Tag: Mary

St. Clement, Sola Scriptura, and Mary

After a post I wrote about sola Scriptura, John Armstrong suggested that I read The Shape of Sola Scriptura by Keith Mathison. The book is written by a creedal Protestant – that is, he believes in sola Scriptura, but believes that any interpretation of the Bible which falls outside of the historic Creeds is wrong.… Continue reading St. Clement, Sola Scriptura, and Mary

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

I went to the vigil Mass last night, and Fr. Belli was fantastic in explaining what the Immaculate Conception is, and why we celebrate it. I don’t have much time today, so let me just say that it’s the feast celebrating the conception of Mary without Original Sin. The reason that we believe that God… Continue reading Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

Idolatry, the Eucharist, and Our Lady

I. IdolatryI know I’ve quoted this dialogue before, but it’s just too good to pass up right now. Mark Shea wrote an imaginary conversation between an Evangelical and a Catholic which I just love: Evangelical: You must not worship Mary! Catholic: Relax. I don’t worship Mary. Evangelical: Oh, but you do! Catholic: Actually, I think… Continue reading Idolatry, the Eucharist, and Our Lady

Protestantism and the ECFs: Gain an Inch, Lose a Mile

I’ve said on this blog before that one of the biggest strikes against Protestantism, in my opinion, is that no one believed in it prior to the Reformation. That even the attempts to use one Early Church Father are one step forward, one mile back, for Protestantism as a whole. That is, you can use… Continue reading Protestantism and the ECFs: Gain an Inch, Lose a Mile

Good Enough Christianity?

Protestant View #3: Good Enough Christianity?The first view is directly contrary to Scripture, while the second one is directly contrary to history (and less obviously, contrary to Scripture as well). As cooler heads have prevailed after the Reformation, it seems that many Protestants are admitting the break with Rome occurred over some pretty unimportant stuff,… Continue reading Good Enough Christianity?

Don’t Statues Count as Forbidden “Graven Images”?

A Protestant on a Catholic forum asked: The bible says, Lev 26:1 >Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God.Why do I always… Continue reading Don’t Statues Count as Forbidden “Graven Images”?

Is the Book of Judith Historically Accurate?

I. General Historicity of the Deuterocanon One of the oft-repeated claims against the validity of the Deuterocanonical books is that they’re historically unreliable. This is generally untrue. In fact, without them, there’s no Biblical record for the establishment of one of the biggest religious holidays in Judaism: Hanukkah, which Jesus Himself celebrates (see John 10:22).… Continue reading Is the Book of Judith Historically Accurate?

Why Pray The Hail Mary?

I was asked why Catholics pray the Hail Mary, when Jesus tells us to pray the Our Father. He thought this was disobeying God. Here’s my reply: Answer: Jesus gives us a model prayer, but I don’t know any Christian who only prays the Our Father. We pray the Our Father at every Mass (we… Continue reading Why Pray The Hail Mary?

John the Baptist, Christmas, and the Liturgical Year

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Lots of cool facts are connected to this feast. Only three figures in history were born without original sin (unless you count Adam and Eve… were they “born”?): Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist. As a result, we celebrate the Nativity of… Continue reading John the Baptist, Christmas, and the Liturgical Year