Hi, Gary... I apologize for the delay in responding to you, however, the middle of the week is VERY crazy for me (college classes... I'm sure you understand).
Prayer
I do not call my wife "Mediatrix" when she prays for me. Can you see the difference? I have ONE Mediator and I have NO Mediatrix. By your logic I should be calling my wife "Mediatrix" as well. Obviously, that is totally un-Scriptural.
You still see Mary and/or the Saints as replacing Jesus as Mediator. I have already explained... this is not the Catholic position. It is impossible to have another Mediator between man and God other than Jesus Christ. Jesus as Mediator does not exclude co-Mediators (again, 'co' does not mean 'equal')-- Jesus is always necessary to reach God. I am not sure how I can make this any clearer to you?
So again you make incorrect assumptions and false accusations. Do you always do this? Please show me what is false about that prayer? I prayed it to my Lord and shared it with you. I prayed it in Jesus' name. Are you always so quick to be judgemental about Christian's prayers?
You never answered my question (i.e., what was the purpose of posting for all to see?). There is a LARGE difference between telling another that you'll pray for them, and posting such a prayer. But this prayer (in light of this discussion) did not seem to be entirely sincere. You have rejected practically, if not, all that I have said in regards to the intercession of Mary and the Saints in Heaven.
Not all prayer is private (i.e., Matt 6:6), but normally public prayers involve more than just one's own self and God, but include those around them... this was what led me to question the sincerity.
However, perhaps I was rash in ascribing insincerity and pharisaical attributes to your prayer, and if that be the true case, then I hope you will accept my sincere apologies.
Mary
You quote both the CCC and the Sixteen Documents of Vatican II. In Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church - Nov 21 1964) from which you have already quoted, I find it rather contradictory to your stance taken above. Should we keep our eyes and focus on Jesus or Mary? Let us look at what Lumen Gentium says:
".... the followers of Christ still strive to increase in holiness by conquering sin (cf. Ephesians 5:27). And so they turn their eyes to Mary, who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as the model of virtues. Piously meditating on her and contemplating her in the light of the Word made man, the Church with reverence enters more intimately into the great mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more and more like her spouse...."
Again, you seem to have forgotten that all must be taken in context (and you will note I have emphasized some parts you seem to have overlooked). The point, even of devotion to Mary ALWAYS points back to Christ. IF it does not, then it is not true/pure devotion to Mary as taught by the Catholic Church. Plain and simple.
Secondly, in your issues with Lumen Gentium, do not be shocked by the word "cult"-- it has a MUCH different conotation than it does today. Catholicism uses beautifully archaic language often, and so one must remember to keep a proper perspective on things.
By fixing one's eyes on Mary, the eyes NECESSARILY become fixed on Him who saved her... proper devotion to Mary leads one straight to Christ. One cannot look at Mary and not see Jesus, her Son, who more than just changed the world... He redeemed it.
When we see Mary in the Scriptures... we see Christ (Lk 1:28 and following, Lk 1:40 and following, Lk 2:7, Lk 2:35, Lk 2:51, John 2:3, John 19:26-27, Acts 1:14, etc., etc.). This is also how Catholic devotion to Mary is to be properly understood. All Marian devotion/dogma/doctrine/etc. is meant solely to lead the believer to her Son, Jesus Christ.
A return to 2 previous passages of Scripture
John 19:26-27
As this takes place in the context of Calvary, we must remember something... everything that happened on Calvary had a universal significance. Jesus calls Mary, His mother, "woman"--this too has great significance. Jesus identifies Mary as the "woman" of Scripture-- the woman Isaiah prophesied, the woman in Genesis (3:15), the woman at Cana, and now, the woman at Calvary... The passage ends "And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home"-- except, 'home' is not in the Greek, the Greek ends with 'own'-- John took her into his 'own'--his self (his inner self). John, in his universal significance in his presence at Calvary represents not just himself, but the beloved disciple, whom all Christians should strive to be through imitation of Christ, he represents all humanity. This is why Catholics believe in the spiritual motherhood of Mary... Jesus' giving of His mother to John, was representative of giving Mary as mother to all humanity.
We even see this in the early Christian catacombs, among many other dipictions of Biblical events and figures found on the tombs, gravesites, naves, etc.... I remember from my trips to Rome (where many of the early Christians were martyred), most notably in the catacombs of St. Agnes there is a depiction of Mary atop an arch above an ancient altar with arms outstretched with Peter on one side, and Paul on the other-- showing that she is the mother of the Apostolic Church.
Revelations 12:1 (and more)
Yes, the woman represents the Church. However, first and foremost, the woman represents Mary. Why? Because ONLY Mary (NOT the Church) gave birth to the male child. The Church did not give birth to Jesus, Mary did-- this much is scripturally explicit.
"clothed with the sun"... the sun is an image of the Son who gives light, power, sustinence, etc.
"with the moon under her feet".. Mary is often called the moon because the moon reflects the light of the sun (/Son) without being its source or dimming the light... it is a wonderful reflection of the sun (/Son). This is Mary's role within the Catholic Church.
Hopefully this clears up many issues. Again, remember I am also busy with college work during much of the middle of the week, so my responses may not be as frequent as on the weekends. Thanks for your understanding.
