Catholics & Catholicism

Question:

One thing one must remember, that a Christian Virtue that we Catholics are taught to admire is humility. St. Louis de Montfort writes: Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almight God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. [5] True Devotion To Mary- St. Louis de Montfort: By her devotion to God, meek, mild, humble and pure, she gives us all an example to be followed. She alone was with Jesus from the cradle to the cross, and there Jesus gave her to us as all of Our’s Mother. (Jn 19, 26-27) Additionally, this February 11th, she is known by Our Lady of Lourdes: No where are we told to pray to anyone but God.

Again, Revelations 5:8 & 8:1-4 does indeed show, the "Holy Ones", Saints pray to God in Heaven as well. The Catholic Answers website cites: Fundamentalists challenge the Catholic practice of asking saints and angels to pray for us. But the Bible directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray with us. Thus in Psalm 103, we pray, "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will!" (Ps. 103:20-21). And in Psalm 148 we pray, "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!" (Ps. 148:1-2) Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth. – << http://www.catholic.com/answers/tracts/_praysts.htm  But the very scripture they use for Peter as Pope refutes this. Mt.16:16 Jesus says "I will build my church."

Now, I am not on the same page here. That is ok. I am not sure, which verse you reference? , and the women knead their dough, to make cakes (wafers?)

? meaning? leading? probing? and a common accusatory subject by anti-Catholics. All I can say to this, is possibly posting something on the "Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament" seems appropriate, Jesus the Son, is Our Brother, we are members of the mystical body of Christ (Gal. 3:28, 1 Cor. 12:27).  Leo the 12th 1891 "nothing according to the will of God comes to us except through Mary"

It was through the blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus Christ came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world. – St. Louis de Montfort Throughout the scripture we find grace coming from Jesus Christ and God the father there is no Mary mentioned a strange omission if it is true.

Ever read Luke 1:26-38, Mt. 1: 18-25, Lk. 2:4-14? All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call Him Emmanuel," a name which means "God is with us." No linguistic evidence warrants our interpreting gospel passages about Jesus brothers and sisters as his cousins. Cousins of Jesus when noted were called just that, cousins not brothers. Therefore NT. authors apparently understood Jesus brothers as blood brothers not as cousins or stepbrothers.He was born into a family .

Now, a common tactic of "anti-Catholics" is just to make a remark "No linguistic evidence warrants our interpreting gospel passages about Jesus’ brothers and sisters as his cousings. Cousins of Jesus when noted were called just that, cousins not brothers. Therefore NT. authors apparently understood Jesus brothers as blood brothers not as cousins or stepbrothers." Sounds good and persuasive, the Experts say so syndrome: Note from pg. 30 of Karl Keating’s book, "Catholicism and Fundamentalism", pg. 29 on Loraine Boettner’s book "Roman Catholicism" The main problem with Boettner’s magnum opus is that it suffers from a real lack of intellectual rigor. For example, he shows virtually no familiarity with the writings of the first several centuries of the Christian era. Take as an example his reliance on William Cave, chaplain to King Charles II, who wrote in The Lives of the Apostles that in the Greek original of Eusebius Pamphilius’ Ecclesiatical History, completed about 325, there is no reference to Peter being Bishop of Rome. Boettner accepts this as sufficient proof that the apostle was never in the capital of the Empire, a fact he wishes to use in debunking the Papacy. He could have checked Cave’s assertion easily. Had he looked at the two-volume edition of the Ecclesiastical History in the loeb Classical Library, he would have found on pages 144 and 190 of volume one and page 48 of volume two just what Cave said was not there. Now, apply this to the "what does the Greek say" argument. Father Mateo writes in the book, Refuting the Attack on Mary (Catholic Answers Press): The point at issue in the "brothers/sisters of Jesus” texts is the translation of the Greek words adelphos (brother) and adelphe (sister). CRI (the Bible Answer Man) admits that the Greek Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible in Egypt in the Third Century) uses these words not only for brother/sister, but also for remoter relatives. Mateo was an emeritus professor of New Testament Greek at a prominent university. Like wise Bob Stanley’s website <<http://www.jps.net/bstanley/ has this …. Did she have other children? A. Mt 13:55-56 and MK 6:3 say, "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the ‘brother’ of James, and Joseph, and of Jude and Simon? And are not His ’sisters’ here with us?" B. At first it looks like Jesus had brothers and sisters. These are the main two verses that some say ‘prove’ He did. Lets look at the definitions. C. From four different dictionaries, the word ‘brother’ means, sons of the same parents, OR, friend, ally, kinsman, fellow man, member of the same clan, fellow member of a Church etc. Which definition fits the verses? D. Compare Mt 10:2-4, Mk 15:40, Jn 19:25, and Acts 1:13 and you will find that James, Joseph, and Jude were sons of Cleophas (Alphaeus) and ‘the other Mary’, not Mary the Mother of GOD. Simon was the ‘Canaanite’ of Mk 3:18, and the ‘Zealot’. E. NONE of the four ‘brothers’ were sons of Mary, the Mother of GOD. They were ‘fellow men’. This makes the word ‘brother’ a non-argument. Mt 12:50 Lastly, a few terms were missed: Our Lady of Lourdes: Also known as: Adam’s Deliverance, Advocate of Eve, Advocate of Sinners, All Chaste, All Fair and Immaculate, All Good, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, Aqueduct of Grace, Archetype fo Purity and Innocence, Ark Gilded by the Holy Spirit, Ark of the Covenant Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Basillica of Saint Mary Major, Blessed Among Women, Blessed Virgin Mary, Bridal Chamber of the Lord, Bride of Christ, Bride of Heaven, Bride of the Canticle, Bride of the Father, Bride Unbrided, Cause of Our Joy, Chosen Before the Ages, Comfort of Christians, Comforter of the Afflicted, Conceived Without Original Sin, Consoler of the Afflicated, Co-Redemptrix, Court of the Eternal King, Created Temple of the Creator, Crown of Virginity, Daughter of Men, David’s Daughter, Deliverer From All Wrath, Deliverer of Christian Nations, Destroyer of Heresies, Dispenser of Grace, Dwelling Place for God, Dwelling Place Meet for God, Dwelling Place of the Illimitable, Dwelling Place of the Spirit, Earth Unsown, Earth Untouched and Virginal, Eastern Gate, Ever Green and Fruitful, Ever Virgin, Eve’s Tears Redeeming, Exalted Above the Angels, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fleece of Heavenly Rain, Flower of Jesse’s Root, Formed Without Sin, Forthbringer of God, Forthbringer of the Ancient of Days, Forthbringer of the Tree of Life, Fountain of Living Water, Fountain Sealed, Free From Every Stain, Full of Grace, Garden Enclosed, Gate of Heaven, God’s Eden, God’s Olive Tree, God’s Vessel, Handmaid of the Lord, Healing Balm of Integrity, Health of the Sick, Helper of All in Danger, Holy in Soul and Body, Holy Mountain of Our Lady, Hope of Christians, House Built by Wisdom, House of Gold, Immaculate, Immaculate Conception, Immaculate Heart, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculate Mary, Immaculate Mother, Immaculate Virgin, Incorruptible Wood of the Ark, Inventrix of Grace, Inviolate, Joseph’s Spouse, Kingly Throne, King’s Mother, Lady Most Chaste, Lady Most Venerable, Lady of Good Help, Lady of Grace, Lady of Mercy, Lady of Peace, Lady of Perpetual Help, Lady of the Rosary, Lady of Sorrows, Lady of Victory, Lamp Unquenchable, Life-Giver to Posterity, Light Cloud of Heavenly Rain, Lily Among Thorns, Living Temple of the Diety, Loom of the Incarnation, Madonna of Saint Luke, Marketplace for Salutary Exchange, Mary of the Hurons, Mary the Blessed Virgin, Mary, Blessed Virgin, Mary, Help of Christians, Mary, Mother of God, Mary, Queen of Africa, Mary, Queen of Angels, Mary, Queen of Peace, Mary, Star of the Sea, Mediatrix, Mediatrix and Conciliatrix, Mediatrix of All Graces, Mediatrix of Salvation, Mediatrix of the Mediator, Minister of Life, Mirror of Justice, More Beautiful Than Beauty, More Glorious Than Paradise More Gracious Than Grace, More Holy Than the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the Entire Angelic Hosts, Morning Star, Most Venerable, Mother and Virgin, Mother Most Admirable, Mother Most Amiable, Mother Most Chaste, Mother Most Pure, Mother Inviolate, Mother of Christians, Mother of Christ’s Members, Mother of Divine Grace, Mother of God, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of Jesus Christ, Mother of Men, Mother of Our Creator, Mother of Our Head, Mother of Our Savior, Mother of … read more »

Response:

Problems with the Mary of Roman Catholicism The  2nd  Eve Since through Eve the original fall occurred through the 2nd woman mankind would be restored. There is no term for a 2nd Eve but there is a 2nd (last) Adam in 1 Cor.15. Jesus is called this because both had a supernatural birth Eve had other children, Eve also fell before she had other children, Eve had sin. If there is any correlation so did Mary. Some claim Mary was the first Christian the very definition of being a Christian means one is a sinner in need of a Savior. NAMES OF MARY The Church calls Mary the "inexpressible gift of the Almighty," (384) the Bible in Jn.3:16 says Christ is the gift from the Father. Rom. 5:15 . the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Rom. 5:18 so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Rom. 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Mary is called the "Cause of Our joy," (385) Rom. 14:17 the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ps 16:11in Your presence is fullness of joy. Mary is called the "Gate of Heaven,"(387 ) Jesus said in Jn.14:6 he is the way (the gate) Jesus says in Jn.10:2 He is the shepherd of the gate if anyone tries to come up any other way they are a thief and a robber. Mary is called the"Morning Star,"(386) yet in Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, . I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." Mary is the "Mother of Mercy.(2677) In 2 Corinthians 1:3God is the "Father of mercies". Paul writes in 2 Tim 1:2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The same is written to Titus 1:4. Speaking of Christ Heb 9:5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat Heb 4:16 the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. II Jn. 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Jude 1:21 looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Mary is called the "Refuge of Sinners (388 ) Ps 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.Ps 31:2 deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. Mt.11:22 Jesus says come unto him. Mary is called "Our Lady of Perpetual Help.( 389 ) Ps 46:1"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Mary with Christ, is said to be "… the instrument and guardian of our salvation.( 390) Ps 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Ps 38:22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation (speaking of Jesus) Acts 4:12"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, The Church promises that "all those who seek Mary’s protection will be saved for all eternity."(391) The Catholic church teaches that one should entrust themselves to Mary, surrendering "’the hour of our death’ wholly to her care." Catechism of the Catholic Church, (2677) The Church describes Mary as the "Seat of Wisdom. (397 The Scriptures describe God as the source of all wisdom (James 1:5). The Church says that Mary is the "Mother of the living.(398) The Bible says that God is the God of the living (Mark 12:27). Mary, according to the Church, is "’the All-Holy’(Panagia)"(493) God dwells in perfect holiness seated on a throne guarded by Seraphim (Isaiah 6:1-3). Everything that God and Christ is Mary is also. The implications of this soon become evident, we now have a woman whom their Church has exalted above every other creature, if she has all the attributes of God she then must be God. If she is not God then why does she have all his attributes. The only one missing is that she is eternal, that may soon be forthcoming. Mary the Ark Some have gone as far as to claim Mary to be a type of the Ark of the Covenant. Jn.1:14 the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. In the Greek the word dwelt is skeinoo from the Hebrew word shekinah which was the word for god residing in the tabernacle. Jesus clothed himself in human flesh Phil.2:5-8 the ark was his body it had carried the creator of the universe. It was not Mary who was the ark, Jesus body was the tabernacle. Mary is not the fullness of Graces the scripture is clear on this particular matter. The law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ and it does state and of his fullness we have received grace by grace. Titus 2:11 For the grace of god has appeared to all men. Through all of the letters we find Grace to you and peace from God our father and the lord Jesus Christ there is no Mary involved in dispensing grace. Mother of God Mary appears only four times in scripture and her words are recorded in only one of the occasions Jn.2:11. She appears only twice in the public ministry of Jesus Mt.12:46-50. She is titled She is "…the mighty Mother of God.( 395) "Virgin Most Powerful.(394) The power "…in her hands is all but unlimited. (396) The Roman Catholic view is God the Father and Mary. As God is our Father, "Mary is our Mother.(392 )Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father, so Mary remained a virgin her whole life that Jesus might be the "only-begotten son of His Mother. (393) He is then the only begotten of the father and Mary. Another argument is Jesus is God, Mary is the mother of Jesus therefore she is the mother of God. It is not the title of mother of god that is contrary to scripture as much as the meaning that is poured into it. Mary is the mother of Jesus humanity only. Yet he is one person which has two natures. When we think of god he is triune, certainly Mary is not the mother of the trinity. Jesus before he came to earth was her creator. For her to actually be the mother of God she would have needed to exist alongside him before he came to earth. The title mother of God is not found in scripture nor is it insinuated to be taught. Jesus never called Mary his mother, but woman. How does one give her titles that the Holy Spirit has not revealed to us. This can certainly be misleading and needs to be better qualified otherwise one might consider the eternal god has a eternal mother. The Catholic teaching is Mary is the Mother of the Church. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 963, 975 ) But the very scripture they use for Peter as Pope refutes this. Mt.16:16 Jesus says "I will build my church." Col. 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He preeminent." Eph 5:27 that He might present her (the church) to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.Eph 5:23 as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. In the book of revelation he addresses the churches not Mary. When Jesus rose from the dead he didn’t appear to Mary his mother but to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. Mary is another member of the church, she is put in a special place above any.( Acts 1:14; I Corinthians 12:13, 27) She was not made an apostle and she stayed in the upper room with the rest of the disciples to receive the H.Spirit. pray to her The whole Trinity, O Mary, gave thee a name…above every name, that at Thy name, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, p. 260). Phil.2 every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Pope Pius the 12th "Mary is indeed worthy to receive honor and glory and might , she is exalted to hypostatic union with the blessed trinity." This hypostatic union makes her part of the God head. How different is the biblical portrayal. Ps 21:5 His glory is great in Your salvation; honor and majesty You have placed upon him. Ps 8:5For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. John 5:23"that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Rev 5:12: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Rev 19:1saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! "The Holy Church commands a worship peculiar to Mary " (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri p. 130). Many things…are asked from God, and are not granted; they are asked from Mary, and are obtained, for She…is even Queen of Hell, and Sovereign Mistress of the Devils" (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931). pp. 127, 141, 143). "The Holy Church commands a worship peculiar to Mary " (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri p. 130). Many things…are asked from God, and are not granted; they are asked from Mary, and are obtained, for She…is even Queen of Hell, and Sovereign Mistress of the Devils" (The Glories of Mary by Bishop Alphonse de Ligouri (Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931). pp. 127, 141, 143). John 14:13-14"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 15:16 "that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 16:23 "whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." No where are we told to pray to anyone but God. Queen of … read more »

Response: