I have hope for the Church but I’m also worried as I see many people following false teachings that are in direct contradiction to the teachings of the RCC. Mainly these beliefs that Mary is equal to God and can save us. The Church has never taught such heresies ever, they have addressed these erroneous teachings very recently yet people still continue in their false non Catholic beliefs inventing their own things being guided by the evil one away from God
I have never met a Catholic who believes this. I do think that some are a bit too fervent in their honor of Mary, but I know not one who believes Mary is “equal to” God.
I know Catholic trads who troll Protestants on Twitter by making it sound like they believe as you say, but this is simply to get a rise out of them, who already spew nonsense about Catholic Christians. Twitter is not real life. Most are doing this as a form of entertainment, which the Bible does warn that we should avoid such behavior, but I admit, it is entertaining to watch (if you are in on the joke).
I would caution you on becoming anti-Mary in response to some who do give Mary a bit more honor than you or I are comfortable with. It isn’t Mary’s fault. She points to her Son, our Savior and wills for all to know Him, love Him, and serve Him, which should be our Prayer as well.
There are many on this forum who believe this. Have a look at my thread titled “Mary co redeemer and co mediator” and read what people wrote on there
“a bit more honor than you or I are comfortable with”
I heard a priest say in a sermon that if you want a relationship with Jesus, first you have to have a relationship with Mary. I have heard this elsewhere too. And lots of Catholics call Mary “our life” in singing or praying “Hail Holy Queen.” I don’t. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life: the life, not a life.
1 Like
I agree with everything you have said here. Mary would tell you that she is not the way and that her Son is The Way.
I disagree that one has to have a relationship with Mary before they can have a relationship with Jesus.
A popular devotional inspired by St. Louis Marie de Montfort is “Total Consecrate to Jesus, through Mary.” It is a 33-Day Devotional to dedicate your life to Christ Jesus and letting Mary lead you to her Son.
Side Note: 33 is an interesting number and conspiracy “theorists” know why that is ; )
I too feel uncomfortable with medieval Prayers and lyrics honoring our Blessed Mother, but I don’t care too much for King James translation of the bible either. I think it has to do with this idea of Kings and Queens. It is foreign to me.
We know that Christ is King. Mary is His Mother, which makes her a Queen. We read in the Old Testament about Kings and Queen Mothers and a lot of these Prayers are within that framework. The Book of Revelation mentions a Queen Mother and Christians debate if that is Mary, the church, neither, or both.
I suspect that how one interprets the Queen in Revelation depends heavily on how one views our Blessed Mother. Many anti-Catholic Christians would likely claim that this woman is “absolutely” not referring to Mary. While someone with great devotion to Mary might say, “of course” it is referring to Mary. And others may say it could be referring to Mary and also the church, as Mary is a sign of the church.
Another contributing factor in all of this is that some Bible translations refer to “the woman” in Genesis and in Revelation as being the one who crushes the head of the serpent/dragon, while other translations refer to “the seed of the woman” (Jesus) as being the one who crushes the head of the serpent/dragon. This is why many statues of Mary depict her crushing a snake under he foot.
The reality is that Mary played a part (she is a handmaid of the Lord). She is the “New Eve.” And her seed (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 20:2), Jesus, did/does/will conquer the the serpent/dragon. Thanks be to God! ♱