Aren’t we asking too much of Mary to lift us to Jesus when it is our responsibility to go to God directly (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:24-25)? Even a mother needs to let her children make their own decisions.
Why must it be an either/or proposition instead of a both/and when Christ intercedes for those in need & tell other in John 2:5 “Do whatever he tells you.” & is part of the Cloud witnessing on our behalf (Hebrew 12:1) as all those in heaven are living witnesses, too. (Mt. 22:32)?
We are specifically told that Christ’s present function at the right hand of the Father is to intercede for our salvation, and that His intercession is essential for us. No one else has this unique function of the God-man intercessor/redeemer. There is only one and not both.
Furthermore, your position isn’t historically Christianity. You read the Church Fathers, we have on record, historically the oldest known prayer asking for intercession of Mary is the Sub tuum præsidium dating to the 300s. The early leaders of the Church didn’t interpret these passages the way that you interpret them. The early Christian via the historical record ask for Mary’s prayers.
Christian revelation comes via the medium of Scripture & Tradition (which is attested by St. Paul).
The magisterium says we can ask Mary to prayer for us. Submit.
We pray:
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
There is Mariology in tradition that I find disturbing. There are 2000 years of writings in tradition, and plenty to choose from. Not all of it has clear direction from the Church. Our own spiritual discernment comes in handy.
The appeal to personal conscience can be dangerous & problematic, if not properly catechized and formed which is why the faithful are given a magisterium to be able to form proper discernment.
Because I believe that we are spiritually led of the Holy Spirit, I have a problem with the idea, in the last paragraph of the article, that we can be led by Mary, especially if her range of understanding and capacity to influence is unclear to me.
Asking people to pray for us is not the problem. Those who imply that their intercession is comparable to that of Jesus is an error. There are people who are unclear on this concept; and, just to be on the safe side, need to be reminded.
Aren’t we asking too much of Mary to lift us to Jesus when it is our responsibility to go to God directly (cf. Hebrews 4:15-16; 7:24-25)? Even a mother needs to let her children make their own decisions.
Why must it be an either/or proposition instead of a both/and when Christ intercedes for those in need & tell other in John 2:5 “Do whatever he tells you.” & is part of the Cloud witnessing on our behalf (Hebrew 12:1) as all those in heaven are living witnesses, too. (Mt. 22:32)?
We are specifically told that Christ’s present function at the right hand of the Father is to intercede for our salvation, and that His intercession is essential for us. No one else has this unique function of the God-man intercessor/redeemer. There is only one and not both.
Furthermore, your position isn’t historically Christianity. You read the Church Fathers, we have on record, historically the oldest known prayer asking for intercession of Mary is the Sub tuum præsidium dating to the 300s. The early leaders of the Church didn’t interpret these passages the way that you interpret them. The early Christian via the historical record ask for Mary’s prayers.
Christian revelation comes via the medium of Scripture & Tradition (which is attested by St. Paul).
The magisterium says we can ask Mary to prayer for us. Submit.
We pray:
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
There is Mariology in tradition that I find disturbing. There are 2000 years of writings in tradition, and plenty to choose from. Not all of it has clear direction from the Church. Our own spiritual discernment comes in handy.
The appeal to personal conscience can be dangerous & problematic, if not properly catechized and formed which is why the faithful are given a magisterium to be able to form proper discernment.
Personal conscience needs to be primarily informed by the Holy Spirit. Then we can make the best choices.
Speak plainly.
What is not clear?
Where does the author here attribute latria to Mary?
Because I believe that we are spiritually led of the Holy Spirit, I have a problem with the idea, in the last paragraph of the article, that we can be led by Mary, especially if her range of understanding and capacity to influence is unclear to me.
So, then, by your admission, people error when asking one of the faithful for prayers?
We should tell people “I’m not going to pray for you, you should go directly to Jesus.
And then by your admission the Church errors with its direction to offer prayers for others via the spiritual acts of mercy.
All of which is the typical Protestant adversus Catholicism.
Asking people to pray for us is not the problem. Those who imply that their intercession is comparable to that of Jesus is an error. There are people who are unclear on this concept; and, just to be on the safe side, need to be reminded.
Thank you for this reflection. It has helped me a lot!
Most Holy Theotokos save us!