THE REAL TRUTH OF MARY - GOT GUTS?

    Some say that The Catholic Church is the best kept secret in the world, but I disagree. Its not a secret, at all. But most people are immersed in lies about The Church, and reject its Truth.

    Along these lines, Venerable Arch Bishop Fulton Sheen once observed...

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who truly hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing."

    So just what are some of the falsehoods?     Well, the premier one is that Jesus, or the Bible, are not the center and focus of Catholic faith. Which is ridiculous, of course. Jesus was the origin founder of Christianity AND He literally founded what is the Catholic Church.     And the Bible? Well, it came to ALL of us directly through the actions of the Catholic Church.     These are facts of both history, and faith.     So Catholicism is 100% about Jesus Christ and the Bible. I suggest you attend even one Catholic Mass, and you'll have little doubt of it. Attend with someone who can explain the Mass TO you, and you'll never doubt it.     But one thing often overshadows even these distortions:

    Mary, the Mother of Jesus.     And I mean that just the mention of her name sets off an explosion of false notions and misunderstandings that is often unbelievable. At times, it seems that people hate Mary more than they do satan.     Before I was Catholic, I was extra religionem - "outside religion" - and even I was taken aback by some of the nonsense I'd heard about Mary.     So if you have the courage to hear about it from the Catholic perspective, here's the opportunity to clear things up. 1. Why do Catholics worship Mary, who was just a human being? She's just a dead woman, right?

    First off, we do not worship Mary, as in worshiping God; however, we are not ashamed to venerate and honor her in her own separate way. And while she is no longer living on this earth, we don't view her with cold disdain, as just a dead woman.     The archangel Gabriel, himself, called Her, “full of grace,” and one who, “has found favor with God” (Lk 1:28, 30).

    Her cousin, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, calls Her, "blessed among women" (v. 41), and Mary Herself declares that "all generations shall call me blessed" (v. 48).     More than even that, however, we acknowledge Mary as the supreme example of human submission to God's will. We believe that it's not just enough to wave your hands in the air, and say, "I believe in Jesus"... but that total submission to God's will through Christ must be one's attitude.     And the first human involved with Christ Himself to exhibit this level of total submission was Mary, when she said... “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1: 38)
    In other words, "I trust in you Lord; do what you will with me."     That is submission to God... and worthy of honor.

    If you're going to say you accept the veracity of the Bible, then you must also accept these things...because they come right out of trhe Bible.

    Catholics who follow the Bible (which is all of them), always call Her blessed.     Now that it is explained, what do you gain by refusing her that honor?

2. Why do Catholics call Mary, “Mother of God”?

Wouldn’t this mean Mary existed before God, that she is older than God, etc.?

    Would you not say your own mother is, "...the mother of YOU?"     Catholics call Mary Mother of God because she gave birth to Jesus Christ, who is the second person OF God. But lets again follow the spirit-filled Elizabeth, who declared in Luke 1:43: “why should the 'MOTHER OF MY LORD' come to me?” She knew it, obviously.     Which takes us back to the Bible, and whether you intend to go by what is in it or not.     So if Mary was the Mother of God, that is, Jesus as True God and True Man – two divine natures in one undivided person - then being the Mother of Christ makes Mary the Mother of God.     Mary did not give birth to a mere human creature, but to the Son of God who, as a person, took from Her flesh a pure human nature.

    "Well..., I only believe whats in the Bible," some will stubbornly say. Which typically means what they want to accept. But, okay, here is some more.... - Lk 1:35: “the child to be born shall be called SON OF GOD.” - Gal 4:4: “God sent His Son, born of a woman.”     Here again, if you profess belief in Scripture, then you must now acknowledge that Christ was/is also God in human form, aka, God-made-man...making Mary, in fact, the Mother of God.     Obviously, Mary did not exist before God... she existed and was chosen by God as a human woman in her time, so that Jesus, the Son of God from all eternity, could become also the Son of Mary in that time.

3. Why do Catholics believe Mary was immaculately conceived? Romans 3:23 says that “ALL HAVE SINNED and are deprived of the glory of God.”

    Here you make the common, Protestant mistake of cherry-picking a Scripture verse out of context. This is a too-common error, and it will come up several times as we progress, so brace yourself.     Catholics believe Mary was immaculately conceived, herself, because it was necessary for her to be so, in her role as The Vessel Worthy of the Lord.     We are, in fact, told that Mary is full of grace, highly favored. Lk 1:37 also says: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” If THAT is so - and you believe what is in the Bible - then obviously, she could herself be kept free of sin.     She is the “woman” of Gen 3:15, whose enmity with Satan and sin is absolute.     She is the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:11-21), made to hold the living Word of God – a holy tabernacle made not of the purest gold, but of the purest flesh.     So, would you expect Jesus to be conceived into a corrupted, leaky bucket, or a sound and sanctified vessel worthy of the honor and selected by God Himself?

    Here is our first look at the error of cherry-picking verses. The context in which your verse fragment from St. Paul resides emphasizes the universal aspect of sin, as it extends to Jews and Gentiles alike, not specifically to Mary.     Babies have not deliberately sinned; Adam and Eve before the fall had not sinned; Jesus never sinned. But these are exceptions that fall outside St. Paul's condemnation.     Mary is simply another.

    Since the vast majority of Bible interpreters in our day are NOT expert scholars of the age and time in which the Bible arose, it must also be made clear that the word "all" ('pas' in greek), as it was used when the Scripture was originally written, has different meanings - just as it does in English, even today.     There are, in fact, several examples in the Bible were we can see this.     St. Paul said, "all Israel will be saved"(Rom.11:26), but we know the opposite to be true - many will not be saved.     St. Paul also said that "All must die", but we know of godly people who did not experience death (e.g. Enoch, Elijah, Moses).     This is the proper contextual examination of Scripture in action.

4. Okay, sure. But if Mary was sinless, then She doesn’t need a Savior. So why does Mary say in Luke 1:47: "my spirit rejoices in God MY SAVIOR.”

    Mary recognized what Christ was, and was saying as much. Remember, she was of this earth and saved by the merits of Christ, just as we are.     The difference between Mary and all others Christians was that Mary was saved in anticipation of the merits of Christ, as we've already seen.     Meanwhile, we are saved following the merits of Christ. We are freed from original sin at our baptism (Redemptive Salvation), while Mary was preserved from original sin at conception (Preventive Salvation).

5. Why do Catholics believe that Mary was a Perpetual Virgin? Matt. 13:55-56 says that Jesus had brothers and sisters.

    Here is another of those cherry-picked references from modern Bibles, used to build arguments, but which aren't taken with contextual understanding.     Those non-Catholics who know anything of the main Protestant reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli are often surprised when they learn that ALL these men believed in the perpetual virginity of Mary, as the Church alsways has.     So that hasn't changed; only viewpoints and interpretations have, especially among the newer Christian sects.     So let us again step back to a contextual, scholarly understanding of the ancient languages of the biblical age. Neither Hebrew nor Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ and His disciples, have separate words for “brother,” “cousin,” “near-relative,” etc.     For example, in the Old Testament, Lot is called Abraham's “brother” (Gen 14:14). Yet we know that Lot was Abraham's nephew (Gen 11:27).     The Jews used the word, “brother,” for any near relative, without necessarily meaning brothers by blood.

    Christ had "adelphoi," the Greek word for 'brother,' which could also mean cousin, nephew, relatives, and even fellow countrymen. This is no different than we find today.     In Mat.13:55-56 four men are named as brothers (adelphoi) of the Lord: James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude.     Further, in John 19:25 we read "Standing in the foot of the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, MARY THE WIFE OF CLEOPHAS, and Mary of Magdala."     Cross reference this with Mat.27:56 "Among them at the cross were Mary Magdalene and MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES AND JOSEPH..."     We see that at least two of the men mentioned in Mat.13 were definitely not siblings of Jesus (although they are called 'adelphoi') but Jesus' cousins - sons of their mother's sister.            In early writings the terms, 'disciples,' and, 'followers' were often used, instead of brother and sisiter. So you really debate what amounts to a modernistic and moot point.     In short, Mary had no other children than Jesus.

6. Why do Catholics believe that Mary was Assumed body and soul into heaven?

    This one really troubles the non-Catholic, because Scripture does not record the Assumption of Mary. It matters little to them that the Apostles had this belief; in fact, at least three of them saw long-dead people appear from Heaven with Christ on Mt. Tabor. They also knew that Christ was assumed into Heaven, and that nothing is impossible for God - so there is certainly precedent.     And if that isn't enough, these same deniers handily ignore that the Bible itself tells us that not all things are written in the Bible.

    But the Assumption of Mary is actually quite scriptural. In fact, Scripture gives every indication that such a thing can occur.

    Consider the unusual ends of certain righteous people. For example: - Enoch, who was taken to heaven without dying (Heb 11:5)

- Elijah, who was taken into heaven by a fiery chariot (2 King 2:11).     Matthew 27:52 suggests a bodily assumption before the Second Coming, and most later Protestants believe in a thing called the, “Rapture,” based on 1 Thess 4:17 and 1 Cor 15:52.        Again, these are rather out of context, but these folks freely admit it is possible - as long as THEY are being "raptured."     In item 3 of this piece, we even saw they their own beloved Scripture tells them, Lk 1:37, that: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”    But even though they could probably agree with all of that ...well, they still lack the depth to accept that it could happen to the holy vessel, the very Mother of Our Sacred Lord, Jesus Christ.     Either that, or they just obstinately refuse to admit it.     Interestingly, it is a fact that Apostolic Tradition holds belief in the Assumption. Note that term "APOSTOLIC" - the Apostles of Christ who knew both Jesus and Mary, personally, were of the opinion that she was assumed into heaven. So to put it terms most can understand, Mary is simply the first post-Jesus person to be “raptured.”

    John also goes to great lengths in his vision to describe the, "woman in Heaven," which most knowledgeable scholars interpret as Mary (Revelation 12:1).

7. Why did the Catholic Church invent the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, and the Bodily Assumption in 1950?

    The Catholic Church did not invent these dogmas - they were in fact, believed by the original Apostles and held throughout Church history.     However, the Church did officially define the doctrines in 1854, and 1950, respectively. It may come as a surprise, but the Church takes these matters seriously and it is only after great study and consideration of all details and facts that She weighs in on them. Often, this takes a very long time.     But, she did not “invent” them at that time, any more than she “invented” the doctrine of the Trinity when she officially defined it in 325.     Ditto for “inventing” the New Testament, when she officially determined its canon in the late 4th century.     Rather, The Catholic Church codified a belief which had existed since the Apostles and the early Church, and which was found in the writings of the earliest Church Fathers. For the detailed story on the Assumption of Mary, go here: The Assumption of Mary

8. Is a Catholic required to believe in the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary?

    Yes. All Catholics are required to believe that which the Church proposes for our belief. Officially-defined doctrines are called, “articles of faith,” which every Catholic must believe in order to be a faithful Catholic.     Now, I know that the idea of a "rule" that requires you to believe something is hard to swallow for those in the US, where we imagine we have freedom of thought. But the same people who reject that idea, will believe whatever they are told by people in their church of choice without much question.     But, yes, when these two doctrines were infallibly defined, they became "articles of faith” and are binding upon every Catholic. 9. Is a Catholic required to believe in the Church- approved apparitions of Mary, such as Fatima and Lourdes?

    No.     Catholics have the assurance of the Church that these revelations have been thoroughly investigated and are orthodox and worthy of belief, but they are not doctrine. Therefore, a Catholic is free to disbelieve even in the officially approved apparitions.

10. Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

    Throughout the Bible, we are advised that Jesus is the mediator between humanity and God. One affirmation of this is found in 1Tim. 2:15, which says “there is ONE mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ.”     Meanwhile, we pray for one another’s needs: “the prayer of a righteous person is very powerful” (James 5:16). If your mama asks you to pray for her, you do, right?     Because Jesus is the one mediator between earth and heaven, we intercede through him for one another, as members of Christ’s Mystical Body on earth.     Likewise, if our fellow "saints" praying for us on earth do not destroy Christ’s role as the one mediator, neither do the glorified saints already praying for us in heaven.     Mary is the greatest saint and greatest intercessor of this kind. Why wouldn’t you beseech Her intercession and assisting prayers, knowing that?

11. Why do Catholics call Mary “Blessed” and

honor her with prayers and devotions, like the Rosary?

    Because Scripture calls Her “blessed” and promises that all generations will invoke Her by that title (see Question 1).     We honor Mary because of Her great privileges: - She was conceived without sin - She became the Mother of God while remaining a virgin - She was assumed bodily into heaven     There She reigns as Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of the Church, God’s greatest human creature next to Jesus Christ, and mankind’s greatest boast.     We honor Her because Jesus honored Her perfectly (obeying the fourth commandment) and we are called to imitate Jesus.

12. The “Hail Mary” is not Scriptural!

    Ooops, you took another wrong step there. It most certainly is Scriptural.     Here is the Hail Mary prayer...say it with me...

"Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death." Amen. Now let us examine this by line... “HAIL, FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU!” (Luke 1:28)... BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB, Jesus (Lk, v. 42)... HOLY MARY – “you have found favor with God” ( Lk v. 30)... MOTHER OF GOD – “mother of my Lord” (v. 43)... PRAY FOR US SINNERS – (as we pray for one another) – NOW, AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH."

    During the Rosary we also contemplate the life of Jesus across 20 separate reflections, and we pray The Our Father, The Lamb of God, and the Gloria, among other scriptural prayers.... so now you know.

13. Isn’t the Rosary the kind of repetitious prayer condemned by Jesus in Mt 6:7?

    Yes.... but no.     It is a repetitive prayer, yes.

    But in Mt 6:7, Jesus is not condemning repeated prayers, per se, only repeated prayer, “in the manner of the pagans.” Again, that danged Scriptural cherry-picking has tripped you up.     The context here is that Jesus is teaching Christians that they are not to pray with the pagan attitude that says the more you repeat a prayer, the more likely you are to be heard (see 1 Kings 18:25-29 for an example of this pagan mentality).     A Christian who thinks he needs to repeat a prayer in order to be heard in heaven has a problem with faith – this is the error Jesus is correcting.     So lets pluck a coupe of scriptural tidbits ourselves, shall we?     Notice that Jesus repeats the same prayer three times in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:44).     And elsewhere he tells us to repeat, unceasingly, what we today call the, "Lords Prayer."     I will wager that many of you reading this far probably do that yourself.     Then, there's the publican who humbly repeated the prayer, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk. 18:13) and went home justified.     The four living creatures in heaven repeat day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come” (Rev. 4:8).     These show that prayer repeated with the proper attitude is very pleasing to God.     You must likewise know, in case you overlooked it in the section above, that the Rosary is ALSO a journey of contemplative meditation on the entire life of Christ, from His birth to His death.     We literally study Him and His life during the The Rosary, and we revere each word for its meaning and context.     It is NOT a robotic recitation; it is quite personal.     Lastly, the Rosary also includes the sort of "freestyle" prayer modern Protestants seem so entranced with. We call these prayers, "intentions," where we pray spontaneously for specific people and situations upon which we wish to beseech Gods graces.     So lets be clear - The Rosary is many holy things, which are not apparent when one believes only the falsehoods about it. And when recited from a devout heart, it most assuredly fulfills the Biblical exhortation to, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17).     And even the non-Catholic is invited to pray the Rosary, and will very likely build a great store of favor and grace with God in doing so.

14. Aren’t Catholics superstitious for believing that medals of Mary and relics of saints can perform miracles?

    Not at all.     The Catholic Church teaches that only God can perform a true miracle. But we also know that God can either act directly or through secondary agents, like people. God sometimes even performs miracles through inanimate objects in order to show the intercessory power of a particular saint.     For example, a man came back to life when he contacted the bones of the holy prophet Elisha (2 Kings 13:20-21).     How about when God performed miraculous cures through Peter’s shadow (Act 5:15-16), and through handkerchiefs that had touched St. Paul (Acts 19:11-12), obviously showing the great intercessory power of these saints AND the miraculous power of inanimate instruments when chosen by God.     And don't you pray for the miracle of heaven-sent money, or that a scalpel (inanimate object) might bestow a healing miracle upon yourself or another...when in the hands of a man?

    Medals of our Lady and relics of saints have no power to cause miracles in themselves. Rather, God performs miracles through these medals and relics to show the great intercessory power of Mary and His saints.

    If you made it this far, I applaud you!     At the same time, I am well aware that some of you will cling stubbornly to whatever notions you have been (wrongly) taught, or have already talked yourselves into... despite the reality.     So it goes, and no hard feelings.     However, by and on behalf of the grace of God, this is your opportunity to understand. And by the grace of God, this will ease whatever prejudices you may harbor, and help open your eyes.     Therefore, by the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray this be so, through whom all things are possible. Amen

Via David Paul Alge and Faith Allison Mancini, edited.