Why don't protestants bless Mary?

Open Heart said:

So do you call her blessed, then? And if so, exactly how do you bless her?

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Look, it's not a command. It's a statement about what will happen. I see no reason to say that the nations have not thought Mary blessed to have been chosen by God to give birth to Jesus.

Open Heart said:

So do you call her blessed, then? And if so, exactly how do you bless her?

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What do you mean?

The scripture stated that all generations will call her blessed. That's all it says. I call her blessed.

I didn't bless her. God did that. Frankly, any "blessing" I could impart would be nothing compared to what has already been done. All I do is recognize what He did already.

Why? Are you trying to add something to God's blessing? That would be a bit arrogant, don't you think?

Open Heart said:

Scripture says that all nations will call Mary blessed. Why is it that so many Protestants refuse to do so? Are they so afraid of appearing Catholic that they are willing to disrespect the Mother of our Lord? The only time they ever even talk about Mary when they either drag her out for Christmas or, in extreme cases, when they are disparaging her to say she was merely an incubator and no one special. What is with that?

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If you want an honest answer I can give you one, but please do not disrespect my answer or be rude. Catholicism is all around me in my family, and the subject of Marian veneration/devotion is something I have had a chance to speak with my brother about many times. My personal belief is that Mary was blessed. Scripture attests to that. The Holy Spirit moved on Mary and Elisabeth both when they met before the birth of Christ, and they both prophesied in a great way. I'm not one to take Mary out of a box at Christmas. I detest "Mary did you Know?". OF COURSE she knew! An angel of the Lord told her!

Personally, I do not venerate Mary. I do not say the Rosary. It's just not part of my practice. I'm one of those stubborn Protestants that still sees veneration too close to worship, as many times as Catholics have explained to me that they are not the same. But I do not disrespect the mother (sorry, small "m") of our Lord. You might see the small "m" as disrespect in itself. I don't mean it that way. It's just my world-view.

In Anglicanism, St. Mary is Theotokos and called the Blessed Virgin and Mother of God without reservation. Perpetual Virginity is part of the more historic Anglican view.

We reject the idea of Assumption (although the Dormition is pretty popular and more inline) and, more strongly, the Immaculate Conception. The Marian Rosary is popular enough of a devotion. Iconography and statuary is optional but accepted insofar as it doesn't go the lengths of the above Roman ideas...and she is almost always never seen alone but with Christ. Intercessory prayer is not done as definite but as part of the Communion of Saints, and if God grace comes from it, we'd say "so be it"; we reject the Treasury of Merits. We hold to the historic Marian Feast Days, and even some of the more modern ones in certain areas or provinces.

And, of course, we don't consider ourselves Protestant but protestant Catholics, embracing the protests against abuses but not the solid, Apostolic, and truly Catholic faith.

Open Heart said:

Scripture says that all nations will call Mary blessed. Why is it that so many Protestants refuse to do so? Are they so afraid of appearing Catholic that they are willing to disrespect the Mother of our Lord? The only time they ever even talk about Mary when they either drag her out for Christmas or, in extreme cases, when they are disparaging her to say she was merely an incubator and no one special. What is with that?

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Luke 11:27 As Jesus was saying these things, 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."


"Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, 'He is out of his mind.'" Mark 3:20,21 Then if we continue on to verse 31 when they actually arrived it says: Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother."Mark 3:31-35

Open Heart said:

So those verses are your excuse?

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Hardly. They are an injunction for all believers in Jesus Christ. I call all who do the will of God blessed, don't you?

Open Heart said:

Scripture says that all nations will call Mary blessed. Why is it that so many Protestants refuse to do so? Are they so afraid of appearing Catholic that they are willing to disrespect the Mother of our Lord? The only time they ever even talk about Mary when they either drag her out for Christmas or, in extreme cases, when they are disparaging her to say she was merely an incubator and no one special. What is with that?

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In sooth, it really depends on who you talk to, and what Scripture you take into account.

For example, I can just as easily use the Bible to claim that calling Mary blessed is apostate and sinful, as Christ Himself admonished such a practice:

"As [Jesus] said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!' But He said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" [Luke 11:27-28]

And as for Protestantism, it's a mixed bag.

Luther, for example, held often contradictory views of Mary, but regardless, he held her in high regard, claiming, as traditional in Lutheranism, that she remained in perpetual virginity, and that those brothers/sisters of Christ mentioned in Scripture [Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3] were in actuality cousins. However, Luther, though adhering to this doctrine, flatly denied the assumption, immaculate conception, and practice of praying to Mary, while keeping statuary and the first half of the Hail Mary. Not many Lutherans today hold to perpetual virginity, though, as remarked by Francis Pieper, it is the traditional confessional standpoint on Mary.

That being said, Confessional Lutheranism and Anglicanism are usually the only two denominations that will pay any special attention to Mary (though not nearly as much as the RCC), because they retain out of all Protestantism the most of RCC practice.

Open Heart said:

So those verses are your excuse?

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Which are your excuse?

Tigger45 said:

Both but more the former than the later. When I say the Rosary it's typically the Lutheran form of it. I struggle praying 'to' saints but I do believe they pray for us. But when I do, I choose Mary due to the fact a good Son listens to His mother

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You have scripture to support this ??

Open Heart said:

Scripture says that all nations will call Mary blessed. Why is it that so many Protestants refuse to do so? Are they so afraid of appearing Catholic that they are willing to disrespect the Mother of our Lord? The only time they ever even talk about Mary when they either drag her out for Christmas or, in extreme cases, when they are disparaging her to say she was merely an incubator and no one special. What is with that?

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I think it disrespects Christ to make His mother an idol

Open Heart said:

So do you call her blessed, then? And if so, exactly how do you bless her?

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DUH.... God blessed her..

Tigger45 said:

Both but more the former than the later. When I say the Rosary it's typically the Lutheran form of it. I struggle praying 'to' saints but I do believe they pray for us. But when I do, I choose Mary due to the fact a good Son listens to His mother

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It's not called the "Lutheran Rosary," though I know exactly what you're talking about . . . they're Anglican prayer beads.

Also, Lutherans are explicitly banned from praying to the saints (and Mary):

"The invocation of saints is also one of the abuses of Antichrist conflicting with the chief article, and destroys the knowledge of Christ. Neither is it commanded nor counseled, nor has it any example [or testimony] in Scripture, and even though it were a precious thing, as it is not [while, on the contrary, it is a most harmful thing], in Christ we have everything a thousandfold better [and surer, so that we are not in need of calling upon the saints]. And although the angels in heaven pray for us (as Christ Himself also does), as also do the saints on earth, and perhaps also in heaven, yet it does not follow thence that we should invoke and adore the angels and saints, and fast, hold festivals, celebrate Mass in their honor, make offerings, and establish churches, altars, divine worship, and in still other ways serve them, and regard them as helpers in need [as patrons and intercessors], and divide among them all kinds of help, and ascribe to each one a particular form of assistance, as the Papists teach and do. For this is idolatry, and such honor belongs alone to God. For as a Christian and saint upon earth you can pray for me, not only in one, but in many necessities. But for this reason I am not obliged to adore and invoke you, and celebrate festivals, fast, make oblations, hold masses for your honor [and worship], and put my faith in you for my salvation. I can in other ways indeed honor, love, and thank you in Christ. If now such idolatrous honor were withdrawn from angels and departed saints, the remaining honor would be without harm and would quickly be forgotten. For when advantage and assistance, both bodily and spiritual, are no more to be expected, the saints will not be troubled [the worship of the saints will soon vanish], neither in their graves nor in heaven. For without a reward or out of pure love no one will much remember, or esteem, or honor them [bestow on them divine honor]." [SA, II, II, 26-28]

"But the Scripture teaches not the invocation of saints or to ask help of saints, since it sets before us the one Christ as the Mediator, Propitiation, High Priest, and Intercessor. He is to be prayed to, and has promised that He will hear our prayer; and this worship He approves above all, to wit, that in all afflictions He be called upon, 1 John 2:1: If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, etc." [AC, XXI, 2-4]

"Moreover, even supposing that the saints pray for the Church ever so much, yet it does not follow that they are to be invoked; although our Confession affirms only this, that Scripture does not teach the invocation of the saints, or that we are to ask the saints for aid. But since neither a command, nor a promise, nor an example can be produced from the Scriptures concerning the invocation of saints, it follows that conscience can have nothing concerning this invocation that is certain. And since prayer ought to be made from faith, how do we know that God approves this invocation? Whence do we know without the testimony of Scripture that the saints perceive the prayers of each one?" [Ap, XXI, 9-10]

"Granting that the blessed Mary prays for the Church, does she receive souls in death, does she conquer death [the great power of Satan], does she quicken? What does Christ do if the blessed Mary does these things? Although she is most worthy of the most ample honors, nevertheless she does not wish to be made equal to Christ, but rather wishes us to consider and follow her example [the example of her faith and her humility]. But the subject itself declares that in public opinion the blessed Virgin has succeeded altogether to the place of Christ. Men have invoked her, have trusted in her mercy, through her have desired to appease Christ, as though He were not a Propitiator, but, only a dreadful judge and avenger. We believe, however, that we must not trust that the merits of the saints are applied to us, that on account of these God is reconcile d to us, or accounts us just, or saves us. For we obtain remission of sins only by the merits of Christ, when we believe in Him. Of the other saints it has been said, 1 Cor. 3:8: Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, i.e., they cannot mutually bestow their own merits, the one upon the other, as the monks sell the merits of their orders." [Ap, XXI, 27-29]

This thread should probably be re-titled, "Why Don't Some Protestants not Bless Mary."

Open Heart said:

But how about YOU? It says all generations will call her blessed. When was the last time you called her blessed?

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All generations do think God blessed her. . .

Open Heart said:

They don't just think God blessed her. They CALL her blessed. But you don't, apparently.

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Do you understand the difference between being blessed and being Bless-ED

Mary was blessed to be the mother of Jesus

I am blessed to have Him as my Savior..