Our Lady of Tears

Our Lady of Tears

"Through this rosary the devil will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed."

Our sweet Lady of Tears - The Helper of the Poor and Suffering Mankind - as she appeared to Sister Amalia of the Scourged Jesus in Campinas, Brazil on March 8, 1930.

Humble Beginnings

Shortly after World War I and around the time of the Great Depression in America, there lived a pious religious named Sister Amalia of the Scourged Jesus. Her convent, called the Institute of the Missionaries of the Scourged Jesus, was located in South America in Campinas, Brazil.

Monsignor Count Franciscus von Campos Barreto, Bishop of the Diocese of Campinas, established the Institute with Sister Amalia's help as a cofoundress. Sister was also one of the first eight women to dedicate their lives to the service of God there.

As Saint Francis, Padre Pio and Theresa Neumann, Sister Amalia was privileged to bear the stigmata of Christ. By this mark alone, it is apparent her destiny was to be a victim soul for the needy. This certainly was befitting her generous and sacrificial nature.

On December 8 -- the Feast of the Immaculate Conception -- 1927, Sister Amalia made her temporary vows and received her habit. Exactly four years later, on December 8, 1931, she professed her perpetual vows, and became a nun consecrated to the Church and God.

Sister's Tearful Relation

One day in the Fall of 1929, one of Sister Amalia's male relatives called on her at the convent. He was in great need. His wife was seriously ill, and he was -- understandably and sadly -- greatly distressed. He relayed to sister, that according to the diagnosis of several doctors, his spouse's affliction was incurable, and he did not know what to do or what God expected of him. She was his last hope.

Grief-stricken and teary-eyed, her relation cried despairingly aloud, "What will happen with the children?"

Sister Amalia's heart also grieved at the sight of her relative's sorrow, and the hardship facing both him and his dependent offspring. Her innate inclinations compelled her to desire to help in any way possible, so while this tale of woe was being told, she turned interiorly towards our Divine Savior in deep reflection and prayer, seeking intently what she could offer or do.

Simultaneously listening and soul-searching, Sister Amalia felt an inner impulse urging her to visit Jesus in church. When their meeting had ended, she faithfully and swiftly responded to this calling.

Seeking Help: To Jesus in Chapel

Upon entering the house of God, Sister Amalia reverently genuflected and proceeded to the steps just before the altar. Here she knelt down and extended her arms towards Jesus in the tabernacle. (By her own account and example, we see Sister Amalia as a highly-perfected soul, with the sweet and tender grace of recognizing -- and responding to -- the Divine Presence of our Lord and Savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament.)

In this devout disposition and posture -- humbly submissive to our Eucharistic King -- she spoke to Jesus, "If there is no hope for the wife of T. . ., then I am ready to offer my life for the mother of the family. What do you want me to do?"

Jesus answered,

"If you want to receive these favors, ask me for the sake of My Mother's tears."

Sister Amalia asked further, "How must I pray?"

In answering, Jesus gave her the following invocations:

"Oh Jesus, listen to our prayers for the sake of the tears of Your most holy Mother!

Oh Jesus, look upon the tears of the one who loved You most on earth and loves You most ardently in heaven!"

Finally, Jesus added,

"My daughter, whatever people will beg Me for the sake of the tears of My Mother, I shall lovingly grant them.

Later, My Mother will hand over this treasure to our beloved Institute as a Magnet of mercy."

This took place on November 8, 1929.

God's Prophecy Fulfilled

Jesus fulfilled this promise to Sister Amalia exactly four months later, in the Spring of the following year. At the divinely appointed time, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave this treasure to heaven's beloved Institute. The following are Sister Amalia's own recollections of what took place.

"It was March 8, 1930. I was in the chapel kneeling on the steps of the altar, as I suddenly felt myself being lifted up.

Then I saw a woman of unspeakable beauty approaching me. She wore a violet robe, blue mantle, and a white veil draped over her shoulders. Smiling, she floated in the air towards me, holding a rosary in her hands, which she herself called "corona" [i.e. circle and means rosary]. Its beads shined like the sun and were as white as snow. Handing me this rosary she said to me,

'This is the rosary of my tears, which is being entrusted by my Son to His beloved Institute as a portion of His inheritance.

The invocations were already given by my Son.

My Son wants to honor me in a special way through these invocations, and so, He will grant all graces that are begged for the sake of my tears.

This rosary will provide for the conversion of many sinners, especially those possessed by the devil.

To the Institute of the Crucified Jesus is reserved a special honor, that is the conversion of many members of a wicked sect to the blooming tree of the Church.

Through this rosary the devil will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed.

Get ready for this great battle.'

When our Blessed Mother Mary had finished speaking, she disappeared."

Documentation

In 1934 -- just a few years after the apparitions -- His Excellency Bishop Franciscus von Campinas traveled from Rome to Germany to visit Theresa Neumann in Konnersreuth. He also went to see the Oberammergau Passion Play on May 27th.

Through documentation secured from a contemplative order in Germany and recorded in a pamphlet entitled "Our Dear Lady of Tears," we relay all the particulars and public announcements regarding the apparitions in Campinas and about Sister Amalia -- as given first hand by the Bishop.

His Excellency assured that not only in Brazil, but also in other countries, that after wearing the medal of our dear Lady of Tears -- revealed to Sister Amalia in another apparition by the Mother of God -- innumerable conversions had taken place.

"Innnumerable graces have been received through the praying of the rosary to honor the tears of our dear Lady. The reason lies in the promise of the holy Savior, 'no favor will be refused, when asked of Him for the sake of the tears of His most holy Mother.'

It is well known, that the holy Savior rewards in a special way the sincere reverence for the sorrows of His most holy Mother, which alone are the cause of her tears. Also from Germany, Holland, and Belgium many report of extraordinary favors and graces. They prayed the rosary of our Lady of the Tears daily for nine days, received the holy sacraments and performed works of mercy.

From religious, we understand, that the praying of this rosary is a very dear habit to which they attribute extraordinary graces. For that reason, they pray it daily often to ask graces for themselves and others, the conversion of sinners, heretics, and atheists, to obtain graces for priests and missionaries, to help the dying, and to free the poor souls from Purgatory.

A believing, pious soul, for whom the good of the holy Church, and the honor of God is close at heart, knows without special guidance, what it can and will obtain from our gracious Redeemer through the tears of His most holy Mother.

When sorrow and suffering fill our heart, we direct our thoughts to God. Through the tears of Mary, His most holy Mother, we soften the heart of God, even though it is ever ready to grant us kindness, graces and blessings.

At the present, so it seems to us, the blessed tears of the Mother of Jesus are especially powerful to win the heart of God." -- Msgr. Count Franciscus von Campos Barreto, Bishop of Campinas

Mary's Tears

In this vale of tears world we live in, the apparition of our Blessed Mother to Sister Amalia was not the first or only time that Holy Mary bore her sorrow before one of her children.

In the approved account of Mélanie Calvat -- the shepherdess of La Salette -- we witness Our Lady of La Salette's deep sadness, when she appeared in the French Alps on September 19, 1846:

"The Holy Virgin was crying nearly the whole time she spoke to me. Her tears flowed gently, one by one, down to her knees, then, like sparks of light, they disappeared. They were glittering and full of love. I would have liked to comfort Her and stop Her tears. But it seemed to me that She needed the tears to show better Her love forgotten by men. I would have liked to throw myself into Her arms and say to Her: 'My kind Mother, do not cry! I want to love you for all men on earth.' But she seemed to be saying to me: There are so many who know me not!

I was in between life and death, and on one side, I saw so much desire by this Mother to be loved, and on another side, so much cold and indifference . . . Oh! my Mother, most beautiful and lovable Mother, my love, heart of my heart!

The tears of our sweet Mother, far from lessening her air of majesty, of a Queen and a Mistress, seemed, on the contrary, to embellish Her, to make Her more beautiful, more powerful, more filled with love, more maternal, more ravishing, and I could have wiped away her tears which made my heart leap with compassion and love. To see a Mother cry, and such a M other, without doing everything possible to comfort her and change her grief into joy, is that possible? Oh! Mother, who is more than good, you have been formed with all the prerogatives God is able to make; you have married the power of God, so to speak; you are good, and more, you are good with the goodness of God Himself. God has extended Himself by making you his terrestrial and celestial masterpiece."

This is a deeply moving account.

Another visit from our Lady -- in tears -- occurred over the course of five days, from August 29 to September 2, 1953 in Syracuse, Sicily. Then and there, the image of Mary cried incessantly from a common terra-cotta plaque.

Thousands of people came to witness this miracle of Mary's tears in the simple home of a poor Sicilian laborer. A thorough investigation of the event was conducted by the Church, and confirmed -- through the bishops of Sicily -- that the communication was divinely ordained.

Pope Pius XII, the angelic pastor, was most exclamatory on the Vatican radio, when he proclaimed, "O the tears of Mary!"

Mediatrix of All Grace

A sound and reverent appreciation for the efficacy of the Blessed Virgin Mary's tears should proceed directly from the most simple of meditations on the Passion of Christ.

As we reflect on Jesus' unimaginable agony along the way to Golgotha or nailed to the wood of the Cross, our contemplations are only complete and accurate when they recall and commiserate Mary's sufferings aside her divine Son.

Immediately after meeting Mary on the way to His execution, Jesus was assisted by both Simon the Cyrenean and Saint Veronica. Did not our Lady's motherly tears and prayers effectively intercede for, and obtain these consolations?

Assuredly, her tears of love have obtained -- and continue to -- many consolations for us also, as we ascend our little calvaries. Who can discount the co-redemptive power and force of Mary's immaculate tears? Who also does not want to kiss them away by offering sweet Mother Mary their entire beings.

As Jesus died on the Cross, Mary died interiorly, perfectly -- prayerfully -- offering the sacrifice of her divine Son (with Him) to the Father, for the salvation of all us poor sinners.

As Jesus has given us His Sacred Heart, Mary has given us her Immaculate Heart.

As Jesus has given us His Most Precious Blood, Mary has given us her Most Precious Tears.

In today's perilous times, as we are besieged with seemingly endless and evermore ferocious attacks on the Church and our own salvation, from those who "don't know Mary" -- and those who don't care to -- let the prudent among us seek the support of the tears of Mary, that they may evermore keep us in the Blood of Christ.

Let us "Get ready for this great battle."

Our Lady of La Salette

... as attired (in yellow) and postured when she appeared to the two little shepherds of La Salette -- Mélanie and Maximim -- September 19, 1846. Mélanie's wrote, "The more I looked, the more I wanted to see; the more I saw, the more I loved Her and I loved her with all my might."

Our Lady of Sorrows

This miraculous portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Quito, Ecuador has shed tears.

For certain, our Blessed Mother weeps for Christ's Church and the suffering children entrusted to her maternal heart by God.

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Another popular devotion to honor and appease the tears of our Lady is to meditate on her seven sorrows. They are Mary's sorrow:

1. At the Presentation and Simeon's prophecy

2. During the flight into Egypt

3. Having lost Jesus for three days

4. Meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa

5. Seeing Jesus crucified and die

6. Seeing Jesus' Sacred Heart pierced

7. Having to bury Jesus

The rosary of Our Lady of Tears may be used to pray the chaplet in honor of Mary's seven sorrows. Simply meditate on her sorrows, and pray on the beads as you would pray the rosary, i.e. Our Fathers followed by Hail Marys.

How to Pray the Rosary of Our Lady of Tears

The rosary transmitted to Sister Amalia by the Mother of God consists of forty-nine white beads, which is divided into seven parts by seven larger beads of the same color -- similar to the rosary of the seven sorrows of Mary. At the end, there are attached three more small beads and a medal of our dear Lady of Tears.

Through these instructions we are obviously directed to honor Mary our Mother on account of her sorrows, for which she shed many tears. The medal of our Lady of Tears is an essential part of the rosary, but it must be the way it was revealed to Sister Amalia by the Mother of God on April 30, 1930. In Germany, this medal is made with the specified inscription in all the European languages.

On the Medal to Jesus

O crucified Jesus, we fall at Your feet and offer You the tears of the one, who with deep compassionate love accompanied You on Your sorrowful way of the Cross. O good Master, grant that we take to heart the lessons which the tears of Your most holy Mother teach us, so that we may fulfill Your holy will on earth, that we may be worthy to praise and exalt You in Heaven for all eternity. Amen.

In Place of the Our Father

(and on the final three beads)

V. O Jesus, look upon the tears of the one who loved You most on earth,

R. And loves You most ardently in heaven.

In Place of the Hail Mary

V. O Jesus, listen to our prayers,

R. For the sake of the tears of your most Holy Mother.

On the Medal to Mary

O Mary, Mother of Love, Sorrow and mercy, we beseech you to unite your prayers with ours so that Jesus, your Divine Son, to whom we turn, may hear our petitions in the name of your maternal tears, and grant us, not only the favors we now ask, but the crown of everlasting life. Amen.


Imprimatur; Buchweiser, Gen. - Bit. Munchen, 22. Marz 1935
Taken from; www.starharbor.com, website. Catholic Devotions Web Page.

Why do Catholics Worship Idols?

I would like to again invite you to add to this and ask any questions you would like. Remain civil, keep it clean, and be nice. I would like you to post any sources that you use. I will use Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition to make my point. I will look to the early Fathers of the Church and the road map to what the Catholic Church actually believes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I hope as you read this you will see a new light on what the Church teaches.

To start this post, the Catechism teaches Catholics that, “The first commandment condemns polytheism. It requires man neither to believe in nor to venerate, other divinities than the one true God. Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of "idols, [of] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see." These empty idols make their worshippers empty: "Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them." God, however, is the "living God" who gives life and intervenes in history.

Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast" refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is, therefore, incompatible with communion with God.

Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God. The commandment to worship the Lord alone integrates man and saves him from an endless disintegration. Idolatry is a perversion of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who "transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God." (Catholic Church, 2000, 2112-2214).

Ok, now what does all of that mean to the average Catholic, and to the average non-Catholic. Let's start with the question of polytheism. As a Catholic, I have been taught in the church and through catechism teaching that we are to have only one God. We are never taught to “worship” a photo or statue. Yes, as a Catholic I have used a painting or statue to help me as I pray. I would liken this to a person looking at a photo album and recalling a cherished memory of a loved one. Is this person practicing ancestor worship? No, they are just being reminded of the good times they spent with a loved one. As a Catholic, I see that by looking at an image of the passion of Christ I am able to truly see and that I can start to understand the suffering that Jesus went through for me. By seeing images of the saints I have studied I can recall the events in their lives that I would want to imitate.

We have seen what the Church teaches about Idolatry and what the Catechism teaches. What does Holy Scripture say on the subject? I think we need to look at a few key passages that cover this area. I think the best place is in Exodus Chapter 20 verses 3-5, You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation. This is very clear is it not? We are not to make an image and worship it as a god. God wants us to worship only him. If you are to read into exodus you find God letting Moses know that the people of Israel are making a graven image and are sinning against him. God Saw that his people still needed guidance. He even went as far as to have the Hebrew people perform sacrifices on the animals that the people of Egypt worshiped as gods. This was to show the Israelis that the gods of Egypt were impotent. So, does this forbid any icons or images for worship? If we are to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39) again we can find some things that might make you see this in a different light. We will start again in Exodus Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatory, fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, covering the propitiatory with them; they shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory (Ex 25:18-20). God is instructing the Hebrew people how to make Images. If we read on further, we see God tell Moses to make a bronze serpent (statue) and to instruct the people to look at the serpent if they are bitten and they will be healed (Num 21:8-9). They kept that statue until some tried to give it a name and worship it as a god named “Nehushtan” and at that time King Hezekiah (cf 2Kgs 18:4) had it destroyed (Catholic Answers 2006).

Now we see how God gave the Hebrews a tool to use to help them and once this was abused by the people there was someone to step up and destroy the problem. So, we can see that God has directed his followers to make icons or images. The problem starts when people try to make an image of God. How can we as people do if we have never seen God? We have seen or heard of the Holy Spirit as tongues of flame and descending as a dove. God came to earth as a man his name was Jesus. Men were able then to see God as man. So, when a Protestant has an image of a flame or a dove on their car does this make them an idolater? When a Christian kneels down to read the bible are they worshiping the Word, the bible? The answer to both of these is a resounding no. When a Catholic kneels to pray in front of an image of Jesus does this make him an idolater? Again, we hear a resounding NO.

To end this discussion I will invite you to go to Catholic Answers and read “Do Catholics Worship Statues?” This is a great resource. Catholic Answers can answer this question and more.

References

        Catholic Church. (2000). Catechism of the Catholic Church: revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II. United States Catholic Conference.

        Catholic Answers. (2006). The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. Catholic Answers.

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Jesus Prayer

Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.


Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei, miserere mei, peccatoris.

What is the Immaculate Conception if it is not when Mary conceived Jesus and why did the Church wait until 1854 to proclaim it a doctrine or Dogma? 2

I would like to continue the discussion on the Immaculate Conception with more from the early Church Fathers. I will also add more from scripture. As we look into what St Andrew of Crete said in both a sermon and a canon we see him calling Mary immaculate and sinless (Jurgens Vol. 3, 1970). We also can find St. Germain of Constantinople calling Mary the Immaculate Lady (Jurgens Vol. 3, 1970). So from the earliest times of the Church we find leaders calling Mary Immaculate. This can only be done through a special act of God. This act happened at the time of Mary’s conception. So can we find other areas in scripture where there may be proof that Mary was indeed sinless.

The best place to see one precast for Mary is in Exodus. We see the Ark of the Covenant and how it is to be built. In Exodus 25:11-21 we read “And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, within and without; and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about: And four golden rings, which thou shalt put at the four corners of the ark: let two rings be on the one side, and two on the other. Thou shalt make bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put them in through the rings that are in the sides of the ark, that it may be carried on them: And they shall be always in the rings, neither shall they at any time be drawn out of them. And thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give thee. Thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold: the length thereof shall be two cubits and a half, and the breadth a cubit and a half. Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two sides of the oracle. Let one cherub be on the one side, and the other on the other. Let them cover both sides of the propitiatory, spreading their wings, and covering the oracle, and let them look one towards the other, their faces being turned towards the propitiatory wherewith the ark is to be covered. In which thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee. Thence will I give orders, and will speak to thee over the propitiatory, and from the midst of the two cherubims, which shall be upon the ark of the testimony, all things which I will command the children of Israel by thee. Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height.” Only the purest gold was to be used. If God was so particular about what was going to carry his word written on stone think how much more he would want to have of His Word in flesh.
We also look at some of the common arguments against the Immaculate Conception. The first is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 3:23 here we read the “all have sinned and are deprived Gods glory”. This is address by looking at what is meant by St Paul when he says “all”. If we are to that this literally we will have to include children under the age of reason and Adam and Eve before the fall. We then must also include Jesus in this. If God has allowed exceptions to this why could he not have included Mary in the exceptions (Keating, 1988). We could also address St Luke’s Gospel where we find Mary saying “My spirit rejoices in God my savior” LK 1:47. Catholics never state that Mary never needed a savior. We just believe that God (Jesus) gave her a special grave at the time of her conception therefore saving her at that time (Chacon & Burnham, 2003).
Again I ask if you have any questions to please ask. If you would like to comment please do so. I will try to address these as I am able. Thank you for reading and God Bless you.





Resources

Chacon, Fr. F., & Burnham, J. (2003). Beginning Apologetics 6; How to Explain and Defend Mary. Farmington, NM. San Juan Seminars.

Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 12, 2009 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 2. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Keating K. (1988). Catholicism and Fundamentalism; The Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians”. San Francisco, CA. Ignatius Press.

Marians of the Immaculate Conception. (2008). The Blue Scapular and the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, MA.

Was Mary Assumed Body and Soul into Heaven?

Introduction

The Assumption of Mary is a topic often proposed to Catholics, accompanied by the challenging question: where is it in the Bible? Addressing this, many struggle to find a straightforward answer, often relying on tradition. In this exploration, I will delve into the biblical roots of the Assumption, drawing from scripture and Church Tradition to shed light on this doctrine.

Biblical Precedence for the Assumption

Contrary to the belief that Mary ascended to heaven under her own power, Catholic doctrine holds that Jesus, in His divine nature, assumed Mary's body and soul into heaven. This concept finds resonance in biblical instances. Genesis 5:24 speaks of Enoch, "taken" by God, and Hebrews 11:5 narrates Enoch's ascension due to his faith. Similarly, 2 Kings 2:11 depicts Elijah's fiery chariot ascent. Moreover, after Christ's death, saints were resurrected, suggesting their bodies might have gone to heaven.

The Symbolism of the Ark

To understand the Assumption, considering Mary as the Ark of the Covenant is essential. In Revelation 11:19-12:1, the heavenly temple reveals the Ark, representing Mary. Just as the Ark carried the Word of God in imperishable form, Mary bore the incarnate Word. Just as the Ark was preserved, Mary, being sinless, wouldn't undergo corruption.

Theological Insight from Early Church Fathers

Early Church Fathers, like St. Gregory of Tours and St. John Damascene, provide valuable insights into the Assumption. St. Gregory's Eight Books of Miracles elucidates the event, while St. John Damascene's homilies affirm Mary's bodily assumption into heaven. These perspectives bolster the theological basis for this doctrine.

Conclusion

In essence, the Assumption of Mary finds biblical support through analogies, symbols, and early Church writings. Exploring these facets not only deepens our understanding of this doctrine but also strengthens the connection between biblical teachings and Catholic traditions. For further discussions or queries, feel free to engage, and I'll gladly provide more insights backed by research and Church teachings.

References

Catholic Answers. (2005). The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. San Diego, CA: Catholic Answers, Inc.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

What is the Immaculate Conception if it is not when Mary conceived Jesus and why did the Church wait until 1854 to proclaim it a doctrine or Dogma?

How can the Church change its teaching or add new teaching after 1800 years? This is a good question and again the fast answer is it didn’t. I do plan to address this from the view point of scripture and Tradition. This is a difficult question to answer so please bear with me I try to explain the Church’s view point and as always please feel free to ask any questions or add something you think I may have missed. If you do add something please state the references for the research that you used.

As a starting point I would like to address what the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of December 8th 1854 from Pope Leo IX states. This was what defined the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. It pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin" Holweck, F. (1910). This is about Mary been conceived with out the stain of original sin. Ok, so this did not start until the 19th centenary. How can a church change its doctrine or core its beliefs. The easy answer is that it can not. The full truth was given to the church at time of Christ’s death. There has been no new revelation given. So when did Catholics start to believe in the Immaculate Conception? We can look into this and also address where in scripture we can see references to the possibility of an Immaculate Conception.

I would like to point out just one reference that would show that Catholics did not make this doctrine in the 19th century. We can look back 400 years eairler to the year 1484 When St Beatrice de Silva Menesses founded the order of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the requirements of this order was to wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception beneath there habits. Again in 1583 the Venerable Servant of God founded the Congregation of Oblates of the Immaculate Conception. This order then developed the Blue Scapular after Sister Ursula received a vision of the Blessed Mother (Marians of the Immaculate Conception. 2008). So we can find evidence of this teaching much earlier the 1854.

We can also look at the writings of the early Church Fathers. I will start with St Ephraim from his Nisibene Hymns These were written about 370 A.D. [27,8] “You alone and Your Mother are more beautiful then any others; For there is no blemish in you, nor any stains upon your Mother. Who of my children can compare in beauty to these (Jurgens Vol. 1, 1970)? By stating that there are no blemishes on Mary, St Ephraim is stating that she had no sin. Who else stated that Mary had no sin? We can look at St Ambrose of Milan’s Commentary on Psalm 118; 397-399A.D. Here we find St Ambrose saying “Come, then, and search out Your sheep, not through Your servant or hired men, but do it Yourself. Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up not from Sara but from Mary, a virgin not only undefiled but a virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin (Jurgens Vol.2, 1970).


When we look into scripture we can find inferences to the fact that Mary was with out sin. To start we can look at the Gospel of Luke. Here we find the passages of the announcement to Mary. It states; ”And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26-28 Douay-Rheims). The question to ask here is how someone is “full of grace”, if they are in a state of sin? We can not be in a state of grace if we have sin on our soul. The only way to achieve this is either through baptism or the sacrament of reconciliation or confession. Mary received neither of these prior to Jesus enacting these sacraments. The only way to be free of sin at that time was by a special grace from God. This grace was given to Mary at the time of her conception (which occurred in the normal fashion) so she could become the Ark of the Covenant carrying God’s Word.

This is just a start of this discussion it will need to be added to in the future. Again please ask any questions or make any additions to this. I will address them as they are posted.


Resources

Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 12, 2009 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

Marians of the Immaculate Conception. (2008). The Blue Scapular and the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, MA.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 2. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Universal Living Rosary

The 15 Promises Made by the Blessed Virgin to St. Dominic and Blessed Alanus

1. To all those who shall recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.

2. Those who shall persevere in the recitation of my Rosary will receive some signal grace.

3. The Rosary will be a very powerful armor against Hell; it will destroy vice, deliver from sin and dispel heresy.

4. The Rosary will make virtue and good works flourish, and will obtain for souls the most abundant Divine mercies; it will substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world and elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal goods. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!

5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary will not perish.

6. Those who shall recite my Rosary piously, considering its mysteries, will not be overwhelmed by misfortune, nor die a bad death.

7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the consolations of the Church or without grace.

8. Those who shall recite my Rosary will find during their life and at their death, the light of God, the fullness of His grace and will share in the merits of the blessed.

9. I will deliver very promptly from purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.

10. The true children of my Rosary will enjoy great glory in Heaven.

11. What you shall ask through my Rosary, you shall obtain.

12. Those who propagate my Rosary will obtain through me aid in all their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Son that all the members of the Rosary Confraternity shall have for their intercessors in life and death the Saints of Heaven.

14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

Imprimatur: Most Rev. Clarence G. Issenmann, STD,Bishop of Cleveland

For more information on the living rosary devotion please click on the title of this post.

Are your beliefs found in the bible?

The fast answer to this is a resounding yes! But we are not looking for the fast answer are we. We want to see where in the bible our beliefs are. This is a difficult topic to cover because there are so many beliefs that need to be covered. I will be adding to this post as time goes on. Please look over it from time to time to see and additions you may have missed. Also, if you have any questions please post them so I way address them for you. For this we can turn to scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church for all the answers we need. You are going to say I don’t believe that a book written by the Catholic Church has the authority to or ability to change my understanding of what the Church believes. I want to use the Catechism as a reference point show the Church actually teaches. The Catechism is simply a book of reference for Catholics or anyone that matter to see in writing what the Church actually teaches of any given subject.

I feel the best place to start with the beliefs of The Catholic Church is to start with the creed. We use two different creeds the first being the Apostles’ Creed and the second being the Nicene Creed.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, The Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.We believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Profits. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Why Do You Worship Mary?

The first thing I want to get across is that I have never personally worshiped Mary, nor has any true Catholic that I know of. I think that the best place to start to address this by asking a quick question. Have you ever tried to emulate a person in your work or personal life? When you did this, did you worship that person? As a Catholic I see Mary as a person I would like to be like. She is truly the very first Christian. She had a very deep love for Christ and Christ would have done anything for his mother. Although I do not worship Mary, I do pray to Her and I will cover this also.

I am going to start with praying to Mary. To begin I will ask what was Jesus’ first miracle and why did he perform it? Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana. The reason he did this was because his mother asked him. Jesus can not sin because of his divine nature therefore he must honor his father and mother. What better way to receive something in prayer then to have Mary ask Jesus for it, if she asks Jesus he can not refuse.

Why do we pray to Mary, because she is dead and can not help us? This is the next question you will ask. To answer this we need to turn to the bible and see if praying to the dead will help us on earth. I will begin by looking at Romans 15:30 “I urge you, (brothers,) by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in the struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf,” Paul is clearly asking for the prayers of the faithful here. Now take a look at Luke 16:19-30 "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent'”. How can Abraham intercede for this man if he is dead? Jesus himself stated that this could be done. I want to add Joshua 5:13-15, “While Joshua was near Jericho, he raised his eyes and saw one who stood facing him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you one of us or of our enemies?" He replied, "Neither. I am the captain of the host of the LORD and I have just arrived." Then Joshua fell prostrate to the ground in worship, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the host of the LORD replied to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy." And Joshua obeyed”. Joshua fell down and worshiped the angle of the Lord. Did anyone else do this? What about Daniel? Look at Daniel 8:17 “and on the Ulai I heard a human voice that cried out, ‘Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.’ When he came near where I was standing, I fell prostrate in terror. But he said to me, ‘Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the end time.’” We can also see that Tobiah and Tobit fell to the ground to worship Raphael in Tobit 12:16.

This shows that others have venerated someone else other then God and as a Catholic we do not worship Mary we Venerate her. If you look in the bible does Mary not state that “All the nations will call me blessed” Luke 1:48? When Catholics venerate Mary we are fulfilling this prophesy. When you look at The Hail Mary you will see that it is also biblical.
Hail Mary Full of grace the lord is with you
Blessed are you among woman
and blessed if the fruit of your womb Jesus
Holy Mary Mother of God
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

“During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” Luke 1:39-48. This is the discourse between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. You will see that all of the prayer is contained with in this discourse. You will also note that Elizabeth made the statement of, “how is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me”. I the time of this when a Jew used the statement Lord it meant God because Jews would not say the name of God. Mary did not correct her and she went on to say how all ages or generations would call her blessed.

With Mary being the Mother of our Lord (God) and that it was and is ok to venerate someone why not choose Mary. If I can imitate her in the smallest regard why would I not try? I also think that for the reason I stated above about how Jesus will respond to Mary, we should pray to her and ask for her intersession when ever possible. I also know there are many other questions about Mary that non-Catholics will ask. I do plan to answer them also. Each should receive their own posting.