Mariology refers to the study of Mary, the mother of Jesus, whilst Mariolatry refers to the worship of Mary—which is done worldwide. There is often a fine line between the two and we find that many who make references to Mary, in a devotional context, breach the line even when they pepper their worshipful devotion to Mary with references to “God” and “Jesus” (find all segments here).
One such example follows in the form of Rev. Anthony Bus, CR, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in Chicago, Ill. Via an alleged prompting from Mary, he perceived that he was to build a sanctuary in her honor wherein the eucharist would be worshipped perpetually, 24/7, and wherein “sacred silence” would be practiced. This presents a wealth of problems for anyone who adheres to biblical theology and we will tackle these as we get the backstory from the horse’s mouth—all elucidating quotations below are from the following pages from the St. Stanislaus Kostka website (the links are at the end of the article).
“a call was heard which resulted in the entrustment and consecration of the parish of St. Stanislaus Kostka to the Blessed Virgin Mary…It was accepted that the Blessed Virgin Mary had asked for and created space for sacred silence that the voice of her Son would be heard anew and that He would be adored in the Blessed Sacrament…Rev. Anthony Bus…heard a call from Our Lady to build a Sanctuary of The Divine Mercy…It was a ‘mother’s plea,’ he calls it, ‘to her children to seek refuge in God.’”
Pay particular attention to the specific terms as people who engage in double speak, on purpose or as a result of the promptings of the spirit which guides them, tell you the truth between the lines. With this double talk in mind, note that Bus stated that Mary is somehow communicating with him from beyond the grave and seeks a place wherein her children may seek refuge in God. This part is supposed to make you think that this is all kosher and he is, after all, referring to “God.” Yet, he also states that “Our Lady is in charge.” So is this about glorifying “God” or “Our Lady” who, after all, is, somehow, in charge? He specifies that since she is in charge:
“I’ve always prayed, since the beginning of all this, that if this is not of Our Lady, if it is not the will of God, let it stop. But it just continues to unfold.”
The bottom line is that there is the real, historical, biblical Mary who was a humble servant of YHVH and was blessed to birth the Messiah Jesus and subsequently passed away and went to heaven wherein we have no indication whatsoever that she or anyone communicates with us—much less with multiple people worldwide.
Then there is the Catholic fugazi “Mary” who is a mythological concoction which is an anti-Jesus (anti meaning both against and instead of) as she is made to be like Him in ways that the real Mary is not; to the point that one wonders that which Mariolatrists already know, their goal; why trust Jesus when Mary does everything He does? Catholics call this concept “to Jesus through Mary” which ends up meaning that one should focus on, pray to, be devoted to Mary and she will do the rest so that there is no need for you to establish a relationship with Jesus.
So, Bus seeks to that which is un-, non- and anti-biblical which is to build a temple of Mary worship—by any other name. He then makes a similar argument than that which was made by the Atheist John Loftus who claim to have rejected YHVH when he wanted to commit adultery, “reasoned” that since YHVH condemns adultery He would not let him commit it, but YHVH did not stop him so he went ahead with it and therefore: YHVH does not exist (see here for quotations and citations relating to this “argument”). Well, in an oddly similar manner Bus “reasons” that if this was “not of Our Lady” (it most certainly was of the Catholic’s “Lady” the fugazi “Mary”) and “not the will of God, let it stop” but YHVH did not stop it therefore, it must be of YHVH.
Well, this is also reminiscent of the Mormon missionaries who asked me to pray as to whether Mormonism was true. I refused, stating that since YHVH states in His word that there is only one true living “God,” namely Himself, then I have no need to pray as to whether a theology which preaches multiple gods, and that human can become gods, is true.
All this to say that within the Bible there are only two sort of devotional worship and two kinds of prayer: devotional worship and prayer of the one true living “God” YHVH and devotional worship and prayer to false gods; period. Thus, to say that you prayed and since YHVH did not stop you then it must be kosher is faulty as he is expressing his free will desire to violate YHVH’s word and thus, he is being granted his ungodly wished:
“God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25)
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All quotations above are from the following pages from the St. Stanislaus Kostka website:
Our Lady of the Sign-Ark of Mercy
Unveiling an Icon – After “A Mother’s Plea,” a Work of Mercy Begins