Perhaps no other woman in history played such an important role in
God's plan as did Mary.
By the
grace of God she was greatly honored to be chosen as Jesus' mother. Surly, all
people should appreciate Mary and imitate her good qualities.
Nevertheless,
there is disagreement regarding the role or status of Mary. This issue remains
one of the main differences between the Roman Catholic Church and other
churches.
The
purpose of this study is to examine the view held by the Roman Catholic Church
regarding Mary and compare it to the teaching of the Bible.
When we
describe the Catholic view, we will quote directly from Catholic sources, all
of which have been approved for Catholics to read (see bibliography for more
details). All Bible quotes are from the St. Joseph "New Catholic"
Confraternity Edition of the Bible.
Please consider what the Bible teaches about Mary.
I. Mary's Innocence
>>>>>>>>>>>>
We have
every reason to believe that Mary was a godly woman. Surely God would not
choose an evil woman to bear and raise Jesus. But does this mean that Mary was
sinless?
A. Was Mary Immaculately Conceived so She Escaped Original Sin?
=========================================
The teaching of the Catholic Church
*****************************
The
doctrine of original sin says that all people were born guilty of sin because
we inherit Adam's sin. However, Catholicism says Mary was an exception.
"The
Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of
her Divine Son; and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception" -
Baltimore Catechism, p. 36 (see also Catechism for Adults, pp. 27,41).
This
doctrine was defined in 1854 by Pope Pius IX (Question Box, pp. 358,359).
Regarding this doctrine, the Catholic Dictionary says (p. 430):
"A
Catholic is bound to hold that [this] doctrine ... was contained in the faith
once delivered to the saints by the Apostles. On the other hand, he is under no
obligation of believing it possible to produce cogent historical proof (over
and above the Church's decision) that the doctrine was so contained."
So
Catholics need not believe that the doctrine can be proved by history (either
tradition or the Bible). But they still must believe the doctrine is true,
because the church teaches it!
The teaching of the Bible
*********************
The
Bible teaches that no one inherits sin. The whole concept of inherited guilt is
without Scriptural warrant.
Ezekiel 18:20 - The son will not be charged with the guilt of his
father.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - Each one will be judged for his own works.
All
children are born innocent and without guilt - Psalm 105:37,38 (Psalm 106:37,38
in the KJV); Matthew 18:3; 19:14.
So Mary did not inherit original sin, but this is nothing special.
All people are born innocent.
B. Did Mary Live A Sinless life?
===================
"By
a special privilege of Almighty God, Our Blessed Mother was free throughout her
life from all actual sin, both mortal and venial" - Baltimore Catechism,
p. 36.
"Catholics
believe that the Blessed Virgin was free from all actual sin because of divine
tradition confirmed by the Council of Trent." - Question Box, p. 360.
But the
Bible teaches:
Deity is sinless.
************
Deuteronomy
32:4 - God is faultless and right in all His deeds (cf. Apocalypse 15:3,4 or
Revelation 15:3,4 in KJV).
Jesus is sinless - 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 2:22.
But all human beings sin.
********************
Romans 3:10,12,23; 1 John 1:8,10 - All sin. If we say we have not
sinned, we make God a liar.
3 Kings 8:46 (1 Kings 8:46 in KJV) - There is no one who sins not.
Luke 1:46,47 - God is Mary's Savior. But if she had no sin, why
would she need a savior?
So Mary
should be respected as a godly woman. Yet she was human, and all humans sin.
Like all humans, Mary needed a Savior to forgive her sins. The claim of the
Catholic Church that Mary was sinless is an attempt to place her above humans
by attributing to her a quality that only Deity possesses.
II. Mary's Virginity
>>>>>>>>>>>
The
Bible does teach the Virgin Birth. This means that Mary was a virgin until
Jesus' was born (Matthew 1:18,23,25; Luke 1:27,34,35). But did she remain a
virgin afterward?
"Mary
... remained a virgin not only in the conception of Christ but also in His
birth and during the rest of her life" - Baltimore Catechism, p. 49 (cf.
Faith of Our Fathers, p. 138).
"Nor
does the New Testament ever imply that Mary ceased to be a virgin; on the
contrary, it confirms, though it nowhere states, the Catholic dogma of her
perpetual virginity." - Catholic Dictionary, p. 555.
A. The Union Of Man and Wife Is Pure and Holy.
==============================
The
doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity is another attempt to exalt Mary to a
position above other people. It is based on the idea that virginity is more
holy and pure than marriage. This is the same reason why the church forbids
priests to marry.
Genesis
2:18-24; 1:28 - Marriage and human procreation were part of God's creation from
the beginning. So, like everything God made, they are very good (1:31).
Hebrews
13:4 - Marriage is honorable in all, and the marriage bed is undefiled. So the
physical union is honorable and pure within Scriptural marriage. This includes
the physical relationship between Mary and Joseph.
1
Timothy 4:1-3 - To forbid marriage (as Catholicism does with its priests) is
apostasy and is based on an unscriptural attitude toward marriage. (Cf. Psalm
127:3).
B. Jesus Had Brothers and Sisters.
=====================
Mark
6:3 - The Bible expressly mentions Jesus' sisters and even names his brothers
(see also Matthew 12:46-50; John 2:12; 7:3-5; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians
1:19; Acts 1:14). How could Mary be a virgin if Jesus had brothers and sisters?
Catholics
argue that "brother" here means cousin, but the only evidence offered
to defend this view is tradition and unproved speculation. The facts are:
* The
word for "brother" is never used for a cousin in the New Testament.
(It is used for a fellow-countryman, but that cannot be the meaning in these
contexts.)
* The
word for "sister" in the New Testament, used physically, always means
a member of the same immediate family, never a cousin or more distant relative.
Catholic scholars almost universally ignore the sisters of Jesus.
*
Catholics strongly emphasize the fact that Mary was the physical mother of
Jesus. But the terms "brother" and "sister" are used in the
same contexts that say Mary was Jesus' "mother." If in these contexts
"brother" means cousin, why can't mother" mean "aunt"?
But if "mother" refers to an immediate family member, why not
conclude that the brothers and sisters likewise refer to immediate family
members?
The
only fair conclusion is that Mary and Joseph had other children. There would be
no reason to deny this except that Rome is determined to make Mary superhuman.
C. Man and Wife Should Fulfill the Physical Union.
==============================
1
Corinthians 7:2-5 - A married couple must fulfill one another's sexual needs.
To refuse is to tempt ones spouse to commit fornication. This relationship can
be withheld only by mutual consent and only temporarily ("for a
time"). [Cf. Proverbs 5:15-20]
Note
that the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity contradicts the doctrine of
Mary's sinlessness. If Mary obeyed God's instruction for married people to
fulfill the sexual union, then she did not remain a virgin. But if she did
remain a virgin, then she sinned and cannot have been sinless. At least one of
the doctrines must be false. The truth is that both are false.
Once
again, absolutely without doubt Mary was a virgin till the time of Jesus'
birth. But the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity is another attempt to
exalt Mary above other humans. The doctrine contradicts the Scriptures,
belittles the marriage relationship, and accuses Mary of refusing to fulfill
her God-given marital obligations to Joseph.
III. Mary's Power and Authority
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A. Statements of the Catholic View
=====================
On the
one hand Catholic writers admit that Mary is a human, not Deity, yet on the
other hand they say the following about her:
Mary is
the "Mother of God," so Jesus will obey her; as a result Mary is
practically unlimited in power.
*****************************************************
"She
is exalted above the angels, for surely God's mother is nearer to Him than the
angels who stand before the throne" - Catholic Dictionary, p. 554.
In
Rosary of Mary, Pope Leo XIII said the "Mother of God ... is placed on the
highest summit of power and glory in Heaven..." (pp. 1,2). She is
"surpassing in power all the angels and saints in Heaven" (p. 113). So,
the "power thus put into her hands is all but unlimited" (p. 130).
The
Legion of Mary declares, "...by the ordinance of God, her power is without
limit" (Legio Mariae, p. 11). So, "'In practice the Catholic Church
looks upon the Mother of God as being an unbounded power in the realm of
grace.'" (p. 317).
Various
Catholic saints and authorities are quoted as having said:
"'At
the command of Mary, all obey, even God' ... God grants the prayers of Mary as
if they were commands... 'Yes, Mary is omnipotent...for the queen by every law
enjoys the same privileges as the king ... the power of the Son and that of the
mother is the same, a mother is made omnipotent by an omnipotent Son' ... Since
the Mother, then, should have the same power as the Son, rightly has Jesus, who
is omnipotent, made Mary also omnipotent ... whatever the Mother asks for, the
Son never denies her." - Glories, pp. 154-156 (cf. pp. 18,12,71,87).
So, God
"declared her Sovereign of heaven and earth; and commanded the angels and
all creatures to acknowledge her as their Queen, and as such to serve and obey
her." - Glories, p. 391.
She rules as Queen of the Church and Queen of the Apostles.
**************************************************
Pope
Leo XIII in Rosary of Mary said: "She was, in very truth, the Mother of
the Church, the teacher and Queen of the Apostles ..." (p. 129). So the
infant church was "directed ... by her" (p. 115) [116].
St.
Antoninus is quoted as saying: "God has placed the whole Church, not only
under the patronage, but even under the dominion of Mary." - Glories, p.
155 [pp. 11,12]
B. Bible Teaching On This Subject
=====================
It is
true that Mary is called "the mother of Jesus" and "the mother
of my Lord" - John 2:1; Acts 1:14; Matthew 12:46-50; John 19:25; Luke
1:43. But the Bible never calls Mary the "Mother of God." By calling
her "Mother of God," Catholicism leads itself into false concepts
about her position.
As a human, Mary was below angels, never above them.
**********************************************
Psalm
8:5,6- Man was made lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:6,7). Since Mary was a
human, it follows that she was below the angels. Only Deity is above the
angels. So, to claim that Mary is above the angels, as Catholicism does, is to
exalt Mary to a position that should be attributed to no one except Deity.
Omnipotence (unlimited power) is a quality of Deity, not of
humans.
*****************************************************
Matthew 19:26 - With God all things are possible (Job 42:1,2;
Jeremiah 32:17; Mark 14:36).
Jesus
is all-powerful because He possesses Deity, and He is exalted above all because
He offered Himself for our sins - Matthew 28:18; Philippians 3:20,21; Ephesians
1:19-23; Apocalypse (Revelation in KJV) 19:16; 17:14; John 3:31; Romans 9:5.
Yet
several Catholic sources claim that Mary is omnipotent (all-powerful) or
virtually so. What Scripture so teaches? She was a human, so she was limited in
power like all humans. She had authority over Jesus only when He was a youth
subject to His parents (cf. Luke 2:51; Ephesians 6:1-3). No passage anywhere
indicates that she had authority or power beyond what other humans have or that
she had power over Jesus when He was grown.
Jesus
possessed Deity from eternity and became incarnate in the flesh by the power of
God. At no point did Mary share in His divine characteristics.
*****************************************************
John
1:1-3,14 - Jesus existed in the beginning with the Father, and even then He
possessed Deity. So Jesus possessed the characteristics of Deity long before
Mary became His mother. (Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2,10-12)
Luke
1:35 - Jesus was the "Son of God" because of the Holy Spirit, not
because of His relationship with Mary. This is the significance of the Virgin
Birth.
A child
can possess a characteristic in common with one parent but not with the other.
The child's eyes may be the same color as one parent but not the other, etc. So
Mary gave Jesus His human flesh. But His Deity He shared in common with His
Heavenly Father, not with Mary!
As
King, Judge, Mediator, etc., Jesus is not in any way obligated to obey His
mother. She has no control over His decisions.
*****************************************************
Since
Jesus is Mary's son and He possesses great authority and honor, Catholicism
reasons back to the conclusion that Mary must have similar authority and honor.
This leads them to many conclusions which, not only are not stated in
Scripture, but actually violate Scripture.
A
parent does not share in the privileges of an office held by his/her adult
offspring. If a man becomes the President of the USA, does His mother share in
his power and exercise authority with him?
If
Mary's relation to Jesus means He must submit to her, so she becomes an
all-powerful sovereign (Queen of the Universe, etc.), by the same logic why
wouldn't Mary likewise be required to obey the wishes of her mother, etc.? So
ultimately Jesus (and the church) must obey everyone in His ancestry!
Matthew
22:41-46 - Rather than sharing in Jesus' authority, His earthly ancestors,
including David, are subject to His Lordship. So Jesus did not receive His
Divine authority from His earthly ancestors; rather, He had power over His
ancestors. So like David, Mary has no authority over Him, but is subject to
Him.
Colossians
1:15-18 - Jesus is King of the Kingdom, not by inheritance through Mary, but by
right of Deity and because of His sacrifice on the cross. (Ephesians 1:22,23;
Philippians 2:6-11).
Luke
2:48-50 - Mary did not possess the superior wisdom that Catholicism attributes
to her. Even when He was a child, Jesus had a better understanding of His
purpose than Mary did. So why should He be obligated to follow the requests of
one who is inferior in wisdom? (3 Kings 8:39; cf. 1 Kings 8:39 in KJV; 1 John
5:14)
Mary has no authority over the church, nor is she our spiritual
Mother.
*****************************************************
Catholicism
reasons that Mary is Jesus' mother, and Christians are Jesus' spiritual
brothers and sisters; so Mary must be our mother, and the church must submit to
her. But this carries a Bible illustration beyond the point God intended.
Matthew
12:46-50 - We are Jesus' brothers and sisters because of our relationship to
Jesus' Father (not His mother). We must obey the will of the Father. But does
the fact Mary is Jesus' mother prove that she is the wife of God the Father?
No, and neither does the fact we are Jesus' adopted brothers and sisters prove
that Mary is our spiritual mother nor that we are subject to her authority.
Catholicism
confuses physical relationships and spiritual relationships. Mary is Jesus
physical, earthly mother. But God is His spiritual Father. That is why Mary is
not the wife of God. In the same way, God is our spiritual Father. Jesus'
physical mother does not thereby become my mother, any more than the earthly
mother of any other brother in Christ is my mother.
Ephesians
5:22-25 - Jesus is Head of the church like a man is head of his wife. When a
man marries, should his mother rule his wife and family? Absolutely not!
Genesis 2:24 says he must leave father and mother and cleave to his wife. His
earthly parents have no authority over his wife, and neither has Mary any
authority over the church, the bride of Christ.
1
Timothy 2:11,12 - Women in the church must be subject to the men (1 Corinthians
14:34,35). This is why all the apostles and elders in the church were men (cf.
1 Timothy 3;1ff).
So as a
woman, Mary could not be the "Queen of the Apostles." Nor could she
have dominion or make laws or give commands to any men in the church. If she
was a godly, faithful woman, then like other women she should be subject to the
men in the church.
Catholic
reasoning regarding Mary is flawed in many ways. But the major error is that
Jesus possessed authority, not because of His relationship with Mary, but
because He is Deity and died as our sacrifice. Neither Mary nor any other of
Jesus' ancestors shared in these powers or acts.
So,
while denying that Mary possesses Deity, Catholicism exalts her to a position
as close to Deity as they can. The result violates many Bible principles.
IV. Mary's Role in Prayer and Forgiveness
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A. Statement Of the Catholic View.
======================
Mary is a Mediatrix and Advocate for man to God.
****************************************
Pope
Leo XIII said of Mary: "To thee we lift our prayers, for thou art the
Mediatrix ... of our salvation" - Rosary, p. 121; (cf. p.
58,117,130,131,151).
Saint
Bernard said: "...the Eternal Father ..., besides giving us Jesus Christ,
our principal Advocate with Him, was pleased also to give us Mary, as our
Advocate with Jesus Christ" - Glories, p. 169 (see also p
127,92,56,84,95,171,162,166,89).
Mary
also is Co-Redemptrix with Christ, having power to dispense forgiveness to
sinners as she wills.
**************************************************
"Because
of her consent to accept the office of Mother of the Redeemer, and also because
of her merits in intimately sharing the sufferings of her Divine Son for the
salvation of mankind, the Blessed Virgin is given the title of Co-Redemptrix of
the human race" - Baltimore Catechism, p. 49.
Pope
Pius XI said: "[W]hen her beloved Son was consummating the redemption of
mankind on the altar of the Cross, she stood at His side, suffering and
redeeming with Him" - Legio Mariae, p. 170,171.
Her act
of submitting to become Jesus' mother was "the most heroic act ever
performed in the world - such that in all ages no other creature but she could
have performed it." Had she refused, "Redemption has never come on
earth for" us. So, "Redemption is the joint gift of the Father and of
Mary" - Legio Mariae, pp. 311,312.
Saint
Bernard said: "He has placed the whole price of redemption in the hands of
Mary, that she may dispense it at will." - Glories, p. 85 (see also p.
84,104,141,3,4,8,13,14,131,127,128).
Mary's mediation is so necessary that we cannot be saved without
her.
*****************************************************
Pope
Leo XIII again said: "Thus, as no man goeth to the Father but by the Son,
so no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother" - Rosary, p. 58. Again,
"'...none, O Mother of God, attains salvation except through thee; none
receives a gift from the throne of mercy except through thee'" (p. 131).
She is
"the dispenser of our Lord's Blood" - p. 129. Again, God "has no
children but by her, and communicates no graces but by her ... and through her
alone does He dispense His favours and His gifts" - Legio Mariae, p. 169.
Saint
Bernard said: "...Christ is the only mediator of justice...but because
men...fear the Divine Majesty...it was necessary to assign us another advocate
to whom we might have recourse with less fear and more confidence, and this
advocate is Mary" - Glories, p. 169f. (See also 170,145,103f).
Saint
Bonaventure said: "If my redeemer rejects me on account of my sins, and
drives me away from His sacred feet, I will cast myself at those of His beloved
Mother Mary, and ...she will engage her Son to pardon me." - Glories, p.
90. "...this great Advocate, who is so powerful...that the Judge, her
Son...cannot condemn the guilty who are defended by her." - Glories, p.
169.
This
concept of Mary's mediation is justified by passages that talk about God's
people praying for one another. Examples are James 5:16; Genesis 20:7,17;
Numbers 14:13; Job 42:8; Ephesians 6:18,19; 1 Timothy 2:1,2; Acts 8:24; etc. -
(See Question Box, p, 369).
Catholicism
claims to believe Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, yet they hold
views that exalt Mary as close to His level as they can. And in practice they
claim she can do things for people that Jesus Himself will not do.
B. The Bible Teaching
==============
No Scripture actually authorizes prayer to Mary and saints.
***********************************************
Close
study of the passages listed above will confirm these points. Consider James
5:16:
*
Prayer is offered to God, not to people. Requesting others to pray for us is
never called "praying" to saints.
*
Prayer is offered for one another, not by dead Christians, but by living ones.
* Other
Christians pray with or for us. We do not pray through them or to them. There
are our equals, not our superiors.
* Praying
for one another is mutual and reciprocal. We pray for others and they pray for
us. Is this what is practiced in Catholicism? Does Mary pray to us and ask us
to pray to God for her?
*
Forgiveness is determined by God and comes through Jesus. No human has the
power to dispense Divine forgiveness to others as they will.
* The
sinner himself must still go to God by Jesus in prayer for forgiveness. He
cannot simply ask others to pray for him (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9; Matthew
6:9-13).
The
effect of Catholic teaching is to exalt Mary and saints above other Christians.
On the contrary, the effect of the Bible teaching is to show that we are all
equals before God.
Dead people cannot communicate with the living.
****************************************
Ecclesiastes
9:5,6 - Neither Mary nor any dead "saint" has any part in anything
done on earth. Yet Catholicism says Mary's role is so vital that it is
essential to our salvation.
Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man.
****************************************
1
Timothy 2:5,6 (1 John 2:1,2) - Note that there are as many mediators as there
are Gods. We could as easily have two gods as two mediators between God and
man.
Jesus
serves as mediator because He died as our ransom. No one can serve as our
mediator unless he died as the sacrifice for our sins. That eliminates Mary and
every one but Jesus.
Catholicism
justifies their view by claiming that Mary is a lower advocate. But their
practice still makes two mediators, not one. And one of those mediators did not
die for us.
Jesus
is our only mediator in salvation and in prayer. To say Mary also mediates,
exalts her to a role the Bible expressly says belongs only to Jesus. Such is
clear violation of Scripture.
Only God can dispense forgiveness of sins.
**********************************
Mark
2:5-12 - Jesus could forgive sins because He is Deity. To say that Mary can do
so is to elevate her to a position only God can hold. Only God can dispense
forgiveness, and only He can determine who meets the conditions of grace
(Isaiah 43:11,25; 12:2; Psalm 36:39 - 37:39 in KJV- Jeremiah 17:5,7).
What
passage of Scripture anywhere says that Mary has the power to dispense or
distribute God's mercy or grace to others?
We need no mediator who is more merciful and loving than Jesus.
*****************************************************
Ephesians
1:7 - Salvation and redemption are in Jesus (2:13-18; Colossians 1:13,14;
Hebrews 7:25; Titus 2:11-14). What passage says salvation and redemption are in
or through Mary?
Hebrews
4:14-16; 2:17f - Catholicism says we need someone more merciful and
compassionate than Jesus. Yet the Scriptures explicitly state that Jesus came
to earth to show us that He is a merciful High Priest, so we will come to Him
with confidence.
We are
told it would be an insult to fear Mary as an advocate (Glories p. 170). If so,
how much more insulting is it if we fear to come to Jesus? One of the most
repulsive aspects of the Catholic teaching is that it says, even though our
Lord loved us so much He gave His life for us, yet He lacks mercy and
compassion, so we need someone else! Instead of appealing to Him, we are told
to appeal to one who did not die for us!
John 15:13
- There is no greater love than dying for ones friends. Jesus showed that love.
Did Mary? If not, then why should she be viewed as more loving than Jesus?
Jesus alone is our Redeemer. No human can share in being the
source or dispenser of redemption.
*****************************************************
A
fundamental error of Catholicism is that it takes the good or evil done by one
person and gives credit for it to another person. Their doctrine of original
sin says all men are held guilty for the sin Adam committed. Their doctrine of
indulgences claims that other people can be credited with the good deeds of
Jesus and saints.
So Catholicism tries to give Mary a share in the credit for Jesus'
sacrifice.
The
argument implies: (1) No one but Mary could have served as Jesus' mother. (2)
Mary knew Jesus was going to die for our sins. (3) She willingly allowed Him to
die for us. (4) Had she refused to cooperate, God's purpose would have been
defeated and we would all be lost. So they conclude that she is essential to
our salvation and has the right to dispense salvation.
Yet
what Scripture teaches any of this? None! Why could God not have chosen another
woman than Mary? What proof is there she understood all this? The other
disciples did not understand. And she did not understand Jesus' role even when
He was partly grown (Luke 2:48-50), so why should we believe she understood
even before He was conceived? And further:
The fact remains that it was not Mary but Jesus who died on that
cross.
Ezekiel
18:20 - "...The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor
shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man's
virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness shall be his." It
is contrary to God's will to give the parent credit for what the son did, good
or bad. Mary must not be given credit for what Jesus did.
In
fact, Mary could not have died for mankind because she was guilty of sin (as
previously discussed). Only Jesus could have been our sacrifice, because the
sacrifice had to be sinless (see 1 Peter 1:18,19; 2:21-24; 3:18; Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus
died to save all mankind from sin (1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9; John 3:16). That
includes Mary! Mary was a sinner like the rest of us. She shared, not in the
giving of Jesus' sacrifice, but in the receiving of it. She is not the
dispenser of redemption, but a recipient of it, just like all the rest of us.
Mary is not co-redemptrix. Rather, Jesus died to redeem her!
Instead
of placing Mary with Jesus as co-redemptrix, she should be viewed with the rest
of sinful mankind receiving the forgiveness that only Jesus can offer! The
fundamental error of Catholicism is that it repeatedly places Mary where only
God belongs, instead of placing her with mankind where she really belongs.
If
Mary's mediation is so vital to our salvation, why do the Scriptures never call
Mary a mediatrix? Why does no one ever pray to her? Why does no one ever ask
her to save them, give them grace, or obtain forgiveness for them? Why are
these things never found in the Scriptures?
V. Mary's Honor
>>>>>>>>>>
Catholicism
admits that Mary is entirely a "creature" - a human being, not Deity
(Glories, p. 131). Nevertheless, consider what they say about her:
A. The Teaching of the Catholic Church
========================
Catholics pray to Mary and bow or kneel before images or pictures
of her.
****************************************************
Besides
praying to God, "You may also pray to the Blessed Virgin, the angels and
the Saints" - Catechism for Adults, p. 15.
"It is ... well to say the rosary kneeling, before an image
of Mary" - Glories, p. 508.
Men dedicate their lives to serve and obey her as the "Queen
of Heaven."
*****************************************************
Pope Leo XIII called her "the most glorious Queen of
Heaven" - Rosary, p. 125
The
Legion of Mary encourages people to make it their goal to be "so closely
united to Mary that in all things and everything we act as instruments of
Mary..." and "make our life one of entire subjection to her" We
must be "dependent utterly upon her..." and look to her "to
guide us" - Legio Mariae, p. 13,14.
Catholic
authorities are quoted as saying: "...all those who are not thy servants,
O Mary, will perish" and "He who neglects the service of the blessed
Virgin will die in his sins" - Glories, p. 196 (cf. pp. 656,655,642.)
A
prayer in the catechism is as follows: "O Mary ..., I give myself entirely
to You. And to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to You ... my whole being
without reserve. Wherefore, since I am yours, O Living Mother, keep me and
guard me as your property and possession" - Morning Prayers, Catechism for
Adults, p. 136.
Catholics exalt Mary with a form of veneration, but in a lesser
sense than they worship God.
*****************************************************
They
distinguish three kinds of "veneration or worship." The highest is
for God, and the lowest (called dulia) for saints and angels. For Mary they
offer "hyperdulia," which is the highest veneration they give to mere
creatures, but much lower than what is given to God. (From the Catholic
Dictionary, pp. 238,239; and Baltimore Catechism, p. 49).
"O most pure Virgin Mary, I worship thy most holy
heart..." - Glories, p. 104.
Yet they apply to Mary expressions that the Bible applies only to
Deity.
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Saint
Antoninus said: "If Mary is for us, who shall be against us?" -
Glories, p. 74. Compare Romans 8:31.
"Jesus
Christ says ... 'No one comes to me unless my Father draws him.' Thus also does
Jesus address His Mother ... 'No one comes to Me unless My Mother first of all
draws him...'" - Glories, p. 141, 142. Compare John 6:44,45.
And
Saint Peter Damian "addresses her [Mary] in these words: 'All power is
given to thee in heaven and on earth, and nothing is impossible to thee'"
- Glories, p. 154; compare Matthew 28:18. (See also pp. 14,73,388,233.)
B. The Bible Teaching On This Subject.
========================
Matthew 4:10; Romans 1:23,25 - We may worship only God, not any
creature.
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To worship created things is idolatry. (John 4:24; Romans 12:1; 1
Corinthians 6:19,20)
1 Corinthians 1:12,13,29-31; 3:21 - We must not exalt and glory
religiously in humans.
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It is
possible to sin by exalting humans too much, even if we do not call it worship.
We must glory in the Lord. In particular, we must not glory religiously in
anyone unless it is proper to be baptized in his name or if he was crucified
for us. This eliminates Mary.
Specifically,
it is wrong to exalt people religiously by wearing their names, or to identify
ourselves religiously as followers of humans. Yet this is exactly what is done
to Mary in the quotes above. Also many Catholic churches names themselves after
Mary or various saints ("St. Mary's..." or "Our Lady of
...").
Acts
10:25,26; Apocalypse 22:8,9 (Rev. 22:8,9; 19:10 - KJV) - We must not bow as an
act of religious honor to any created being.
*****************************************************
No
matter what it is called, Scripture expressly forbids it. Yet this is exactly
what Catholics are encouraged to do in honoring Mary, saints, and angels.
Jeremiah 44:15-17 - The term "Queen of Heaven" describes
a pagan goddess (cf. v19; 7:18).
*****************************************************
People
who burn incense and give offerings to the queen of heaven are not listening to
what has been said in the name of the Lord!
It is
not coincidence that this practice is found both in heathen idolatry and in
Catholicism. It is a known fact that Catholicism took much of its worship and
ceremony from heathen idolatry. Nearly all heathen religions worship and exalt
female goddesses. This role is served in Catholicism by exalting Mary. But God
has never approved or authorized it. Only God is ruler of the universe. There
is no "queen" of the universe.
Matthew 6:24; Acts 5:29 - We have only one Master (Ruler).
(Matthew 23:10)
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We have
only one master in the sense of total dedication, doing all He says without
reservation. We serve people only by doing what God says is best for them. But
since fallible men may ask us to do things that are not best, we must not allow
them to rule us absolutely. This includes Mary. So Catholic doctrine urges
people to exalt Mary in ways expressly forbidden in Scripture.
Luke
11:27,28; Matthew 12:46-50 - The honor of Mary is not as great or important as
the honor all people can receive if we obey God.
*****************************************************
How
then can Mary be so far above other people as Catholicism implies? How can she
have a position worthy of special exaltation for us to bow to her, pray to her,
etc.? If we are faithful and she is faithful, then she is our equal, our sister
in Christ.
Isaiah 42:8; 48:11 - God will not share His honor with anyone
else.
*****************************************************
Yet
clearly the Catholic view of Mary gives her glory that should be given only to
God. Regardless of intent or understanding, according to the Scriptures such
conduct constitutes idolatry and thereby profanes the true God.
If
honoring Mary is as important as Catholicism says, why is it that no one in the
Bible ever bows to her, no one ever calls her "Queen of Heaven,"
etc.?
Conclusion
=======
Mary
was greatly blessed and honored by God to be chosen to serve as Jesus' mother.
She was surely a godly woman, so we should appreciate her and imitate her good
qualities (Luke 1:28,48).
But the
Catholic view of Mary exalts her to positions that only God can occupy. It
views her as sinless, a mediatrix who forgives sin, virtually all-powerful, one
who receives prayers and honor that should be addressed only to God. Again,
regardless of intent, from the viewpoint of Scripture such acts constitute
idolatry. Many aspects of the Catholic view of Mary are not only absent from
the Bible, they directly contradict the Bible. (See also Matthew 15:9; 2 John
9).
Bibliography
========
Baltimore
Catechism No 3, New Confraternity Edition Revised; Benziger Brothers, Inc., New
York, 1949.
Catechism for Adults, William Cogan, 1975 Edition; ACTA
Foundation, Chicago, 1975.
Catholic
Dictionary or the Universal Christian Educator and Popular Encyclopedia of
Religious Information, William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold; Christian Press
Association Pub. Co., New York, (no date).
Catholic
Faith, Based on the Catholic Catechism, Book Three; Catholic University of
America Press, Washington, D.C., 1938.
* Faith
of Our Fathers, James Cardinal Gibbons, 110th Edition; P. J. Kenedy and Sons,
New York, 1917.
**
Glories of Mary, Alphonsus Maria De Ligouri, 2nd Edition; P. O' Shea, 45 Warren
Street (only address given), 1890.
Holy Bible, Saint Joseph "New Catholic Edition";
Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1962,
Legio
Mariae (The Official Handbook of the Legion of Mary), 7th American Ed.;
Concilium Legionis Mariae, Louisville, KY, 1955.
Question Box, Bertrand L. Conway, 2nd Edition; The Paulist Press,
New York, 1929.
Rosary
of Mary, The (Translations of the Encyclical and Apostolic Letters of Pope Leo
XIII), collected by William R. Lawler; St. Anthony Guild Press, Paterson, NJ,
1944.
*Note:
We have restricted our citations to Catholic sources having an official
indication that they were approved by the Catholic Church with the exception of
Faith of Our Fathers, and it was written by a Cardinal in the Catholic Church.
Note
further that terms such as "Pope" and "saint" are used in
this study to refer to what Catholicism means by those terms. This does not
mean that the author agrees with the Catholic usage of them.
**
Regarding Ligouri's Glories of Mary, note the following information:
One of
the respected Roman Catholic authorities on Mariology is Alphonsus Mary de
Liguori (1696-1787), who was canonized as a saint by Pope Gregory XVI on May
26, 1839. He was declared a "Doctor of the Church" in 1871 by Pope
Pius IX. Liguori has his own special day on the Roman Catholic calendar, that
being August 1st. On this day, the official prayer to be made by Catholic
people on behalf of Liguori asks God that they may be "taught by his
admonitions." ...
Liguori's
book remains authoritative today, and it does represent official Catholic
doctrine. Liguori's works underwent a rigorous examination and received the
unqualified approval of the Catholic Church. His works were tested 20 times by
the rules of Urban VIII and Benedict XIV, and the resulting judgment was that
they did not contain "one word worthy of censure." The Glories of
Mary was pronounced to be without error by Pope Pius VII in 1803 and by Pope
Leo XII in 1825. - http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/1dfabac4d2fda12e9cdb9ff87d57e5fd-80.html
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