Written and Posted in Christian Love

249 pages contrasting the
Mary of Catholicism with
the Mary of the Holy Bible.

Certainly, one sure way to know the official position of Roman Catholicism on Mary, besides going to Vatican Council II and The Catechism of the Catholic Church, is to go to the pope himself. Such can be easily done by examining the book entitled, Theotókos. This book is comprised of seventy general audience talks on Mary which were delivered by the Pope himself from September 1995 to November 1997 (p. 11). Hence, these are up to date and given by their supreme teaching authority. While Catholicism claims the pope speaks infallibly at times, it still declares him (even when he isn’t speaking infallibly) to be the supreme pastor and teacher of the faithful, as we would anticipate. The following papal quotes will be accepted, without question, by many trusting Catholics. To them this is the absolute truth about Mary. But how do his teachings compare with the Biblical record?

Did Mary Take Part in the Sacrifice at Calvary?

Pope John Paul II would have us all believe the following:

When the Son began his mission, Mary remained in Nazareth, even though this separation did not exclude significant contacts such as the one at Cana. Above all, it did not prevent her from taking part in the sacrifice of Calvary (pp. 18,19).

Just as Eve caused death, so Mary, with her "yes," became "a cause of salvation" for herself and for all mankind (p. 26).

Mary is queen not only because she is Mother of God, but also because, associated as the New Eve with the New Adam, she cooperated in the work of the redemption of the human race (p. 210).

On Calvary, Mary united herself to the sacrifice of her Son and made her own maternal contribution to the work of salvation, which took the form of labor pains, the birth of the new humanity (p. 234).

In contrast to the Catholic teaching that Mary had a role in the sacrifice of Calvary, we read in Scripture that it was only by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross itself that redemption for mankind was purchased. His blood alone, with no mention of Mary’s so-called contribution, brought about salvation:

He [Jesus] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb 9:12)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Pet 1:18,19)

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col 1:19,20)

As clear as all of that is, the Scriptures add to that by stating that blood must be shed to bring about forgiveness of sin. No mention of non-bloody sufferings, such as what Mary experienced, can do that:

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9:22)

As kind and as loving as it can be stated, there is not even a single inference to Mary in these Scriptures or anywhere else in the entire Bible, which would even by implication suggest that Mary co-operated with Jesus’ blood sacrifice to bring about anyone’s salvation. To teach otherwise is to downplay Jesus’ incomprehensible blood sacrifice for our salvation and strip glory from Him. Remember, the Bible is to be Christian’s sole source for teaching and correction (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

But If Mary Didn’t Give Jesus Birth, Then He
Couldn’t Have Died for Mankind’s Salvation, Right?

I remember witnessing to a Roman Catholic who told me, but if Mary didn’t give Jesus birth, then He couldn’t have died for mankind’s salvation. My response was and without the Roman soldier that actually nailed Jesus to the cross He couldn’t have died for mankind’s salvation either. So does this mean we must include the Roman soldier too, whoever he was, in the plan of redemption? The obvious answer in no. Besides that it could be added that if Judas hadn’t betrayed Jesus into the hands of sinful men, He wouldn’t have been crucified for our sins either. Dear reader, it is only by the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross that mankind can have salvation, according to the New Testament writers. He alone is the Savior and has the name in which salvation is found:

He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:11,12)

Is Mary Sovereign?

Sometimes in his seventy general audience talks on Mary, Pope John Paul II has quoted other authoritative sources, such as Catholic saints and past popes. In doing so in a favorable way, he is personally endorsing their statements. Hence, Pope John Paul II has gone on record teaching that Mary is sovereign, as well as stating other Catholic authorities also believed this in the past:

The text passes spontaneously from the expression “the Mother of my Lord” to the title, “my Lady,” anticipating what St. John Damascene was later to say. He attributed to Mary the title of “Sovereign” .... (p. 209)

In his Encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam to which the text of Lumen Gentium refers, my venerable Predecessor Pius XII indicates Mary’s cooperation in the work of redemption, in addition to her motherhood, as the basis for her queenship. The encyclical recalls the liturgical text: “There was St. Mary, Queen of Heaven and sovereign of the world ...” (p . 210).

John Paul II, and other Catholic authorities, have chosen to use the word sovereign for Mary. This same word is used in the New International Version of the Bible over 300 times and only attributed to almighty God. One might conclude from this that at least some Catholic authorities believe the same about Mary that Bible believers think about God. (May that not be true.)

Is Mary All-Knowing and Everywhere Present?

Some of the unique attributes that only God has are His Omniscience (all-knowing) and Omnipresence (everywhere present). But in his teachings, the pope has made the following statements that could lead one to think that Mary also has these attributes:

Thus, far from creating distance between her and us, Mary’s glorious state brings about a continuous and caring closeness. She knows everything that happens in our life and supports us with maternal love in life’s trials (p. 211).

Question: How could Mary, or any creature, know everything that happens in the lives of a billion Catholics at the same time? It is impossible unless one wrongly believes such a creature is omniscience like God.

The Pope went on to teach:

One can conclude that the assumption favors Mary’s full communion not only with Christ, but with each one of us. She is beside us, because her glorious state enables her to follow us in our daily earthly journey (p. 211).

What the pope taught about Mary is what we are told in the Scriptures about the Lord Jesus:

... and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Mat 28:20)

Is Mary or God our Refuge?

The pope also believes Mary is our refuge.

From earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all their dangers and necessities (p. 245).

In contrast to Catholicism, please note the following Scripture:

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. (Psa 5:11)

Again, we see Catholics being taught something about Mary, which only belongs to God.

How different the pope’s message is from the inspired message of the Bible, which states repeatedly that God is our refuge. Dear reader, please take several minutes and look up the following Scriptures for yourself: 2 Sam. 22:3, 31; Psa. 2:12; 7:1; 9:9; 11:1; 14:6; 16:1; etc. They, and many others, conflict with the pope’s teaching on Mary. Which will you accept as truth?

The pope went on to teach:

By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into the happiness of their true home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix (p. 238).

The pope would also have us believe Mary will care for each of us until we finally get to heaven. Such not only overly exalts Mary it would also remove all free will and personal responsibility for the follower of Christ, since Mary has the responsibility to get us into heaven and care for us here in this life:

Through her closeness to the events of our daily history, Mary sustains us in trials. She encourages us in difficulty, always pointing out to us the goal of eternal salvation (p. 55).

... Christians look with trust to Mary ... (p. 211).

Mary is our Eternal Security?

Though the Catholic church correctly rejects the teaching of eternal security, the following quote might lead one to believe otherwise:

As a mother, Mary defends her children and protects them from the harm caused by their own sins (p. 238).

The Bible reiterates over and over again that sin will bring forth spiritual death, even for a righteous person (or Christian). See Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:24; 33:13,18; Lk. 15:24,32; Rom. 8:13; James 1:14-16; 5:19,20; etc. (Sadly, however, there are many non-Catholics, especially Baptists and Calvinists, that will deny this Bible fact, which has led to a spread of wickedness and evil.) But now, from the above papal quote a Catholic could get the wrong impression that Mary will somehow protect a Catholic from sin’s harm. Again, dear reader, this papal message is not only not found anywhere in the Bible, it is contradictory to Scripture. Please make a note of this.

We are to Pray to Mary

Oftentimes, Catholics will deny that they pray to Mary, but the following papal quote clears this up:

We ceaselessly pray to the Blessed Virgin ... (p. 260).

Please remember, Catholicism declares Mary to be Mediatrix. Regarding this, Pope John Paul II has instructed:

What the Mother asks, the Son approves and the Father grants (p. 26).

... she obtains what she seeks and it cannot be denied her (p. 211).

Again, the Bible declares a different message:

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Tim 2:5)

Summary

It should be painfully clear that the pope is not sound in Biblical doctrine, even though many non-Catholics speak well of him as though he is. To be more precise, he is dangerously wrong on subjects related to salvation itself. He would have us trust Mary, who he thinks took part in the sacrifice at Calvary and much more as just shown. Dear reader, please believe the Biblical record over the pope’s teaching. Precious souls hang in the balance.

---

Return to Evangelical Outreach
www.evangelicaloutreach.org

Contact Us Or Join Our Email List