Scripture prophesies and prescribes Marian devotion, and a careful reading of the New and Old Testament together shows that Mary is given a pride of place rarely (if ever) found in Protestant denominations. But that is not the end of the story. Protestants examining this evidence will sometimes be intellectually convinced, but will encounter a… Continue reading Is Marian Devotion Dangerous?
Tag: Mary
Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary
Yesterday was the second of the three-part “Shameless Popery” live apologetics series. It was entitled “The Priesthood of Christ & Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary.” The second of those two topics, on the parallels between Adam and Eve with Jesus and Mary, is something that’s been covered before on this blog, but I wanted… Continue reading Adam and Eve, Jesus and Mary
Was the Immaculate Conception Imposed on Catholics in 1854?
Earlier this month, I responded to a number of objections about Mary’s sinlessness raised by a non-denominational reader. That same reader responded, via e-mail. One of his arguments against the Immaculate Conception goes like this: Francisco de Zurbarán,Immaculate Conception (1635) Does it concern you that your statement was based on a dogma, the Immaculate Conception,… Continue reading Was the Immaculate Conception Imposed on Catholics in 1854?
Answering Common Objections About Mary
In response to this post on what the Magnificat tells us about Marian veneration, a Protestant reader raised a number of objections that I think other readers may be struggling with: Lorenzo Costa, The Holy Family (c. 1500) “My soul magnifies (exaults) the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior (saved her from… Continue reading Answering Common Objections About Mary
What the Magnificat Tells Us About Marian Veneration
One of the most beautiful prayers in the New Testament is the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), which tells of the holiness and mercy of God. In that prayer, Mary proclaims (v. 46-49): “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For… Continue reading What the Magnificat Tells Us About Marian Veneration
Uniting Pro-Life Protestants and Catholics in Christ
Yesterday’s “Conversation on Unity in Christ’s Mission” between Francis Cardinal George and Evangelical author and former pastor John Armstrong was thoroughly enjoyable. The two men shared an obvious love for one another and for Jesus Christ. John spoke of being enriched by Catholic writers from long before the Reformation, who sound little like modern Evangelicals; Cardinal… Continue reading Uniting Pro-Life Protestants and Catholics in Christ
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
For the last fourteen days of Lent, I’m posting one Station of the Cross per day, taken from Pope John Paul II’s 2003 Good Friday meditations, and Pope Benedict’s 2005 Good Friday meditations, both delivered at the Colosseum. FOURTH STATION: JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. [We adore Thee, O… Continue reading The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
Why the Marian Doctrines Matter
Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, sometimes wonder if the Marian doctrines are worth it. That is, on some level, who cares if Mary was ever-Virgin, or if she was bodily assumed into Heaven? What does that have to do with the day-to-day life of a modern Christian? Fra Angelico, The Annunciation (1434) Mark Shea does a… Continue reading Why the Marian Doctrines Matter
Are the Immaculate Conception and Assumption Post-Reformation Innovations?
Diego Velazquez, Immaculate Conception (1618) An Anglican reader with a love for Mary described her concerns about the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption: I appreciate that Mariology grounds our understanding of Christ’s human nature, and that without her assent the incarnation could not have happened. We should call her blessed. Out of obedience… Continue reading Are the Immaculate Conception and Assumption Post-Reformation Innovations?
The Virgin Mary, Icon of the Church
The first half of this is taken from an earlier post, but I wanted to give its own post, for future reference: Mary is a living image of the Church, which is why we refer to both Mary and the Church as Mother. St. Ambrose describes Mary in this way, in explainingLuke 1:27: Presentation of Jesus at the Temple… Continue reading The Virgin Mary, Icon of the Church