Comments:
I will begin in the first chapter of Luke with Mary. Unfortunately, Mary is a favorite person of those who would attack our Church. Mary, from the beginning, has been set against the evil one, and the evil one strikes at her heel. 38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. 39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, 42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [Here is one reference that Mary is referred to as mother of "my Lord" [which is God.] 44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed are you who believed 15 that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." 46 And Mary said: 16 "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. 49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. 51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. 52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. 53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, 55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary has a total devotion to God and her life is completely dedicated. There never was any conflict between reverence for God, and love for Mary. In fact, how would we love one without the other. Here we have our Lord being adored by a saint. This is the totally wholsome relationship that we know today. Scriptural References to MARY Lk 1:28, 30 - angel: "full of grace, found favor with God" Lk 1:42 - Elizabeth: "most blessed among women" Lk 1:48 - Mary: "all generations will call me blessed" Mother of God Lk 1:43 - Elizabeth call her "mother of my Lord"=God Mt 1:23 - virgin bear a son, Emmanuel = "God is with us" Lk 1:35 - child born will be called holy, the Son of God Gal 4:4 - God sent his Son, born of a woman

Comments:
My Dear Friends, We, as Catholics, are attacked with false charges or unfounded suspicions as a result of some anti-Catholic publications put out by some who, rather than be in pursuit of the truth, try to chip away at the Catholic Church membership for their own benefit. Recently some false issure were brought up in violation of the serenity of this prayerful site. I offer to address them here if there is no objection, with the intention of benefit to all who would read it. They will follow.

Comments:
Hello Julie, I would prefer you emailing me direct instead of making posts like this on this site. You see, we don't worship Mary as you seem to imply. Anyone who bothered to study or learn about the Catholic way of Christianity using good material knows this, so I may have to blame this misunderstanding you have of us on somewhere in your bibliography. Simply stated, we worship nothing or no one created. Mary is a Saint. According to scripture, we can ask saints just as easily as I can ask you to pray for me. They are all prayers of intercession. Inthe Bible, also, Mary stated that "...all generations shall call me blessed." And that's with good reason. She is the mother of God. We honor her for this, and Jesus would have nothing less. One of the commandments is "Honor thy Father and Mother." Should we do less? INTERCESSORY PRAYER TO SAINTS Rom 15:30 -join me by your prayers to God on my behalf Col 4:3; 1 Thess 5:25 - pray for us 2 Th 1:11 - we always pray for you 2 Th 3:1 - finally, brothers, pray for us Eph 6:18-19 - making supplication for all the saints & for me Tob 12:12 - angel presents Tobit & Sarah's prayer to God Rev 5:8 - angel offers prayers of the holy ones to God *Saints dead, prayer is necromancy (Dt 18:10-11) Mk 12:26-27 - he is God of the living, not of the dead Mk 9:4 - Jesus seen conversing with Elijah and Moses Lk 23:43 - this day you will be with me in paradise Rev 6:9-11 - martyrs under altar want earthly vindication Heb 12:1 - we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses Lk 16:19-30 - departed rich man intercedes for brothers Rev 20:4 - saw the souls of those who had been beheaded Wis 3:1-6 - the souls of the just are in the hand of God *i Tim 2:S "One Mediator between God and man''"' 1 Tim 2:1-7 - offer prayers, petitions for all men 1 Pet 2:5 - be a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices thru Christ Mk 10:18 - only God is good Mt 25:23 - well done my good and faithful servant Jn 10:11-16 -1 am good shepherd; one flock, 1 shepherd Jn 21:15-16 - feed my lambs, tend my sheep Eph 4:11 - he gave some as apostles ... others as pastors Heb 3:1, 7:24, 9:12-13 - Jesus eternal high priest; one sacrifice Rev 1:6, 5:10 - he made us a kingdom of priests for God VENERATION OF SAINTS Jos 5:14 - Joshua fell prostrate in worship before angel Dan 8:17 - Daniel fell prostrate in terror before Gabriel Tob 12:16 - Tobiah & Tobit fall to ground before Raphael Mt 18:10 - angels in heaven always behold face of God (we venerate angels because of their great dignity, which comes from their union with God. Saints also united with God) 1 Jn 3:2 - we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is 1 Thess 1:5-8 - you became an example to all the believers Heb 13:7 - remember leaders, consider/imitate their faith & life