for infringing on the rights of Catholics. While I consider the Rosary prayers to be a poor substitute for Biblical prayer, they are not so harmful as the anti-religious direction of secular authorities in the world today.
Perhaps it was uncharitable of me to turn the direction of the thread into a Catholic-Protestant debate. I will give it more careful thought on my next impulse to do so.
“I will be sure to offer a Rosary for your special intentions.”
I see what you did there. I appreciate your sense of humor.
What you do is, of course, between you and God. I will not accuse you of evil intentions or being demonic for saying the Rosary. However, I will say that frequently when I have such debates online I find myself under heavy spiritual attack. I will plead the blood of Jesus over me and my family and ask God to send back any evil spirits from where they come. But I will also offer my sincere prayers on your behalf and the other Catholics on this thread who may have a contention with my statements on this matter.
“There is certainly nothing wrong in praying only to Christ.”
Well, I would say that the example of scripture is typically that prayer is directed to God the Father through Christ, but I generally concur. If only that was the position of the Catholic Church, I think the offense with Protestantism might just dissolve. OK. Perhaps a few other issues would need to be worked out. But it is not merely the practice of things like the Rosary, but the insistence on their propagation and universal practice that provide the biggest source of contention.
“I wish to thank you for the excellent conversation. All my best to you and your family.”
Likewise. Truly.