Mary, Co-Redemptrix. Do Catholics worship Mary?

The stirring words of the Magnificat come straight from Mary's lips in the scriptures. Luke's telling of the gospel begins with her, and her fiat ("let it be' in Latin) to Gabriel's announcement of God's incarnational intent opens the way for a new eruption of grace into the world. She is present at and indeed an instigator of Jesus' first miracle at Cana in Galilee (John 2: 1-11). She and other women are present at the cross, when the male disciples flee. Depending on how one reads the resurrection narratives, she is present there too (Mark 15:40; 47).It is striking that Mary is in the upper room at Pentecost -- the only woman present there who is named -- to receive the outpouring of God's Spirit at the birth of the church (Acts 1:14). When Paul makes his one oblique mention of Jesus' mother it is to point to her as a sign that he was indeed born, and so was genuinely human (Gal. 4:4). To cite a more contested passage, her image in Revelation 12:17 as a woman clothed with the sun with a crown of stars in the agony of giving birth to a son who will rule the nations is, at the very least, impressive. Mary's appearances in scripture are indeed limited, but they are tied to crucial moments in salvation history, without which there would be no church.
Mary's interaction with her son on the cross is striking, since one of his final acts is devoted to naming John as her new son, and her as John's mother. In this and other scenes she is depicted as an image of the church, the mother of believers, and one to whose care Jesus is devoted to his dying breath. Scripture presents a vision of Mary as one whose importance is not limited to the Annunciation and to Christmas, but extends into the life of the church.
Jesus redirects a passerby's blessing on Mary to all those who do the will of God (Luke 11:27-28).
As Reformed theologian Willie Jennings says, "Salvation begins with Mary's yes."
If that's true Protestants can talk about her at other times of the year than at Christmas and perhaps Mother's Day. Lutheran theologian David Yeago suggests observing the other mariological feasts of the ancient church, such as the Annunciation on March 25 (nine months before Christmas) and her saint (lay on August 15. He also suggests we sing the Magnificat as often as possible.
Luther objected only to the second half of the Hail Mary, not to the first. To pray "Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus" is merely to cite scripture, he thought. To say "Holy Mary, full of grace, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our deaths" seemed to him to express an extrascriptural accretion. But perhaps asking Mary for her prayers is not in itself un-Protestant. To do so may even guard christological dogma and defend against patriarchy. Who knows? Mary might just be key to the future of ecumenism after all.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• christianity
• Mary
• Catholic

[farsight001]

@MrLoudmouthspeaker The bible says, specifically, that the Church IS the foundation. 1 Timothy 3:15. So why do you say that the bible is your foundation? That clearly contradicts the teachings of that same bible.

[myladyschild]

Suggestion, read Surprised by Truth : Patrick Madrid, then come back and we can talk. I dare anyone to read this book

[myladyschild]

@davepinoy Don't bother to teach TRUTH. I HAVE TRIED THEY WILL NOT LISTEN. and since they won't listen to truth they will have to find out when they die..

[myladyschild]

@MrLoudmouthspeaker NOT TRUE!!

[davepinoy]

@MrLoudmouthspeaker Where in the bible does it say that the interpretation of a protestant denomination who cannot even respect the teachings of the apostles and the early fathers, is the correct interpretations? Can you trace your church lineage from Jesus?Where does it say in the bible that the church established by Jesus have been decimated? Where does it say in the bible, that BIBLE ALONE should be the rule of faith?

[davepinoy]

@MrLoudmouthspeaker Cite the formal teaching and dogmatic declaration from the magisterium of your allegation. You can'\t because its a propaganda. You say you believe in the scripture, I ask, ON WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU INTERPRET THE SCRIPTURE? WHAT MAKES YOUR INTERPRETATION INFALLIBLE THAN ANYBODY ELSE? IF THE RULE OF FAITH OF SOLA SCRIPTURA IS RIGHT, WHO'S INTERPRETATION OUT OF 40,000 DENOMINATIONS OF PROTESTANTISM....Jesus said, YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT

[davepinoy]

@MrLoudmouthspeakeR you dont know what you're saying and you're buying into propaganda without the initiative and sincere motive to learn.....obviously you're motivated by hate and pride.......YOU DONT LOVE THE TRUTH....Otherwise you would seek.......with a humble heart and obedience to the truth.....I pity you

[davepinoy]

@MrLoudmouthspeaker IGNORANCE IS LOUD....

[stevesilvia]

@jtaffiliate There is no ignorance here...I have done my research. Not only do I believe in what the Catholic Church teaches, but through my research, I understand it.

[jtaffiliate]

@stevesilviia If your asking out of ignorance of your doctrine, I apologize if I seem abrupt. I am assuming you know your faith so I would like to propose some questions, are you a devout Catholic? Do you believe Mary was a sinner? Do you believe in Mary's perpetual virginity? Do you believe Mary died? Do you believe in purgatory (3)? Have you ever done penance w/ rosary beads?