At a glance:
In this essay we will present two extremes. One falls under the heading of Catholic Apologetic Theory, under this tile we place the more sober Catholic teaching, many of the quotes here are made in the context of Catholic-Protestant unity and are somewhat well balanced. However, the other extreme, Actual Practice, will show how the ideals are far from lived up to, and to just what extremes Marian Dogma is taken. We have included comments on some of the quotes.
Remember Paul’s warning in 2nd Corinthians 11:3. Here is the way in which three Vatican approved Bibles render the verse.1
The New Testament Rendered from the Original Greek with Explanatory Notes (Kleist-Lilly translation), “But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his cleverness, so your thoughts may be corrupted and fall from the single-minded devotion and purity you owe to Christ.”
The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (trans. from the Latin Vulgate Challoner-Rhemis version),
“But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his guile, so your minds may be corrupted and fall from a single devotion to Christ.”
The New American Bible,
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere [and pure] commitment to Christ.”
Also it is very important to point out that the New Testament tells of two great opportunities that Jesus had to exalt his mother Mary, two chances in which He could have set us straight about her role in our lives. He could have taught all of the various dogmas of the Catholic Church regarding her, yet He did not. Rather, Jesus replaces His familial relations for spiritual ones.
“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:46-50 also see Mark 3:31-34 & Luke 8:19-21).
Jesus is showing no disrespect, He is just doing what He came to do, He was showing us that the focus is to always remain on God and no one else.
“a woman in the crowd called out, ‘Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.’ He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it’” (Luke 11:27-28).
Here is the best opportunity ever for Jesus to affirm His mother’s role as the mother of the church, as intercessor, as Queen of Heaven. But rather, Jesus places the focus right where it belongs, on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Moreover, consider that the Book of Revelation reveals more about heaven than any other. We learn of God’s throne and the sea of glass, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders, the angels and horsemen, the Lamb and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the menorahs and the bowls of incense, the seven spirits of God and the seven sealed scroll, etc., etc. If Mary was assumed into heaven, crowned as Queen of Heaven, sits at Jesus’ right hand, is our intercessor, co-redeemer and plays a part in the plan of salvation, why is she not mentioned in the book at all? Keep in mind that Revelation 12:1-6 has been dealt with in our articles Immaculately Conceived? , Assumed in to Heaven? and Coronation in Heaven?. She is not on a throne, she is not even a bystander, keep in mind that Mary is thought to have died in 48 AD and John wrote Revelation circa 90-95 AD and writes of many future events. Granted that neither Enoch nor Elijah appear in the book either, however, theoretically they are not as exalted as Mary who would be expected to play a very dominant role in Revelation.
Catholic Apologetics Theory:
“Fr. Francis Martin once observed that anyone who confuses the roles of Mary and Jesus does not have a problem with their ‘Mariology’; their problem is that they have never really met Jesus Christ. Those who really know the life and power of Jesus will never be tempted or able to confuse Jesus’ role with that of Mary.” 2
The problem is that one does not get to know Jesus very well when they are preoccupied with Mary and the many saints of Roman Catholicism.
Rev. Ralph W. Beiting, “It is not that Mary is more than Jesus, or even equal to Him—that would be intolerable heresy. But it is that, in order to bless Jesus more perfectly, we must begin by blessing Mary. If we praise or glorify her, she immediately praises and glorifies Jesus. (True Devotion, 95, 148.)” 3
Again Rev. Beiting, “If we establish solid devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only to establish more perfectly devotion to Jesus Christ, and to provide an easy and secure means for finding Jesus Christ. (True Devotion, 62)”4
Pope Paul VI wrote, “Christ is the only way to the Father, and the ultimate example to whom the disciple must conform his own conduct, to the extent of sharing Christ’s sentiments, living his life and possessing his Spirit. The Church has always taught this and nothing is pastoral activity should obscure this doctrine. But the Church, taught by the Holy Spirit and benefiting from centuries of experience, recognizes that devotion to the Blessed Virgin, subordinated to worship of the divine Savior and in connection with it, also has a great pastoral effectiveness and constitutes a force for renewing Christian living.”5
“The Second Vatican Council urged that theologians and preachers of the Catholic Church to avoid these extremes: This Synod earnestly exhorts theologians and preachers of the divine word that is treating of the unique dignity of the Mother of God, they carefully and equally avoid the falsity of exaggeration on the one hand, and the excess of narrow-mindedness on the other…Pursuing the study of the sacred scripture, the holy Fathers, the doctors and liturgies of the church, and under the guidance of the church’s teaching authority, let them rightly explain the officers [roles] and privileges of the Blessed Virgin which are always related to Christ, the source of all truth, sanctity, and piety.”6
Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., “the Council warned Catholics to be on their guard not to muddy the issue by falling into either of two extremes: undercutting their marian piety and thus hindering the Eastern Churches from communion with Rome, or imprudently urging devotion to Mary beyond the limits of sound teaching and so compromising the Church before Protestants.”7
Again Fr. Hardon, “In order to appreciate the significance of the Vatican’s Mariology, we must see in it the framework of what is happening in the Protestant and Orthodox world. One of the less-known aspects of ecumenism, the Church’s teaching about Mary, is actually the keystone of the world movement for Christian unity.” 8
Most Rev. E. K. Lynch, O. Carm. Pior General of the Carmelite Order, “Let us not conclude, however, that the scapular is endowed with some kind of supernatural power which will save us no matter what we do or how much we sin. We might apply here what St. Alphonsus says about devotion to Mary in general: ‘When we declare that it is impossible for a servant of Mary to be lost, we do not mean those who by their devotion to Mary think themselves warranted to sin freely. We state that these reckless people, because of their presumption, deserve to be treated with rigor and not with kindness. We speak here of the servants of Mary who, to the fidelity with which they honor and invoke her, join the desire to amend their lives. I hold it morally impossible that these be lost. A perverse, sinful will can defeat the ‘suppliant omnipotence’ of the Mother of mercy.”9
Pope Pius XII wrote, “obtaining of eternal life itself, which is the substance of that promise of the Most Blessed Virgin which has been handed down to us…For the holy Scapular…is a sign and a pledge of the protection of the Mother of God. But not for this reason, however, may they who wear the Scapular think that they can gain eternal salvation while remaining slothful and negligent of spirit, for the Apostle warns us: ‘In fear and trembling shall you work out your salvation’ (Phil. 2:12).”10
Alan Schreck; Associate Professor of theology, “Catholics believe that there is a ‘hierarchy’ or order of Christian truths. In other words, not all Christian truths are equally central to the basic Gospel message. Official Catholic teaching has never considered beliefs about Mary as being equal in importance to truths about God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Truths about Mary are all related to the basic Gospel message, though they are not the primary focus of the gospels.”11
Anthony Wilhelm, “Mary is God’s masterpiece. To honor her is to honor God who made her what she is.”12
John L. Stoddard attempts this apologetic, “The Catholic doctrine does not teach, but, on the contrary, forbids, any adoration of the Blessed Virgin. It states that to adore her, in the sense that God should be adored, would be idolatry, for adoration is for God alone. To love and reverence her, however, is both a duty and a privilege.”13
This Catholic attempted to show just how much Protestants misunderstand Marian dogma attempts to play a word game and state that they do not worship Mary and they do not adore Mary but instead they revere Mary. He fails to note that in the Bible revere or reverence is used exclusively of God and so fails to fit in with Marian piety.
“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend [some translate as awesome] is his name” (Psalm 111:9-10).
“‘…as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence” (Joshua 5:13-15). God is the Lord of hosts and Jesus appears here as the Commander of hosts, or the Lord’s army.
“Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that” (Nehemiah 5:15).
“But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness” (Psalm 5:7-8). “Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30 & Leviticus 26:2).
Here the Temple of God is revered but in reality it is because God dwelled therein.
“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel’” (Daniel 6:26).
“As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up,’ he said, ‘I am only a man myself’” (Acts 10:25-26).
When Peter (the first Pope according to Catholicism) is revered he instantly rejects it, assuring the man that he too is a mere man.
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2nd Corinthians 7:1).
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).
“sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Colossians 3:22).
“worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).
Actual Practice:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #971 states, “‘All generations will call me blessed’: ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’”
St. Louis de Montfort, “Mary will be the only means used by our souls in dealing with God. (Secret of Mary, 47.)”14
St. Alphonsus Ligouri wrote, “to honor this Queen of Angels is to obtain eternal life.”15
“Our Blessed Mother holds such a place in the economy of our salvation that some do not hesitate to state that devotion to her is a necessary condition of salvation. ‘They who are not thy servants, O Mary,’ says St. Albert the Great, ‘shall perish.’ St. Bonaventure repeats the same thought when he says: ‘They who neglect the service of Mary shall die in their sins.’ And again: ‘For them from whom Mary shall turns away her face there is not even hope of salvation.’ St. Ignatius of Antioch, a martyr of the second century, writes: ‘A sinner can be saved only through the holy Virgin who, by her merciful prayers, obtains salvation for so many who, according to strict justice, would be lost.’ If lack of devotion to her is a mark of eternal; reprobation, a constant love for her must be a sign of eternal salvation. Many spiritual writers state that devotion to Mary is a sign of predestination.
St. Alphonsus Liguori says: ‘It is impossible that a servant of Mary be damned, provided he serves her faithfully and commends himself to her maternal protection.’ St. Anselm writes: ‘He who turns himself to thee and is regarded by thee cannot be lost.’ St. Antonine is of the same opinion. He says: ‘As it is impossible for them from whom Mary turns away her eyes of mercy to be saved, so it is necessary that they to whom she turns her eyes of mercy and for whom she intercedes to be saved and glorified.’”16
Most Rev. E. K. Lynch, O. Carm. Pior General of the Carmelite Order, “The one thing we should fear most is to forget to call her and to remind her of her promise to save us from hell.”17
If we are followers of Jesus, we will do as He did, we will call on the Father not Mary, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46).
Again Most Rev. Lynch, “The constant, daily practice of wearing the scapular is therefore, an act of faithful homage to Our Lady but, as St. Alphonsus adds, the desire to amend one’s life is also necessary before we can be morally certain that she will be the cause of our eternal salvation. We should be careful not to place limits upon the mercy of her who is the refuge of sinners and the Mother of mercy. How few there are to whom she could say at the end of life: Well done, thou good and faithful servant! There are countless souls in heaven today who owe their imperishable crowns to the special intercession of Our Lady.”18
The Bible is clear about whom we owe our crowns to, “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God’” (Revelation 4:10-11).
Pope Pius stated, “‘God alone excepted, she [Mary] is superior to all.’”19
Venerable Mary of Agreda has Jesus saying, “Just as I have told you that he who knows Me knows also My Father, so I now tell you that he who knows My Mother knows Me.”20
Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., “Catholic Christology is unintelligible without knowing the role of Christ’s mother in the development of faith from the simple narrative of the Gospels to the elaborate Mariology of modern times.”21
“St. Claude adds: ‘It is not enough to say that the habit [scapular] of the Blessed Virgin is a mark of predestination. Because of the alliance which Mary contracts with us and which we enter into with her, no other devotion renders our salvation so certain.’”22
St. Louis de Montfort, “To act BY MARY means to be completely dependent on her…’ we must in all our actions, regard Mary as an accomplished model of every virtue and perfection. We must, therefore, in every action, consider how Mary has done it, or how she would have done it, had she been in our place.’ (True Devotion, 260.)”23 Apparently, we are now to invent a new popular saying “W.W.M.D.—What Would Mary Do?”
In complete opposition to the sayings of men, Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).
“All should devoutly venerate her [Mary] and commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care (Vatican Council II, Apostolate of the Laity 4). Let the entire body of the faithful pour forth instant supplications to the Mother of God and Mother of men (Vatican Council II, The Church 690).”24
“Pope John XXIII said…For each one of you, may this act of devotion to Mary be a pledge by which you oblige yourself to strive each day to live a life that will be more truly Christian, and more filled with the spirit of Mary (Nov. 13, 1960).” 25
Being told to be filled with the spirit of Mary is why John wrote such warnings as, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1st John 4:1). What spirit are we to be filled with? “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 & Acts 9:17).
Saint Joseph New American Catechism, “The Bishops of the United States remind our citizens that our country is under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. ‘Since 1859 the United States has enjoyed a special relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary. In that year, at the request of the American Bishops, Pope Pius IX placed the country under the protection of the Immaculate Conception.’” 26
Fr. Faber, “Mother of mercies, day by day my love for thee grows more and more…and oh, how can I love thy Son, sweet Mother, if I love not thee?” 27
Rev. Ralph W. Beiting, “In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul…[because we give our bodies to Mary] ‘We will accept all sickness and evil that befall it, and especially the death that will destroy it, for it is now Mary’s property, and she may use it as she sees fit…The soul is that principle in us by which we live, and move, and are. Therefore, when we give our soul to Mary, we really give her our very life…Mary is the one who owns and directs our life; we are happy in the fact that we live it under her loving care.” 28
Venerable Mary of Agreda has Jesus saying of Mary, “I constitute my sole and universal Heiress of all the gifts of nature, of grace and of glory that are mine. She shall be Mistress and possessor of them all…I desire that She shall be Mistress of angels and men, claim over them full possession and dominion and command the service and obedience of all. The demons shall fear Her and be subject to Her. All the irrational creatures, the heavens, the stars, the planets, the elements with all the living beings, the birds, the fishes and the animals contained in them, shall likewise be subject to Her and acknowledge Her as Mistress, exalting and glorifying Her with Me.” 29
“Pope Paul VI solemnly brought the third session of Vatican Council II to a close, November 21, 1964, in the presence of the entire body of the Church’s bishops with the words: ‘For the glory of the Virgin Mary and for our own consolation, we proclaim Mary the Mother of the Church, that is, of the whole People of God, of the faithful as well as of the pastors, and we wish that trough this title the Mother of God should be still more honored and invoked by the entire Christian people.” 30
In glorifying Mary these writers forget or ignore the clear teaching of Scripture:
“I am the LORD, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor my praise to carved images” (Isaiah 42:8).
“For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how should my name be profaned? And I will not give my glory to another” (Isaiah 48:11).
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27).
“And now, O Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was” (John 17:5).
“And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one” (John 17:22). This is why Jesus appears in His Father’s glory (also see Matthew 19:28, 25:31, Mark 8:38, 10:37). Maybe it is not really a problem to refer to the glory of Mary just as long as we are told of the glory of every believer.