i understand the typology, unfortunately, it just doesn't hold water. Part of the trouble with typology in general is that it leads to poor conclusions. Mary does not deserve praise from man, nor does she "reign in heaven".
She said ALL generations shall call her blessed.
Not blessed as in she was blessed to have the Lord, but bles-sed as in venerated...and honored.
That doesn't mean she is God or carries the same honors.
Just so you know.
She isn't part of the Godhead, nor does she intercede for people. for that matter, neither do the "saints" or priests, there simply isn't a need.
Scriptures show us she intercedes.
She instructed them to listen to her Son. Even tho He didn't affirm He would, He honored His mother.
John 2
5 His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.
AND the next time your friend begs prayer from you - tell him their isn't a need.
Because you cannot intercede for him.
Man has but one Mediator, that is Jesus. His blood cleansed believers, once and for all. If you desire salvation, you go to Him. If you seek forgiveness, you go to Him. To do otherwise is idolatry.
BTW, I was born and raised catholic, attended catholic school right thru HS, and very nearly went to catholic seminary. these issues are much, much broader, as they touch on the very core of Christianity. I'd be happy to debate with anyone, but please don't try doublespeak.
I was born and raised Catholic too, but i didnt understand Catholicism until about 4-5 years ago. Being born and raised Catholic doesn't give anyone the immediate 'understanding' unless God gives them the grace to understand it....upon how much we desire to understand it.
I mean REALLY understand it.
I was often told HOW i believed, but actually - THEY got it all wrong.
And I KNOW how I believe and what the CHURCH actually teaches.
My friends dad almost went to the seminary too. He was eventually agnostic, and he didnt know much of what i know.
Its not automatic that you have understanding of it all...just because you were raised in it.
I can attest to that thru myself.
the Ave Maria is a designed to praise and glorify Mary, by which I mean she is elevated to a staus co-equal with the Godhead, in direct contradiction to the 1st commandment. It's not a simple "good job" like Paul gives to the Corinthians, or as the Father says will be bestowed on Judah by his brother. Also, just because the Father chooses to give praise to someone (Deut 26:18-19 was used in an above example), you can by no means take that to mean we should do the same. What your doing is called "proof texting", or removing a passage of Scripture from it's context and using it to justify a belief not related to the passage. this is also a problem for typologists, as it leads to very confusing and incorrect results, BTW.
No knowledgeable Catholic believes that because it is not true.
Furthermore -
Ave means Hail - as in Hail Mary. [see Latin]
As in 'that's what Elizabeth said to greet the MOTHER of HER LORD.
And her son lept at the sound of HER voice.
Ave Maria is scriptural.
Here's a term introduced to me at Bible college, and one that I think is overlooked even in Protestant churches. Hermenutics, which has to do with the study of interpretations. If you want to be consistent in your hermenutic, or interpretation, of the Bible, you absolutely MUST take into account the context of a passage (there are several levels to this, as me more later), the intended recipients of the passage(s), historical & cultural background, as well as an understanding of the original languages in which the passage was written.
I don't profess to be an expert, but I do know the process, and can apply it as well as any non-academician can. the catholic concept of Mary simply doesn't stand up to intense, Biblical scrunity. If you can step outside the catholic box for a moment and apply some basic logic to the issue, you will come up with the same conclusions.
What your impression of the Catholic concept is may not, but the Catholic concept from old, does stand up to scrutiny.
See the ecf's for more assistance rather than what could be conceived as modern idealists.
