Prayer of the Blessed Virgin

Sounds like the RCC form of a "chain letter".

Is it any wonder they call The Golden Age of the RCC "the DARK ages"??

 

Pure, *church* sponsored idolatry from a religious organisation overflowing with it.

Sadly,

Mike

 

I think some Catholics practice this as a sort of "folk Catholicism" but I don't think the Catholic church sanctions something like this.

Even some New Agers do things like this even though they aren't Christians. They think there is some kind of spiritual energy in saying the prayer a certain number of times. I had a New Age friend give me a necklace of Mary blessed by a priest at Medjugorje (sp?) along with a prayer to say for several days. She was a total New Ager -- not a Christian at all. I was not a Christian either but praying to Mary was alien to me and I didn't do it. I kept the necklace for awhile in a drawer, then eventually threw it away along with the prayer.

 

Marcia,

Actually, The Catholic Church does. I was born and raised Roman Catholic until God brought me out 24 years ago when I enountered the true Jesus and embraced Him.

The Catholic Church fully proclaims and supports cultic and idolatrous practices regarding Mary. The worship of Mary is promoted and sanctioned by the Hiearchy of the Catholic Church to an astonishing degree.

I wish that werent the case, but it is.

Here are 2 exerpts from an excellant article regarding Catholicism's false Mary. A link will follow...

"In spite of the Biblical truth, “My glory will I not give to another,”[8] the Church of Rome constructs a parallel of Mary to Jesus, and even of Mary to the Holy Spirit. The Catholic teaching consistently declares that attributes and offices of the Lord Christ Jesus are applicable to Mary. The table below shows that the strategies underlying the presentation of the dogmas on Mary as if she were a parallel to the Lord Himself and to the Holy Spirit in some roles.

Biblical Truth

1. Jesus Christ’s unique sinlessness
2. Grace and salvation are in Christ alone
3. Christ has ascended into heaven and is King of Kings
4. Jesus Christ is the one Mediator
5. The Holy Spirit is the believer’s Helper and Advocate
6. Christ Himself with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is God, the all Holy One

Roman Catholic teaching

1. Mary’s declared Immaculate Conception
2. Mary’s place in grace and salvation
3. Mary’s declared assumption into heaven and is declared Queen of Heaven.
4. Mary is declared Mediatrix
5. Mary is declared helper and advocate
6. Mary is also the All Holy One

The Bible not only establishes Who God is, but it excludes all others from that glory. Similarly, the Bible not only teaches Who the Lord Jesus Christ is, but it also excludes all others from His roles. And finally, Scripture declares the Person and role of the Holy Spirit and bars all others from His role. These Bible truths exclude all Roman Catholic teaching that parades their “Mary” as “the All Holy One,” as one of “Immaculate Conception,” “Mother in the order of grace”, Queen of Heaven, Mediatrix, Advocate, and Heavenly Helper, “I am the Lord; that I My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.”[70]

The false Mary of Roman Catholicism is not parallel to Christ Jesus, nor the Holy Spirit but an abomination to God and His Word. There is, however, a quite revealing parallel between the Roman Catholic false Mary and pagan goddesses. Similar to the Roman Mary, some pagan goddesses, it is claimed, do not need salvation, as they are the ones who cause it. Often goddesses do not have human children and they are often called the “Queen of Heaven” and are invoked to make supernatural things happen through special objects and special verbal formulas. Goddesses do not die and they are prayed to in worship. The Catholic Cult of the ever-virgin Mary, the Queen of Heaven, leads one into the occult and, not surprisingly, is found in the occult. The Roman Virgin Mary is included among the goddesses that are listed on, for example, the following WebPages:

The Spiral Goddess Grove, The White Moon, and Goddess 2000. They consider Mary to be the “Divine Feminine” and say that for centuries, many people have blended their ancient goddesses with Mary.[71]

While the Scriptures states that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”[72], it still comes as a shock to see the Prince of Darkness, the most alien to the light, misuse the wonderful believer, Mary, until she appears as a goddess. The Lord’s command and promise stand in face of this malicious doctrine and practice, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”[73]

The Vatican’s message regarding their manufactured Mary has even attempted to steal the uniqueness and glory of Christ and the unique roles of the Holy Spirit. The Popes makes no secret of where they stand, sincere Catholics must know that to remain loyal to the Pope in exalting the Queen of heaven is to spurn the exclusivity and splendor of Christ and His Gospel. The Word of the Lord speaks clearly to this choice before Catholics, “if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”[74]

God bless,

Mike

Click here for Catholic Maryolatry

 

On a recent missions trip to Mexico, we visited a Catholic church. I was amazed that those kneeling in "prayer" were kneeling before statues of Mary instead of the crucifix. Also, Mary was quite predominant in the cemetery that we visited in Mexico.

 

As an Orthodox Christian now, I can't speak about the RCC. However, I can try to answer questions about Mary from an Orthodox view point if anyone is interested.

 

Originally posted by Marcia:

"They think there is some kind of spiritual energy in saying the prayer a certain number of times."

Marcia, you are correct. As one who was raised a Catholic I can affirm this. The repetition of the rosary is a prime example.
Also, at the church, we were given pieces of cloth with images of Mary to wear aronud our necks and told if we died wearing these "scapulars" we would be instantly taken to heaven, bypassing purgatory.

 

Marcia, after looking again I think perhaps you were referring to New Agers in the quote instead of Catholics. I apologize for my error. However, the Catholics I know and was raised with do place a great importance on the number of prayers they recite.

 

Just as a side note, I was talking by phone with a friend of mine who often tours giving lectures on the Intelligent Design movement. As such, he runs into, and makes friends with, all manner of people. He was telling me about a good friend of his who is a Muslim. This Muslim friend of his is quite convinced the Christian Trinity is The Father, The Son, and Mary. Roman Catholicism is what they associate with Christianity.

 

Helen
Not surprising considering that there is a text in the Koran that claims this.

 

I was saddened when I heard that the last words of the pope were to the affect that he had put his faith in the "Virgin Mary." I hate to break the news but she was a sinner like me and needed a Savior. Also---she wasn't a virgin for long.

I respect her as the vessel God used to bring His Son into the world--but I do not put her on a pedastal.

 

Here are excerpts from an article. A link will follow...

Click here for the idolatry

God bless,

Mike

 

Songbird, I felt sick when I heard that statement, also. I am not Catholic and have never been, but I cried my eyes out when the Pope died. Maybe he didn't really say those words but someone saying he said them.

On another note, I used to have a friend that is Catholic. She was my very best friend. She knew where I stood on salvation, as I hers. This is what she used to tell me: "I guess when we die we will see who was right." It shocked me that she could be so flip with something as important as where you will spend eternity!!!!!!!

 

Here are some quotes from a web-site run by people who are into and promoting Goddess worship. Before Catholics might post and say it isnt Catholic web-site let me say...I KNOW it isnt a Catholic web-site.

But I think its interesting how a Goddess Worship website would be so pleased with the Catholic view of the Catholic Mary.

Here it is...

Click for Goddess Worship

Mike

 

There’s plenty I could harp on concerning the Catholic Church, but Mary being the “Mother of God” is one that I can understand only in an “earthly” sense. I believe that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and since Mary was His mother, then I have to conclude that Mary was the mother of God in the flesh, Christ Jesus. Also, Jesus Christ is King of kings and every king has a Queen Mother, this concept goes all the way back to the Kings of the Old Testament. I remember reading that I believe it was King Solomon’s (I could have the King wrong) mother who sat on his right hand.

As a Protestant, I believe that Mary is held in high regards in Heaven and this doesn’t mean that I believe that Mary is on the same level as Christ either. Mary was after all blessed among ALL women, to be chosen to carry God in her womb, nurture Him, care for Him and raise Him.

I don’t know what it is about Protestants and Mary, when I mention the name “Mary” in a way to honor her, just as I would my own mother and father, I often get a reaction, like I just mentioned Jesus in a public arena and the ACLU is attacking me. Makes no sense.