INTRODUCTION
There are two very important reasons why I felt compelled to write this series of posts, and I’d like to briefly share these reasons with you now before I go any further:
1) Since I am a former Catholic who is very aware of the teachings of the Catholic Church because I attended twelve years of Catholic school, attended Catechism classes, made my First Holy Communion, was Confirmed, and faithfully attended Mass not only every Sunday for many years, but also before school began for three years (as required by the school that I attended at the time), and who came to the knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is and what He actually accomplished for us by reading a Catholic New Testament Bible exactly like the one pictured above, I decided to write this series with the hope of reaching precious Catholics so that they can not only come to an understanding of who Jesus Christ truly is as His Word, the Bible, declares Him to be, but also so they can see by reading God’s Word that they can have complete forgiveness, lasting joy, true peace, and the assurance of salvation if they choose to believe God’s Word and place their trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. Also, since many Catholics do not realize everything that the Catholic church actually teaches (as I once did not realize until after doing research and reading the CCC), I thought that it was extremely important to share this information to make Catholics aware of many things that are quite disturbing, as you will all soon become aware of as this series continues.
2) This series of posts is also being written with the intention of helping those of you who are born-again, Bible believing followers of Jesus Christ who have no idea of what the teachings of Catholicism are so that you can become aware of their teachings and be prepared to offer hope and assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ to Catholics based solely upon the truth that is recorded in God’s Word.
As we continue on in this series together comparing Scriptures in the Catholic New Testament to teachings found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we must keep these important thoughts in mind:
When it comes to our eternal destination — heaven or hell — we must be certain that we place our trust in solid truth and not in speculation or in the traditions of men. The Catholic church claims to be the “one true Church.” Therefore, it stands to reason that their teachings must line up with God’s Word and not contradict it since God does not change (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8), and His Word stands firm forever. (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, 1 Peter 1:24,25) If a contradiction is found it must be rejected because God’s Word is our plumb line by which we must measure (or test) the teachings of every religion to see if it lines up or not. If it is off in one point we can be certain that it will lead us further and further away from Biblical truth and lead us into spiritual deception.
This series will cover many different subjects ranging from what does the Catholic Church teach about the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, priests, the pope, sin, forgiveness of sins, salvation, prayer, and what must a Catholic believe in order to receive eternal life. Some of these teachings will shock even many Catholics when they learn what their church actually teaches!
Lord willing, I hope to share at least one post every month with you in this new series until I have covered all the most important teachings that need to be brought to your attention. The main goal that I have in writing this series is to present the Word of God to Catholics — and to every person — in order to point everyone to Jesus Christ, who is our only hope and ‘the only name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.’ (Acts 4:12)
Dear Catholic, please take a minute now to pray, asking God to open your mind to the Scriptures and to reveal the truth to you –whatever that may be.
Because only God can reveal the truth to you, I will refrain from making any comments unless I find it completely necessary. Since God’s Word is truth I trust that He will not only give you eyes to see the truth, but also I trust that He will give you the courage to respond to His leading. However, each one of you will find yourself having to answer this question when you come to many points that I present to you in these posts after realizing that there are oftentimes extreme differences between what the Word of God says and what Catholicism teaches, and the question that you will have to answer is:
“Are you going to believe the Word of God, or the word of man?”
Please keep in mind, as you are carefully reading all of the statements made from the following Catholic sources, that every time you see the word “church” spelled with a capital c they are referring to the Catholic church, since they believe that the “Catholic Church” alone is the “one true Church.”All of the information that I will be sharing with you I have obtained from the following sources:
1) CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (pictured above) – Imprimi Potest – Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict) – Interdicasterial Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church
2) THE WORD OF GOD – THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR IN TODAY’S ENGLISH VERSION – SACRED HEART LEAGUE EDITION – IMPRIMATUR JOHN FRANCIS WHEALON, ARCHBISHOP OF HARTFORD, APRIL 15, 1971 SIGNED AND SEALED BY BISHOP JOSEPH B. BRUNINI, DIOCESE OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
3) Occasionally when I share a Scripture with you from the Sacred Heart League (SHL) Catholic New Testament and notice that it lacks depth and clarity, I will then follow it with the same verse but in the King James Version in order to give you a better understanding of what is being said, and so that you can see what is missing from the SHL translation.
4) Very briefly in this series, I will also be quoting from THE CATHOLIC DOUAY RHEIMS VERSION OF THE BIBLE – in which you will find the following statements:
“EXCERPT FROM ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF OUR HOLY FATHER BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE POPE LEO XIII ON THE STUDY OF HOLY SCRIPTURE:
“The God of all Providence, Who in the adorable designs of His love at first elevated the human race to the participation of the Divine nature, and afterwards delivered it from the universal guilt and ruin, restoring it to its primitive dignity, has in consequence bestowed upon man a splendid gift and safeguard–making known to him, by supernatural means, the hidden Mysteries of His divinity, His wisdom, and His mercy. For although in Divine revelations there are contained some things which are not beyond the reach of unassisted reason, and which are made the objects of such revelation in order “that all may come to know them with facility, certainty, and safety from error, yet not on this account can supernatural Revelation be said to be absolutely necessary; it is only necessary because God has ordained man to a supernatural end.” This supernatural revelation according to the belief of the universal Church, is contained both in unwritten Tradition, and in written Books, which are therefore called sacred and canonical because, “being written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, they have God for their author, and as such have been delivered to the Church.” (Page ix)
“Wherefore it must be recognised that the sacred writings are wrapt in a certain religious obscurity, and that no one can enter into their interior without a guide; God so disposing, as the Holy Fathers commonly teach, in order that men may investigate them with greater ardour and earnestness, and that what is attained with difficulty may sink more deeply into the mind and heart; and, most of all that they may understand that God has delivered the Holy Scriptures to the Church, and that in reading and making use of His Word, they must follow the Church as their guide and their teacher. St. Irenaeus long since laid down, that where the charismata of God were, there the truth was to be learnt, and that Holy Scripture was safely interpreted by those who had the Apostolic succession. His teaching, and that of other Holy Fathers, is taken up by the Council of the Vatican, which, in the renewing of the decree of Trent, declares its “mind” to be this–that “in things of faith and morals, belonging to the building up of Christian doctrine, that is to be considered the true sense of Holy Scripture which has been held and is held by our Holy Mother the Church whose place it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures; and therefore that it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against such sense or also against the unanimous agreement of the Fathers.” (Page xvii)
“Wherefore the first and dearest object of the Catholic commentator should be to interpret those passages which have received an authentic interpretation either by the sacred writers themselves, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost (as in many places of the New Testament), or from the Church, under the assistance of the same Holy Spirit, whether by her solemn judgment or her ordinary and universal magisterium –to interpret those passages in that identical sense, and to prove, by all the resources of science that sound hermeneutical laws admit of no other interpretation. In the other passages, the analogy of faith should be followed, and Catholic doctrine, as authoritatively proposed by the Church, should be held as the supreme law; for seeing that the same God is the author both of the Sacred Books and of the doctrine committed to the Church, it is clearly impossible that any teaching can by legitimate means be extracted from the former, which shall in any respect be at variance with the latter. Hence it follows that all interpretation is foolish and false which either makes the sacred writers disagree one with another, or is opposed to the doctrine of the Church.” (Page xviii)
“For although the studies of non-Catholics, used with prudence, may sometimes be of use to the Catholic student, he should nevertheless, bear well in mind–as the Fathers also teach in numerous passages –that the sense of Holy Scripture can nowhere be found incorrupt outside of the Church, and cannot be expected to be found in writers who, being without the true faith, only gnaw the bark of the Sacred Scripture and never attain its pith.” (Page xix)
(To read PART 1 click HERE).
(For PART 2 click HERE).
(For PART 3 click HERE).
(For PART 4 click HERE).
(For PART 5 click HERE).
(For PART 6 click HERE
(For PART 7 click HERE
INTRODUCTION TO PART 8
In Part 8 we will be covering pages 251-276 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC – pictured above), which addresses some of the teachings of the Catholic church regarding the Pope, as well as the Virgin Mary.
For those who are new to this blog, and for those who read this blog from time to time, I need to say, once again, that every time “the Church” is mentioned and capitalized, they are referring to the Catholic “Church,” since Catholicism claims to be the “one True Church.”
Let’s begin:
Part One – The Profession of Faith
Paragraph 4. Christ’s Faithful–Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life
Para 881
The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” (401 Lumen Gentium 22) This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope. (Emphasis is mine).
Para 882
The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter’s successor, “is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.” (402 Lumen Gentium 23)
“For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.” (403 Lumen Gentium 22) (Emphasis is mine).
Para 891
“The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful— who confirms his brethren in the faith–he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. …The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium,” above all in an Ecumenical Council. (418 Lumen Gentium 25; cf. Vatican Council 1: DS 3074) When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine “for belief as being divinely revealed,” (419 DV 10) and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions “must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.” This infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself. (421 Cf. LG 25) (Emphasis is mine).
Para 958
Communion with the dead “In full consciousness of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the very earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and ‘because it is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins’ she offers her suffrages for them.” (2 Maccabees 12:45) Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective. (Emphasis is mine).
[NOTE: The Book of 2 Maccabees is not a Book that was approved to be a part of the original Canon of Scripture because of how some things contradict Scripture and thus was not shown to be inspired by God. This book is where the Catholic church derives their teaching on purgatory and praying to and for the dead.]
Prayers for Those Killed in Battle
38 So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the same place.
39 And the day following Judas came with his company, to take away the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers.
40 And they found under the coats of the slain, some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain.
41 Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden.
42 And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain.
43 And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection.
44 (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
45 And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them.
46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” (2 Maccabees 12:38-46) (DRV)
2 Maccabees has no basis for truth because it contradicts Scripture and God’s plan of salvation and the complete work that Jesus Christ accomplished for us through His sinless life, His once for all sacrifice on the cross, His death, burial, and glorious resurrection from the dead to show that God accepted His sacrifice as completely satisfying His wrath towards sin. There is no such place as purgatory or a second chance after death to receive forgiveness or to be loosed from sins. God’s Word is clear:
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him:
3 Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him.
9 And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth.
10 And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a longlived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand.
11 Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:1-12) (DRB)
“He shines with the brightness of God’s glory; he is the exact likeness of God’s own being, and sustains the universe with his powerful word. After he had made men clean from their sins, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.” (Hebrews 1:3) (SHLCNT)
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3) (KJV)
“Indeed, according to the Law, almost everything is made clean by blood; and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.” (Hebrews 9:22) (SHLCNT)
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) (KJV)
“But whoever does not have them is shortsighted that he cannot see, and has forgotten that his past sins have been washed away.” (2 Peter 1:9)
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (2 Peter 1:9) (KJV)
Para 962
“We believe in the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming one Church; and we believe that in this communion, the merciful love of God and his saints is always [attentive] to our prayers.” ([Pope] Paul VI, CPG 30) (Emphasis is mine.)
Para 966
“Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death. (Emphasis is mine).
Para 968
“Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further. “In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace. (Emphasis is mine).
Para 969
“The Motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation…Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” (Emphasis is mine).
Para 970
“Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men…flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it.” No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.
II. DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Para 971
“All generations will call me blessed” : “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.” The Church rightly honors “the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of “Mother of God,” to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs…This very special devotion…differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.” The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. (Emphasis is mine).
III. MARY-ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH
Para 972
After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. (Emphasis is mine).
[NOTE: In contrast, God’s Word has this to say in Hebrews 12:2
“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and is now seated on the right side of God’s throne.” (SHLCNT) (Emphasis is mine).
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (KJV) (Emphasis is mine).
Back to the final portion of this post regarding Mary as taught in the Catechism Of The Catholic Church:
Para 974 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body. (Emphasis is mine).
Para 975
“We believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ.” ([Pope] Paul VI, CPG 15) (Emphasis is mine).
IN CLOSING
Regarding Peter:
Try as they may, Peter was not the “rock” on which the church was built upon as the Catholic church teaches. Rather it was the truth expressed in Peter’s declaration regarding Jesus Christ that was the rock on which the church was built upon:
“Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do men say the Son of Man is?” “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.” “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” “Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “Because this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. And so I tell you: you are a rock, Peter, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, which not even death will ever be able to overcome.” (Matthew 16:13-18) (SHLCNT)
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE TO SHOW GOD IS OUR ROCK AND NOT PETER
(Note how all of the verses from the Catholic Douay Rheims Version (DRV) omit the word ‘rock.’ If you take time to look at how other versions translate these verses you will see that almost every other version uses the word rock).
1. “There is none holy as the Lord is: for there is no other beside thee, and there is none strong like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2) (Douay Rheims Version (DRV) – Authorized Catholic Bible)
“There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2) (King James Version) (KJV)
2. “The LORD is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper and in him, will I put my trust. My protector and the horn of my salvation, and my support.” (Psalm 18:2) (DRV)
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalm 18:2)(KJV)
3. “For who is God but the LORD? Or who is God but our God?” (Psalm 18:31) (DRV)
“For who is God save the LORD? Or who is a rock save our God?” (Psalm 18:31) (KJV)
4. “Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice. Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.” (Psalm 31:1-3) (DRV)
“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” (Psalm 31:1-3)(KJV)
5. “For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud, and in the sea: And did all eat the same spiritual food, And all drank the same spiritual drink; and they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) (Sacred Heart League Catholic New Testament – SHLCNT)
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) (KJV)
Regarding Mary:
The virgin Mary was chosen by God to bear His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly submitted to His Father’s will, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and entered our sin-filled world as God, wrapped in human flesh within Mary’s womb. For this reason Mary is indeed blessed among women. However, that is where her role ends. Therefore, to attribute to Mary many of the names, roles, and accomplishments that can only be rightly applied to Jesus Christ is unbiblical and robs Jesus of the glory that is due to Him and to Him alone.
In God’s Word, depending upon which Bible translation you’re reading from, Jesus is called the new Adam or the last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. Although there is no Scriptural support whatsoever for the Catholic church to assign Mary with a similar title — the new Eve — they do so by interjecting into Scripture something that simply cannot be found anywhere, thus attributing to Mary honor and power that rightly only belongs to Jesus Christ.
Here are some of the other titles and claims the Catholic church has given Mary over the years:
Mary – The new Ark of the Covenant – The Catholic church tries to justify giving her this title by saying that just as the original Ark of the Covenant held the manna from heaven, Mary held within her womb the bread of life that came down from heaven. As true as that might sound at first, one look at this picture and you will realize that some are placing Mary upon the Ark of the Covenant where God’s Word says His presence resided:
“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.” (Exodus 25:22) (DRV)
“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” (KJV)
The above monstrance is located at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in the city of Chicago.
Continuing on:
The Immaculate Conception – The Catholic church claims that she was conceived without sin and that she remained sinless throughout her whole life. (CCC Para 493) During one alleged apparition of the virgin Mary, the being who claimed to be Mary told Bernadette Soubirous that she was “the Immaculate Conception.” In 1854, four years prior to this alleged apparition, Mary was declared by the Catholic church to be the Immaculate Conception. Scripture clearly teaches that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:10-12, 21-25)
Only Jesus Christ remained sinless His entire life:
“Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great high priest who has gone into the very presence of God–Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our high priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy with our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a high priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) (SHLCNT)
“He committed no sin; no one ever heard a lie come from his lips.” (1 Peter 2:22) (SHLCNT)
The Assumption – As previously stated above, in Para 966 and 974 of the Catechism of the Catholic church, the Catholic church teaches that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, thus paralleling the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Once again, there is nowhere in Scripture that even hints at the possibility of this being true. Therefore, this only further shows how the Catholic church is seemingly creating teachings in order to place Mary on nearly the same level as Jesus Christ Himself.
Queen of Heaven – The Catholic church calls Mary the Queen of Heaven.
There is only one Book in the Bible where the Queen of Heaven is mentioned and it is in no way talking about Mary of the Bible:
“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger, saith the Lord? Is it not themselves, to the confusion of their contenance?” (Jeremiah 7:18,19) (DRV)
“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD; do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?” (Jeremiah 7:18,19) (KJV)
“Then all the men that knew that their wives sacrificed to other gods: and all the women of whom there stood by a great multitude, and all the people of them that dwelt in the land of Egypt in Phatures, answered Jeremias, saying:
As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken to thee: But we will certainly do every word that shall proceed out of our own mouth, to sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we and our fathers have done, our kings, and our princes in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and we were filled with bread, and it was well with us, and we saw no evil.
But since we left off to offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword, and by famine. And if we offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and pour out drink offerings to her: did we make cakes to worship her, to pour out drink offerings to her, without our husbands? And Jeremias spoke to all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying:
Was it not the sacrifice that you offered in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and Sour fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, which the Lord hath remembered, and hath it not entered into his heart? So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed: therefore your land is become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Because you have sacrificed to idols, and have sinned against the Lord: and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have not walked in his law, and in his commandments, and in his testimonies: therefore are these evils come upon you, as at this day. And Jeremias said to all the people, and to all the women: Hear ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell in the land of Egypt: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, saying: You and your wives have spoken with your mouth, and fulfilled with your hands, saying: Let us perform our vows which we have made, to offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her: you have fulfilled your vows, and have performed them indeed. Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord: that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Juda, in the land of Egypt, saying:
The Lord God liveth. Behold I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Juda that are in the land of Egypt, shall be consumed, by the sword, and by famine, till there be an end of them. And a few men that shall flee from the sword, shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Juda: and all the remnant of Juda that are gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs. And this shall be a sign to you, saith the Lord, that I will punish you in this place: that you may know that my words shall be accomplished indeed against you for evil.” (Jeremiah 44:15-29)(DRV)
“Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,
The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.
Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day. Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying. We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, than my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt saying,
The LORD God liveth. Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.”(Jeremiah 44:15-29) (KJV)
Continuing on with the titles that the Catholic church has given to Mary:
Co-Redemptrix – The Catholic church claims that Mary suffered along with Jesus Christ when He was on the cross, and therefore she should be given the title of “co-redemptrix.”
Jesus Christ alone is our Redeemer:
“But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the Son of a human mother, and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s sons.” (Galatians 4:4,5) (SHLCNT)
“And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) (SHLCNT)
Mediatrix – The Catholic church has given Mary the titles of Mediatrix and Mediatrix of all Graces. (CCC Para 969)
However, God’s Word says:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5)
Advocate – The Catholic church calls Mary our “Advocate.”(CCC Para 969)
Nowhere in Scripture can you find any verse to substantiate this claim. God’s Word, however, says:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) (KJV)
The Sacred Heart League Catholic New Testament rightly says:
“I write you this, my children, so that you will not sin; but if anyone does sin. we have Jesus Christ, the righteous, who pleads for us with the Father.” (1 John 2:1)
Many other Scriptures show us that it is Jesus Christ who intercedes/pleads for us:
“He did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son–will he not also freely give us all things? Who will accuse God’s chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! Can anyone, then, condemn them? Christ Jesus is the one who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God. He pleads with God for us.” (Romans 8:32-34) (SHLCNT)
“But Jesus lives on forever, and his work as priest does not pass on to someone else. And so he is able, not and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God for them.” (Hebrews 7:24,25) (SHLCNT)
“For Christ did not go into a holy place made by men, a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God.” (Hebrews 9:24) (SHLCNT)
Also in John 14:16 Jesus Christ tells us the following regarding the Holy Spirit –not Mary:
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, to stay with you forever.”
In other Scriptures, such as John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7 we are told that the Holy Spirit is our Advocate. In some Bible translations the Holy Spirit is referred to in the above verses as our Helper,Comforter, or Counselor, but Mary is never mentioned in any verse in any translation to indicate to us that we are to turn to her for help, comfort, or counsel. Yet, sadly, these, and many other prayers are presented to precious Catholics to pray to Mary:
“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.”
“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.”
The Bible substantiates the fact that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus Christ and that she remained a virgin until after Jesus was born (Matthew 1:18-25). However, there is no Biblical support for Mary remaining a virgin as the Catholic church teaches. Speaking of Joseph, Scripture clearly says:
“And he knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.” (SHLCNT) (Emphasis is mine).
Scripture teaches that Mary had other children after Jesus was born: (See Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 13:53-57, Mark 3:31-35, Mark 6:1-3, John 2:12, John 7:1-5, Acts 1:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5, Galatians 1:19)
Mary of the Bible was obedient, courageous, and humble; she would never have elevated herself to such positions as the Catholic church has done with her in so many ways that detract from Jesus Christ and contradict the Biblical gospel and all that Jesus Christ alone accomplished for us.
Dear Catholic, or whatever you may be: Please test everything that you were taught — and are continuing to be taught — against the truth of God’s Word so that you will know what’s really true. If what you are being taught cannot be found in Scripture or if it contradicts Scripture in any way, you can be certain that it is not true. Therefore it is either based on the traditions and philosophies of men, or it may very well be rooted in mysticism or the occult. Lord willing, in some upcoming posts in this series, as well as individual posts, I will be sharing evidence with you to show you that many teachings of the Catholic church are indeed rooted in mysticism.
Thank you very much for stopping by today.
God Bless You
~Mary Dalke/Living4HisGlory
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“In this way you disregard the word of God with the teaching you pass on to others. And there are many other things like this that you do.” (Mark 7:13) (SHLCNT)
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye hath delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:13) (KJV)
“The people there were more open-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They listened to the message with great eagerness, and every day they studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true.” (Acts 17:11) (SHLCNT)
“Put all things to the test: keep what is good, and avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21,22) (SHLCNT)
“The Spirit says clearly that some men will abandon the faith in later times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of demons.”(1 Timothy 4:1) (SHLCNT)
“False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and deny the Master who redeemed them, and so bring upon themselves sudden destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1) (SHLCNT)
“As the Scriptures say: “There is no one who is righteous, no one who understands, or who seeks for God. All men have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is good, not even one. But now God’s way of putting men right with himself has been revealed, and it has nothing to do with law. The Law and the prophets gave their witness to it: God puts men right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: all men have sinned and are far away from God’s saving presence. But by the free gift of God’s grace they are all put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. God offered him so that by his death he should become the means by which men’s sins are forgiven, through their faith in him.” (Romans 3:10-12, 21-25) (SHLCNT)
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:10-12, 21-25) (KJV)
“I am the LORD, this is my name: I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to graven things.” (Isaiah 42:8) (DRV)
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8) (KJV)
“See to it, then, that no one makes a captive of you with the worthless deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by men, and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from Christ.”(Colossians 2:8) (SHLCNT)
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) (KJV)
RELATED VIDEOS
FORMER CATHOLIC DOMINICAN PRIEST OF 22 YEARS, RICHARD BENNETT:
(NOTE: For those of you who haven’t heard, according to the information on his site, Berean Beacon, Richard Bennett died peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 21, 2019 after being in great physical suffering for the last few years).
Mary/Living For His Glory