Adrian wrote,
<< Paul,
If I may, I would like to speak on behalf of the RC perspective briefly.
One of the fundamental doctrines in Catholic theology is the communion of
saints. The family of God is not just the Christians here on earth, but also
the those who have gone before us and are with the Lord. These are
considered "more" alive than those on earth, because they are with God. They
are more in tune with God's will than we are, and so we ask for their
intercessory prayer.
The veneration of Mary is based on a very early Christian understanding that
Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant, the New Eve, and the Queen Mother
(other Marian doctrines also flow from these understandings). Catholics
venerate her and turn to her for intercession because when we are adopted
into the family of God, we also adopt the family of God as our own. When you
fall in love with a person, you want to love all the people that this person
loves. When you marry a person, the family members of that person becomes
your family. That is why Catholics call Mary their mother, because she is
the theotokos - Mother of God. And Mary always points us to Jesus -"Do
whatever He tells you" (John 2:5). If Jesus was the perfect human on earth,
He would also have fulfilled the OT commandments perfectly, including
honoring His earthly parents. Thus, there is no way any Catholic or Orthodox
can honor Mary more than how Jesus has already honored her. He honored her
by making her His mother, the Queen Mother (an ancient eastern position of
honor among royalty), His Ark, and His Eve (in the sense that she represents
the church). The Catholic and Orthodox churches are simply practicing what
has been practiced since the early days of the church.
Why pray to Mary? (Why do Christians ask each other to pray?) When I ask you
to pray for me, I am saying implicitly that you know God, and you are a part
of the family I belong to. I would not go to a person whom I have very
little respect for to pray for me, or one who is wicked and against God.
Also, we honor Mary by praying to her, and in turn that honors God. When I
complete a piece of art that I am particularly proud of, and I show it off
to my friends, I feel honored when they praise the work. I don't want them
talking about how good I look or dressed or whatever, but I want them to
tell me how beautiful the work is. Mary is God's work of art (in a sense).
Read the writings of the early fathers (if you have the time) and it will
become clearer.
God bless you. >>
Thank you for taking time to make these comments. I grant at least that
historically Mary received more honor in the Church than is presently the
case in Protestant churchs; and, the Protestants may have lost something. I
also know a number of saintly Catholics who have my deep respect--whether
they pray to Mary or not. At the same time I am very taken with the teaching
of Jesus that God the father is very interested in us and our prayers, so
much interested that I could never go to Mary in prayer because such a
practice seems to infer that she cares for us more than he does, or is more
willing to hear our prayers than he is. And, Catholics have inferred to me
that this is the reason they go to Mary: "God is too busy or too great to
listen to me." I cannot help but believe our Father is grieved by this. At
the same time, the heart is of the essence; and I cannot judge the heart.
May the Lord bless you,
Paul
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