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barryatlake
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Jesus is the God of the living not of the dead, those saints in heaven are more alive than you or me.
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The snare of devotion to Mary.
- Thread starter Zeek
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bbbbbbb
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That is not in dispute here, nor is the doctrine of the communion of the saints. The topic of this thread is the snare of devotion to Mary. If you can focus on that topic I think we might come to a possible concensus that there is such a thing as excessive devotion to Mary. Or, are you of the persuasion that it is impossible to be excessively devoted to Mary to the exclusion of devotion to anyone else, including God?
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Rhamiel
Member of the Round Table
what is the cut off for "divine"
like a person up on a hill can see an entire city
or some savants can watch a dozen TV's at the same time and understand what is being said
does this make them "divine"?
maybe we have different ideas of "divine"
hearing a few million prayers at the same time does not make you equal to the Creator of the Universe
just like the mighty things done by the Prophets in the Old Testament do not make them "Divine"
I am not threatened by Mary being able to hear millions of prayers at the same time
just as I am not threatened by Moses striking a rock and making water flow from it, or Elijah calling down fire
to pagans, all three of these might seem "divine"
but with the proper Christian mindset, we understand that God does great things for those who trust in Him, and that He uses His servants in wonderful ways
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bbbbbbb
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I am not threatened by the Mormon concept of deity, either, but that does not make it true at all, does it? Being threatened has nothing to do with whether or not something is true or false IMO.
Do you know of any attributes of God which are unique to him, which set Him apart as God and distinguishes Him from His creation?
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Rhamiel
Member of the Round Table
a few off the top of my head
All Powerful
All Knowing
All Present
God is a "necessary being" in fact He is the only necessary being
all other beings are conditional
meaning, God had to exist, no other thing had to exist
probably there are more, but that is what I just thought of
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The point or question really should be "why do certain Christians find difficulty in their hearts to love, adore, RESPECT, pray and trust in our Heavenly Mother Mary - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God?"
If one is trusting completely in Jesus Christ our Saviour and receiving Jesus Christ our Saviour into one's own "Heart" then one would not be contesting Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Holy wishes that mankind "Pray to The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God" all of Her Prayers given by God The Most High - some being: The Holy Rosary, The Hail Mary, Hail Holy Queen of Heaven, The Angelus, The Ave Maria, The Memorare', and many of The Blessed Virgin Mary's other Prayers that Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit gave to Jesus to deliver to mankind through His Saints - His religious - His priests, Nuns/Sisters/Catholic Children and others.
One needs to look into one's own heart and identify the problem one has in relation to deterring other Christians and people from Loving, adoring, respecting, trusting and praying to The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God which is contrary to Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Holy wishes Bbbbbbb, Albion and others.
For every soul that The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God through Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit, brings back to Her Son Jesus Christ our Saviour, (for Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit are within The Blessed Virgin Mary and make no mistake about this fact), Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit flows through His Loving Holy Graces Blessings and Gifts in His Holy Will to those of whom have received The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God's Loving Holy Intercession - myself as one such recipient Child of God's over the years - millions worldwide have received The Blessed Virgin Marys Loving Holy intercession, with Mother Mary taking these souls, hearts, minds and bodies back to Her Son Jesus in triumph over satan.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is in fact (despite the few claims of satans attempts through certain Christians) our Loving Holy Mediatrix, our Loving Holy Intercessory, Crowned in God's Glory within Her Coronation of His Twelve Stars, Queen of Heaven and Mercy (Mercy granted by Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit in His Holy Will, when a soul/heart comes before Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Judgement, with my Blessed Virgin Mary able to intercede with Her Son Jesus at any time) on behalf of souls whom The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God has taken within Her Loving Holy abode and fold during dying, during judgement, and afterwards, when placed in Purgatory, bringing refreshments to all souls in purgatory of whom experience the agonizing pain of spiritual cleansing fire - some for 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years - particularly those souls of whom no-one here bothered to offer up Holy Masses or prayers upon dying and/or later.
Jesus and The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God have appeared to hundreds of Saints - Jesus' religious explaining these facts.
As Pope Pius XII expressed it in a 1946 radio speech, Jesus is King throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest: through him, with him, and subordinate to him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest, and by singular election. Mary possesses a unique relationship with all three Persons of the Trinity, thereby giving her a claim to the title of Queenship. She was chosen by God the Father to be the Mother of his Son; God the Holy Spirit chose her to be his virginal spouse for the Incarnation of the Son; and God the Son chose her to be his mother, the means of incarnating into the world for the purposes of the redemption of humanity. This Queen is also our Mother.
As Mediatrix of All Graces, She is ever present at the side of each person, giving nourishment and hope, from the moment of spiritual birth at Baptism to the moment of death. The confidence that each person should have in Mary was expressed by Pope Pius IX in the encyclical Ubipriinum : The foundation of all our confidence. . . is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain everything through Mary.
Mary's protection and intercession
The Virgin of Mercy protecting a group of nuns under her mantle. Sano di Pietro, 15th century. Roman Catholic views of the Virgin Mary place emphasis on her roles as a mediatrix of men to God, refuge and advocate of sinners, protector from dangers and most powerful intercessor with her Son, Jesus, who is God. These views are expressed in prayers and artistic depictions, theology, popular and devotional writings, as well as in the use of Marian Sacramentals and images.[85][86][87][88]
The earliest known prayer to Mary, the Sub tuum praesidium, (Latin for under your protection) begins with the words: "Beneath your compassion, we take refuge."[89][90] The artistic depictions of the Virgin of Mercy portray the role of Mary as the protector of Christians, as she shelters them under her mantle. The Virgin of Mercy depictions sometimes include arrows raining from above, with the Virgin's cloak protecting the people.[91]
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 971) echoes this protective sentiment, stating that:
From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.[92]
Catholics have continued to seek the protection of Mary as the Mother of Sorrows (who understands and shows compassion) and relied on her intercession as the Queen of Heaven since the Middle Ages.[93] Building on that sentiment, popes have entrusted specific causes to the protection of the Virgin Mary. For instance, pope Benedict XV entrusted the protection of the world through the intercession of Mary Queen of Peace during the first world war .[94]
Miguel Hidalgo's 1810 Guadalupan flag. For many centuries, Catholics have used Marian Sacramentals. Since the Middle Ages the wearing of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Brown Scapular) by Catholics has been a sign of their seeking her protection.[86] Pope John Paul II wore a Brown Scapular since childhood and as he momentarily gained consciousness when he was shot on 13 May 1981 he asked to keep his scapular during the operation to remove the bullet.[95][96][97]
The depictions of Our Lady of Navigators arose from the prayers and devotions of Portuguese navigators, who saw the Virgin Mary as their protector during storms and other hazards. Prayers to Our Lady of Navigators are well known in South America, specially Brazil, where its February 2 feast is an official holiday.[98][99] The Virgin of the Navigators (a variant of the Virgin of Mercy), depicting ships under her mantle, is the earliest known painting whose subject is the discovery of the Americas.[100][101]
Both Miguel Hidalgo and Emiliano Zapata flew flags of Our Lady of Guadalupe as their protector, and Zapata's men wore the Guadalupan image around their necks and on their sombreros.[102][103] In 1979 ceremony Pope John Paul II placed Mexico under the protection of the Virgin of Guadalupe.[104]
The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, also known as the order of Our Lady of Ransom or Order of Captives began in the 13th century in the Kingdom of Aragon (Spain) to ransom impoverished captive Christians (slaves) held in Muslim hands. The order now focuses on the role of the Virgin Mary as the protector of captives and prisoners.[105][106] The Sodality of Our Lady founded in 1563 was also placed under her protection.[107]
The popular Catholic prayer, the Memorare relates protection with the intercession of the Virgin Mary, stating:[108]
"Remember O Most Gracious Advocate, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of Virgins my Mother. To Thee I come, before Thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of The Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in Thy Mercy, hear and answer me, Amen".
I pray my Blessed Virgin Mary for all hearts souls minds and bodies on CF and all people throughout the world to open their hearts to Jesus Christ my Saviour and to Thee, my Blessed Virgin Mary and Thy Immaculate Heart, now and forever, Amen.
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our Life, our Sweetness and our hope. To Thee do we cry, poor banished Children of Eve. To Thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping through this valley of tears. Turn then O Most Gracious Advocate, Thine Eyes of Mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us, The Blessed Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus.
O Clement O Loving O Sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, Amen".
The Angelus:
V.The Angel of The Lord declared unto Mary
R.and She conceived of The Holy Spirit
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V.Behold The Handmaid of The Lord
R.Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V. And The Word was made Flesh
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ Amen.
Let us pray
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Your Grace into our hearts, that, we, to Whom the Incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the Glory of His Resurrection, through the same, Christ our Lord, Amen.
May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
Saint Louis de Montfort taught that God appointed Mary as "the dispenser of grace", and to receive grace from God, one can receive it through the hands of the Blessed Virgin, as a child receives from a mother.[109][110] This concept of Mary as "the mother to us in the order of grace" who can intercede for "the gift of eternal salvation" was restated in the 1960s in Lumen Gentium, one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council.[110][111]
Consecration and Entrustment to Mary
For centuries, Marian devotions among Roman Catholics have included many examples of personal or collective acts of consecration and entrustment to the Virgin Mary; the Latin terms oblatio, servitus, commendatio and dedicatio were used in this context.[113]
Consecration is an act by which a person is dedicated to a sacred service, or an act which separates an object, location or region from a common and profane mode to one for sacred use.[114][115] Consecration to the Virgin Mary has been practiced by Catholics for many centuries, at the personal, societal and papal levels, where individuals, societies, regions and the whole world have been consecrated to her.[116]
Saint Louis de Montfort, whose writings later influenced popes, was an ardent supporter of the Virgin Mary's role in salvation.[144][145] The Catholic focus on the role of Mary in salvation and redemption continued into the 20th century, e.g. Pope John Paul II's 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater began with the sentence: "The Mother of the Redeemer has a precise place in the plan of salvation."[22]
If one is trusting completely in Jesus Christ our Saviour and receiving Jesus Christ our Saviour into one's own "Heart" then one would not be contesting Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Holy wishes that mankind "Pray to The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God" all of Her Prayers given by God The Most High - some being: The Holy Rosary, The Hail Mary, Hail Holy Queen of Heaven, The Angelus, The Ave Maria, The Memorare', and many of The Blessed Virgin Mary's other Prayers that Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit gave to Jesus to deliver to mankind through His Saints - His religious - His priests, Nuns/Sisters/Catholic Children and others.
One needs to look into one's own heart and identify the problem one has in relation to deterring other Christians and people from Loving, adoring, respecting, trusting and praying to The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God which is contrary to Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Holy wishes Bbbbbbb, Albion and others.
For every soul that The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God through Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit, brings back to Her Son Jesus Christ our Saviour, (for Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit are within The Blessed Virgin Mary and make no mistake about this fact), Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit flows through His Loving Holy Graces Blessings and Gifts in His Holy Will to those of whom have received The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God's Loving Holy Intercession - myself as one such recipient Child of God's over the years - millions worldwide have received The Blessed Virgin Marys Loving Holy intercession, with Mother Mary taking these souls, hearts, minds and bodies back to Her Son Jesus in triumph over satan.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is in fact (despite the few claims of satans attempts through certain Christians) our Loving Holy Mediatrix, our Loving Holy Intercessory, Crowned in God's Glory within Her Coronation of His Twelve Stars, Queen of Heaven and Mercy (Mercy granted by Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit in His Holy Will, when a soul/heart comes before Jesus/God/The Holy Spirit's Judgement, with my Blessed Virgin Mary able to intercede with Her Son Jesus at any time) on behalf of souls whom The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God has taken within Her Loving Holy abode and fold during dying, during judgement, and afterwards, when placed in Purgatory, bringing refreshments to all souls in purgatory of whom experience the agonizing pain of spiritual cleansing fire - some for 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years - particularly those souls of whom no-one here bothered to offer up Holy Masses or prayers upon dying and/or later.
Jesus and The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God have appeared to hundreds of Saints - Jesus' religious explaining these facts.
As Pope Pius XII expressed it in a 1946 radio speech, Jesus is King throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest: through him, with him, and subordinate to him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest, and by singular election. Mary possesses a unique relationship with all three Persons of the Trinity, thereby giving her a claim to the title of Queenship. She was chosen by God the Father to be the Mother of his Son; God the Holy Spirit chose her to be his virginal spouse for the Incarnation of the Son; and God the Son chose her to be his mother, the means of incarnating into the world for the purposes of the redemption of humanity. This Queen is also our Mother.
As Mediatrix of All Graces, She is ever present at the side of each person, giving nourishment and hope, from the moment of spiritual birth at Baptism to the moment of death. The confidence that each person should have in Mary was expressed by Pope Pius IX in the encyclical Ubipriinum : The foundation of all our confidence. . . is found in the Blessed Virgin Mary. For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is His will, that we obtain everything through Mary.
Mary's protection and intercession
The Virgin of Mercy protecting a group of nuns under her mantle. Sano di Pietro, 15th century. Roman Catholic views of the Virgin Mary place emphasis on her roles as a mediatrix of men to God, refuge and advocate of sinners, protector from dangers and most powerful intercessor with her Son, Jesus, who is God. These views are expressed in prayers and artistic depictions, theology, popular and devotional writings, as well as in the use of Marian Sacramentals and images.[85][86][87][88]
The earliest known prayer to Mary, the Sub tuum praesidium, (Latin for under your protection) begins with the words: "Beneath your compassion, we take refuge."[89][90] The artistic depictions of the Virgin of Mercy portray the role of Mary as the protector of Christians, as she shelters them under her mantle. The Virgin of Mercy depictions sometimes include arrows raining from above, with the Virgin's cloak protecting the people.[91]
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (item 971) echoes this protective sentiment, stating that:
From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.[92]
Catholics have continued to seek the protection of Mary as the Mother of Sorrows (who understands and shows compassion) and relied on her intercession as the Queen of Heaven since the Middle Ages.[93] Building on that sentiment, popes have entrusted specific causes to the protection of the Virgin Mary. For instance, pope Benedict XV entrusted the protection of the world through the intercession of Mary Queen of Peace during the first world war .[94]
Miguel Hidalgo's 1810 Guadalupan flag. For many centuries, Catholics have used Marian Sacramentals. Since the Middle Ages the wearing of the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Brown Scapular) by Catholics has been a sign of their seeking her protection.[86] Pope John Paul II wore a Brown Scapular since childhood and as he momentarily gained consciousness when he was shot on 13 May 1981 he asked to keep his scapular during the operation to remove the bullet.[95][96][97]
The depictions of Our Lady of Navigators arose from the prayers and devotions of Portuguese navigators, who saw the Virgin Mary as their protector during storms and other hazards. Prayers to Our Lady of Navigators are well known in South America, specially Brazil, where its February 2 feast is an official holiday.[98][99] The Virgin of the Navigators (a variant of the Virgin of Mercy), depicting ships under her mantle, is the earliest known painting whose subject is the discovery of the Americas.[100][101]
Both Miguel Hidalgo and Emiliano Zapata flew flags of Our Lady of Guadalupe as their protector, and Zapata's men wore the Guadalupan image around their necks and on their sombreros.[102][103] In 1979 ceremony Pope John Paul II placed Mexico under the protection of the Virgin of Guadalupe.[104]
The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, also known as the order of Our Lady of Ransom or Order of Captives began in the 13th century in the Kingdom of Aragon (Spain) to ransom impoverished captive Christians (slaves) held in Muslim hands. The order now focuses on the role of the Virgin Mary as the protector of captives and prisoners.[105][106] The Sodality of Our Lady founded in 1563 was also placed under her protection.[107]
The popular Catholic prayer, the Memorare relates protection with the intercession of the Virgin Mary, stating:[108]
"Remember O Most Gracious Advocate, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of Virgins my Mother. To Thee I come, before Thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of The Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in Thy Mercy, hear and answer me, Amen".
I pray my Blessed Virgin Mary for all hearts souls minds and bodies on CF and all people throughout the world to open their hearts to Jesus Christ my Saviour and to Thee, my Blessed Virgin Mary and Thy Immaculate Heart, now and forever, Amen.
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our Life, our Sweetness and our hope. To Thee do we cry, poor banished Children of Eve. To Thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping through this valley of tears. Turn then O Most Gracious Advocate, Thine Eyes of Mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us, The Blessed Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus.
O Clement O Loving O Sweet Virgin Mary, pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, Amen".
The Angelus:
V.The Angel of The Lord declared unto Mary
R.and She conceived of The Holy Spirit
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V.Behold The Handmaid of The Lord
R.Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V. And The Word was made Flesh
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is The Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
V. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ Amen.
Let us pray
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Your Grace into our hearts, that, we, to Whom the Incarnation of Christ, Your Son, was made known by the message of an Angel, may, by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the Glory of His Resurrection, through the same, Christ our Lord, Amen.
May the Divine assistance remain always with us, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.
Saint Louis de Montfort taught that God appointed Mary as "the dispenser of grace", and to receive grace from God, one can receive it through the hands of the Blessed Virgin, as a child receives from a mother.[109][110] This concept of Mary as "the mother to us in the order of grace" who can intercede for "the gift of eternal salvation" was restated in the 1960s in Lumen Gentium, one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council.[110][111]
Consecration and Entrustment to Mary
For centuries, Marian devotions among Roman Catholics have included many examples of personal or collective acts of consecration and entrustment to the Virgin Mary; the Latin terms oblatio, servitus, commendatio and dedicatio were used in this context.[113]
Consecration is an act by which a person is dedicated to a sacred service, or an act which separates an object, location or region from a common and profane mode to one for sacred use.[114][115] Consecration to the Virgin Mary has been practiced by Catholics for many centuries, at the personal, societal and papal levels, where individuals, societies, regions and the whole world have been consecrated to her.[116]
Saint Louis de Montfort, whose writings later influenced popes, was an ardent supporter of the Virgin Mary's role in salvation.[144][145] The Catholic focus on the role of Mary in salvation and redemption continued into the 20th century, e.g. Pope John Paul II's 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater began with the sentence: "The Mother of the Redeemer has a precise place in the plan of salvation."[22]
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bbbbbbb
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I agree with these three as being unique to God. However, in order for Mary to be present at all of her shrines and altars she must possess the attribute of omnipresence. Otherwise, those who make pilgrimages are making them in vain if, in fact, she is merely in heaven and is hearing all of the millions of prayers addressed to her simultaneously.
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The point in question is not whether we love Mary but whether or not such love can go to an extreme which violates essential Christian doctrines concerning the nature of God. IOW is it possible for you and others to engage in excessive devotion to Mary. Apparently Pope Francis thinks so.
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justinangel
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Mary doesn't answer our prayers, but delivers them to God in and through Christ in union with us. Thus it is God who hears and answers our prayers according to His will even when it seems to us that He hasn't answered them. Meanwhile, Mary and the saints in heaven can hear all of our prayers even at once since they exist in a supernatural state and intuitively have a direct vision of God. This is the Beatific Vision. In seeing the Divine essence by direct intuition, the blessed souls in heaven see primary and secondary objects in God. The primary object is God Himself as He is as far as the blessed souls in heaven are capable of intuitively seeing or comprehending Him or God wills to manifest Himself to them directly. Thus, by having a direct intuitive vision of God the souls have a distinct knowledge of what God knows that is external to Him, whether they are possible or actual objects of the Divine knowledge. All these things that are external to God and seen in God through the Beatifc Vision constitute its secondary object, and they comprise everything the souls in heaven have an interest in knowing. It not only includes, first and foremost, knowledge of all the divine mysteries the souls believed in while on earth, but also all the prayers that are addressed to them for God to answer. The Beatific Vision is supernatural and transcends our natural capabilities.
But we know that when he comes we shall be like him; we shall see him, then, as he is.
1 John 3, 2
At present, we are looking at a confused reflection in a mirror; then, we shall see face to face; now, I have only glimpses of knowledge; then, I shall recognize God as he has recognized me.
1 Corinthians 13, 12
We take heart, then, continually, since we recognize that our spirits are exiled from the Lord’s presence so long as they are at home in the body, with faith, instead of a clear view, to guide our steps.We take heart, I say, and have a mind rather to be exiled from the body, and at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5, 6-8
"See to it that you do not treat one of these little ones with contempt; I tell you, they have angels of their own in heaven, that behold the face of my heavenly Father continually."
Matthew 18, 10
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Consecration to the Virgin Mary by Roman Catholics has taken place from three perspectives, namely personal, societal and regional and with three forms: to the Virgin herself as a whole, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the Immaculata. In Catholic teachings, consecration to Mary does not diminish or substitute the love of God, but enhances it, for all consecration is ultimately made to God.[117] Pope Leo XIII, specially encouraged everyone to make acts of consecration to the Virgin Mary based on the methods of Saint Louis de Montfort (who was beatified by Leo), and granted indulgences for such consecrations.[118] Pope Benedict XV also provided strong support for Marian consecration.[118] Pope John Paul II's motto Totus Tuus (i.e. totally yours) reflected his personal consecration to Mary.[119]
In the 18th century, Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort became a tireless advocate of "total consecration to Jesus through Mary."[120] In True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort stated, "...the most perfect consecration to Jesus Christ is nothing else than a perfect and entire consecration of ourselves to the Blessed Virgin and this is the devotion I teach; or, in other words, a perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy Baptism."[121]
Early in the 20th century, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, called the Apostle of Consecration to Mary, began a vigorous program of promoting consecration to the Immaculata and published Miles Immaculatae which reached a circulation of 750,000 copies a month.[25][122]
In modern times, Pope John Paul II clarified consecration to Mary in his 1987 encyclical, Mother of the Redeemer, in which he stated, "Mary's motherhood...is a gift which Christ himself makes personally to every individual."[123] John Paul II suggested Christians could best "entrust" themselves to Mary by becoming her spiritual sons and daughters.[124]
Theologian Garrigou-Lagrange designated personal consecration to Mary as the highest level among Marian devotions.[25] His student, Pope John Paul II made Marian devotions and consecrations a hallmark of his papacy, often referring to John 19:26–27, and heavily relying on the spirituality of Saint Louis de Montfort. He also consecrated the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[125][126]
Mary's role in salvation and redemption
One of the components of the Catholic veneration of Mary is the focus on her participation in the processes of salvation and redemption.[127] Entire books have been devoted to the exploration of the Catholic perspectives on Mary's role in salvation and redemption.[128][129][130]
The underlying theological issues have been discussed as far back as St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century and were intertwined with the discussions of the Immaculate Conception. One of the first scholars to offer theological foundations in this area was the Franciscan Duns Scotus who developed the notion that Mary was preserved from sin by the redemptive virtue of Jesus.[131][132][133] Devotions to and the veneration of the Virgin Mary continued to spread, as she came to be seen as the helpful mother of Christians, and by the 15th century these practices had oriented all the Catholic devotions.[134]
As of the 17th century, a common thread in the writings of saints and theologians alike is the role of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as joint symbols of redemption and coredemption. Saint Veronica Giuliani expressed how Mary's suffering in Calvary united her heart with that of Jesus as she suffered each torment along with him.[135] The joint devotion to the hearts was formalised by Saint Jean Eudes who organised the scriptural and theological foundations and developed its liturgical themes.[136][137] John Eudes wrote that: "The Virgin Mary began to cooperate in the plan of salvation, from the moment she gave her consent to the Incarnation of the Son of God".[109] The venerative aspects of the united nature of the two hearts continued through the centuries and in 1985 Pope John Paul II coined the term Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and in 1986 addressed the international conference on that topic held at Fátima, Portugal.[138][139][140][141]
By the 18th century, the continued growth of Marian veneration had emphasised the role of the Virgin Mary in salvation. In his classic book The Glories of Mary, Saint Alphonsus Liguori explained how God gave Mary to mankind as the "Gate of Heaven", and he quoted Saint Bonaventure, namely "No one can enter Heaven unless by Mary, as though through a door."[142] And he wrote:[143]
Thou art the gate through which all find Jesus; through thee I also hope to find Him."
Saint Louis de Montfort, whose writings later influenced popes, was an ardent supporter of the Virgin Mary's role in salvation.[144][145] The Catholic focus on the role of Mary in salvation and redemption continued into the 20th century, e.g. Pope John Paul II's 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater began with the sentence:
"The Mother of the Redeemer has a precise place in the plan of salvation."[22]
In the 18th century, Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort became a tireless advocate of "total consecration to Jesus through Mary."[120] In True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort stated, "...the most perfect consecration to Jesus Christ is nothing else than a perfect and entire consecration of ourselves to the Blessed Virgin and this is the devotion I teach; or, in other words, a perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy Baptism."[121]
Early in the 20th century, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, called the Apostle of Consecration to Mary, began a vigorous program of promoting consecration to the Immaculata and published Miles Immaculatae which reached a circulation of 750,000 copies a month.[25][122]
In modern times, Pope John Paul II clarified consecration to Mary in his 1987 encyclical, Mother of the Redeemer, in which he stated, "Mary's motherhood...is a gift which Christ himself makes personally to every individual."[123] John Paul II suggested Christians could best "entrust" themselves to Mary by becoming her spiritual sons and daughters.[124]
Theologian Garrigou-Lagrange designated personal consecration to Mary as the highest level among Marian devotions.[25] His student, Pope John Paul II made Marian devotions and consecrations a hallmark of his papacy, often referring to John 19:26–27, and heavily relying on the spirituality of Saint Louis de Montfort. He also consecrated the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[125][126]
Mary's role in salvation and redemption
One of the components of the Catholic veneration of Mary is the focus on her participation in the processes of salvation and redemption.[127] Entire books have been devoted to the exploration of the Catholic perspectives on Mary's role in salvation and redemption.[128][129][130]
The underlying theological issues have been discussed as far back as St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century and were intertwined with the discussions of the Immaculate Conception. One of the first scholars to offer theological foundations in this area was the Franciscan Duns Scotus who developed the notion that Mary was preserved from sin by the redemptive virtue of Jesus.[131][132][133] Devotions to and the veneration of the Virgin Mary continued to spread, as she came to be seen as the helpful mother of Christians, and by the 15th century these practices had oriented all the Catholic devotions.[134]
As of the 17th century, a common thread in the writings of saints and theologians alike is the role of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as joint symbols of redemption and coredemption. Saint Veronica Giuliani expressed how Mary's suffering in Calvary united her heart with that of Jesus as she suffered each torment along with him.[135] The joint devotion to the hearts was formalised by Saint Jean Eudes who organised the scriptural and theological foundations and developed its liturgical themes.[136][137] John Eudes wrote that: "The Virgin Mary began to cooperate in the plan of salvation, from the moment she gave her consent to the Incarnation of the Son of God".[109] The venerative aspects of the united nature of the two hearts continued through the centuries and in 1985 Pope John Paul II coined the term Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and in 1986 addressed the international conference on that topic held at Fátima, Portugal.[138][139][140][141]
By the 18th century, the continued growth of Marian veneration had emphasised the role of the Virgin Mary in salvation. In his classic book The Glories of Mary, Saint Alphonsus Liguori explained how God gave Mary to mankind as the "Gate of Heaven", and he quoted Saint Bonaventure, namely "No one can enter Heaven unless by Mary, as though through a door."[142] And he wrote:[143]
Thou art the gate through which all find Jesus; through thee I also hope to find Him."
Saint Louis de Montfort, whose writings later influenced popes, was an ardent supporter of the Virgin Mary's role in salvation.[144][145] The Catholic focus on the role of Mary in salvation and redemption continued into the 20th century, e.g. Pope John Paul II's 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater began with the sentence:
"The Mother of the Redeemer has a precise place in the plan of salvation."[22]
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justinangel
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The human population on earth and the size of the earth are finite in number and measure, so the saints in heaven don't have to be omnipresent or omniscient to hear and present all our prayers. To be capable of having knowledge, reasoning, and acting on free will are divine attributes we possess being created in God's image. In heaven these attributes are absolutely perfected and unhindered by the powers and claims of nature. The souls in heaven exist in a supernatural state and possess human capabilities that transcend the natural order of creation. And since God directly communicates Himself to them by an immediate intuitive vision of His essence, by seeing God the blessed souls of the saints can see what God sees that is external to Him in the order of His creation. The saints simply know all the prayers that are addressed to them for God to answer by intuitively knowing what God knows that is external to Him and wills to manifest. They aren't relying on sensory organs and sound waves. When we say they hear our prayers, this is a figure of speech.
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The human population on earth and the size of the earth are finite in number and measure, so the saints in heaven don't have to be omnipresent or omniscient to hear and present all our prayers. To be capable of having knowledge, reasoning, and acting on free will are divine attributes we possess being created in God's image. In heaven these attributes are absolutely perfected and unhindered by the powers and claims of nature. The souls in heaven exist in a supernatural state and possess human capabilities that transcend the natural order of creation. And since God directly communicates Himself to them by an immediate intuitive vision of His essence, by seeing God the blessed souls of the saints can see what God sees that is external to Him in the order of His creation. The saints simply know all the prayers that are addressed to them for God to answer by intuitively knowing what God knows that is external to Him and wills to manifest. They aren't relying on sensory organs and sound waves. When we say they hear our prayers, this is a figure of speech.
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Thank you for making my point.
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xTx
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Except that it was incorrect. What we do as people cannot be brushed aside merely because we think wrong is right. The Bible is full of cases where people did wrong, and never was it excused because of some alibi that they gave. If you steal, it's stealing, even if you rationalize that you're some sort of Robin Hood. Abortion is still the taking of a human life, even if you insist that you just removed a clump of cells. The law may take account of motive or mental stability when a crime is committed, but the deed still is what it is.
That's true when people worship anything other than God. It's true when you make an idol of wealth or patriotism. You don't get to say "but I didn't think the golden calf was our Creator. It only stood for the idea of a higher power and I was just showing my commitment to God through this device since He isn't here in the flesh to talk to face to face, yada yada yada. "
Thank God He is a loving Father. And, He sees through all the mambo jambo called the human brain.
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Moses did so at God's direct commandment. We have no such commandment or direction from God allowing any human the impossible task of serving as a postmaster of prayers to God.
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