How do Lutherans view Mary?

Mark_Sam · Apr 11, 2011

Bryne said:
I first saw this on a site called Orthodox Lutheran. The person who ran that site has since become Catholic and took his site down. I believe he was a life-long Lutheran prior to that.

I miss the site. It had some good articles.

Haven't we all heard stories like that? "I once knew a Lutheran who had a rosary. He's in the RCC now." As if that person had died.

Tangible · Apr 11, 2011

Bryne said:
I first saw this on a site called Orthodox Lutheran. The person who ran that site has since become Catholic and took his site down. I believe he was a life-long Lutheran prior to that.

I miss the site. It had some good articles.

I checked to see if it was available on the wayback machine, but he has it disallowed.

Bryne · Apr 11, 2011

Yeah...I can see why. He's Catholic now, so he probably doesn't want his work, which promotes Lutheranism, to still be available.

Bryne · Apr 11, 2011

Mark_Sam said:
Haven't we all heard stories like that? "I once knew a Lutheran who had a rosary. He's in the RCC now." As if that person had died.

Well, his website died...but hopefully he is still alive and kicking.

I have a rosary. (lots of them, actually) I'm not in the RCC. And I don't think I have ever heard a story like that.

Lost Squirrel · Apr 12, 2011

Another awakening I had toward Lutheranism:
While riding a motorcycle, I had a very (VERY) close call with an airborne SUV. I didn't stop and pray through St Christopher, the patron saint of travel (which, BTW, I did carry a St Christopher medalion in my jacket pocket at the time). Nope. I shouted, "Dear GOD, watch over me!" I had an overwhelming realization that I DO have a direct line to the "big guy", and prayers through saints were completely unneccessary. God hears them anyway! So, strip out the middle man because the saints can't do the same work as God. In retrospect, I almost feel as though I had been praying to false gods this whole time.

Now, I do have a related question... Since Mary is still revered in the Lutheran faith, but not idolally worshipped, do any Lutheran synods honor the May Crowning? I doubt it because it really puts her high upon a pedistal, but I'm pretty sure a local Episcopal church does.

Mark_Sam · Apr 12, 2011

Lost Squirrel said:
Another awakening I had toward Lutheranism:
While riding a motorcycle, I had a very (VERY) close call with an airborne SUV. I didn't stop and pray through St Christopher, the patron saint of travel (which, BTW, I did carry a St Christopher medalion in my jacket pocket at the time). Nope. I shouted, "Dear GOD, watch over me!" I had an overwhelming realization that I DO have a direct line to the "big guy", and prayers through saints were completely unneccessary. God hears them anyway! So, strip out the middle man because the saints can't do the same work as God. In retrospect, I almost feel as though I had been praying to false gods this whole time.

Now, I do have a related question... Since Mary is still revered in the Lutheran faith, but not idolally worshipped, do any Lutheran synods honor the May Crowning? I doubt it because it really puts her high upon a pedistal, but I'm pretty sure a local Episcopal church does.

Thanks for sharing.

Luther believed that Mary was the Queen of Heaven, but did not encourage overuse of the term. In Hebrew culture, calling Mary (mother)queen wuold imply that her Son is king. But I think the answer is no.

I also own a rosary. They are so stylish and a constant reminder that one should pray all the time.

Luther073082 · Apr 12, 2011

Just to resay what has already been said. I think a lot of the reformers did have a special place in their heart for Mary because of their Roman Catholic past.

But in modern American Lutheranism, there isn't a huge amount of attention paid to Mary, and I don't think its a good idea to pray to her.

One thing that I had a pastor point out in a bible study once. . . While Roman Catholics claim they are speaking to the staints to ask them to pray for them, there is no evidence in scripture that any saints, including Mary, hear these requests in the first place. The bible tells us that God will hear our prayers, but it doesn't say we could speak to those that have passed on in this manner.

I know changing traditions and things like that might be difficult but I think I would start praying only to God. Trying to speak to Mary, realistically, you may just be talking to yourself.

DaRev · Apr 12, 2011

I do believe that one of the greatest honors we can give to Mary the mother of God is to do what she said as recorded in John chapter 2, "Do whatever He tells you."
Who did Jesus tell us to pray to? "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

Bryne · Apr 12, 2011

Luther073082 said:
But in modern American Lutheranism, there isn't a huge amount of attention paid to Mary...

While I am not disputing this, I do want to point out that in my Lutheran church, one thing I did notice right away is that more attention was paid to Mary than in any other church that I had ever been a part of. I like that we don't push Mary aside so completely that she practically doesn't exist like some churches do.

Mark_Sam · Apr 12, 2011

Bryne said:
While I am not disputing this, I do want to point out that in my Lutheran church, one thing I did notice right away is that more attention was paid to Mary than in any other church that I had ever been a part of. I like that we don't push Mary aside so completely that she practically doesn't exist like some churches do.

Interesting. How do you pay more attention to Mary in your church?

Bryne · Apr 12, 2011

Her feast day is on our calandar. The pastor talks about her in Sunday School. We were taught why it was OK to refer to her as Mother of God. We have art that depicts her. We sing the magnificat in certain services. (vespers, I think). Its isn't really anything specific, but lots of little things.

DaRev · Apr 12, 2011

Bryne said:
Her feast day is on our calandar. The pastor talks about her in Sunday School. We were taught why it was OK to refer to her as Mother of God. We have art that depicts her. We sing the magnificat in certain services. (vespers, I think). Its isn't really anything specific, but lots of little things.

That's typical Lutheran stuff there.

PreachersWife2004 · Apr 12, 2011

Bryne said:
Her feast day is on our calandar. The pastor talks about her in Sunday School. We were taught why it was OK to refer to her as Mother of God. We have art that depicts her. We sing the magnificat in certain services. (vespers, I think). Its isn't really anything specific, but lots of little things.

DaRev said:
That's typical Lutheran stuff there.

What Rev said. Your church doesn't appear to do anything out of the ordinary when it comes to Mary. Although, I would have to see what you mean by "artwork of Mary". Everything that we have that depicts Mary shows her with Jesus.

Bryne · Apr 12, 2011

To clarify, I was comparing my Lutheran church to the non-Lutheran churches that I used to attend prior to becoming Lutheran...I am not saying that my Lutheran church pays more attention to Mary than other Lutheran churches. I assume it would be the same.

How do Lutherans view Mary?

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