Virgin Mary

RikuoAmero wrote: »

Or maybe...just maybe I'm issuing a challenge to both parties, to up their game, to try harder, so that when those people who do try to change social and legal issues try to use these exact same tired arguments, they can be rejected out of hand.

And that justifies disrupting any discussion that any Christians (including those who are not trying to change social and legal issues) might want to have about any aspect of their faith whatsoever?

Once again, I ask you, do you not understand how rude, and indeed intolerant, that is?

silverharp wrote: »

All human writing is subject to bias , I'll go with scholarly consensus not biased apologetics

And yet your characterisation of Matthew having mistranslated Isaiah is one that gets regularly cut and pasted into this forum from biased ant-Christian apologetical sites.

The scholarly consensus is that the Isaiah text was translated into Greek, 2000 years ago, as 'parthenos' - a virgin. That translation was not by a Christian, it was by the Jewish scholars (who incidentally understood both Hebrew and Greek very well, better than you or me) who produced the Septuagint. That was not a mistranslation - it was a perfectly valid translation from Hebrew to Greek.

Therefore, to accuse Matthew of a 'mistranslation' flies in the face of scholarly consensus. Now, you can certainly argue that there were alternative translations - and there is a scholarly consensus to support such an argument. But the accusation of 'mistranslation' is not scholarly consensus - it is biased apologetics.

SW wrote: »

There's a superthread for discussing atheism.

If posters see a poster derailing a thread onto the subject of atheism feel free to report the post so mods can direct the poster to the superthread.

Now can people please try to keep to the topic, i.e. the Virgin Mary.

Thanks for your attention.

Aye I read some of this thread as I do have an interest in Our Holy Mother.

The Blessed Virgin as seen through the eyes of one Catherine Emmerich I thought worthy of mention.

St Agustine (sp) had a few words also on the subject.

As I said, I have not read all the thread so apologies if someone mentioned either of those older people.

Dozer.

well like I pray to the Virgin Mary quite a lot actually. Although I don't understand why some pray to our lady and others consider it idolatry. This is coming from a christian who takes the bible quiet seriously and loves the rosary. However I feel as though I feel have a close relationship with the virgin mary as just like I do with Jesus, God, the holy spirit and my guardian angel.

Irelandcool wrote: »

well like I pray to the Virgin Mary quite a lot actually. Although I don't understand why some pray to our lady and others consider it idolatry. This is coming from a christian who takes the bible quiet seriously and loves the rosary. However I feel as though I feel have a close relationship with the virgin mary as just like I do with Jesus, God, the holy spirit and my guardian angel.

If you take the Bible seriously..
http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/2-5.htm

There is also a separate thread on guardian angels

Just imagine that now...........

There you are in this little village. Everything you have always needed seemed to be there about you. You try to raise those little children about you. Give them guidance and see to their needs. Then one day as the eldest daughter comes to you and tells you of meeting the love of her life. All the usual things come to mind as you wonder if she has picked someone you would hope would mind her as well as you have always tried to do. You do quietly wish she had said she met her best friend rather than the love of her life, but then thinking of partners in life, we could only hope to teach by example. The word love you muse would be a more reverent thought, or most likely something within the line of poetry, a song of youth even.

You then seem to think of this little village not being quite so big as you have always believed. So many little details have become a lot more important now as you notice there are so many little things which would be really important for a new married couple. This great celebration in the mind of the father of the bride knows there will be gifts aplenty as to everyday life in a new home. A sensible unscripted speech would be nice on such a happy day in the community. But there seems to be a few small gifts which you notice no one about the village makes.

You then recall of a magazine you read some time ago as to a larger village which really never came to mind until you remembered an ad in that magazine. Just a by-line then really as you never thought to want anything other than the local village where everyone seemed so supportive of each other. That ad in that magazine seems to fill your mind with excitement just now as you recall as to a certain store which would advertize all manner of things. Items, their lack of prices, all strange on reading then, but you had everything in this village, so you really forgot about the magazine.

Too far to travel you thought then as everything we have is here with me and my family. All manner of things you think ? Something special though perhaps ? Something unusual for a very special occasion in my family and small community ? Curiosity invades the mind now as you try to remember the name of the store. Surely though it would be worth the effort of a visit though it be a long journey ? You finally decide the trip worthwhile as you recall the wording of that magazine and the ad therein. It seemed rather odd then as there were no prices marked on the items you just now seem interested in..............

The refusal of ink to paper is a thought now as you view this not so important looking building. Hardly worth the long trek of a curious mind as you view the mundane sort of looking shop. Not all that much different of a village either really as you look about at the people who appear similar to where you came from. Quite the different array of shops you think, but the shop you came here for seems to be a bit plain to look at. Not really worth the journey with all it had to offer as to meeting strangers, having to accommodate different manners and characters along the way. My life, my people, my village you think as you try to decide if curiosity is a rather difficult suitcase.

Quite the odd place you think as you cross the threshold on entering this place. It does seem so much larger on the inside you think. Seems as if there are a lot of people going about looking at different things of desire. You are taken aback at the different items which seem to be here in this place. You also notice the lack of a price tag, no one to serve you, the order of the place despite the people poke about in the merchandise. Most of the customers seem to be polite, but there are some who seem to complain to each other as to lack of service here. Items being placed above the reach of the customer seems to be the most common complaint.

You of course being from a somewhat simple village, just looking for a few small gifts, you are happy enough to just move about, be polite, and try to get something special for this daughter and her love of her life. You did find some nice gifts which you thought of use to a young couple starting out in life, but you really only chose one simple gift. Not being wealthy, but also not being too poor, the price of the gift was a thought to ponder. I had thought to ask other customers as to how they valued each item, but each one seemed to be intent on their own goal. I did also wonder who to ask as to payment, but on reflection I recalled something of a counter on my way in here. It must have slipped my attention on my way in as I was somewhat taken aback as I entered here. It did seem an odd place as I entered. So busy in here compared to outside. Out there it seemed so hurried in a way, but yet in here it seemed so serene whilst also there seemed to be a sense of urgency.

Having chosen what you thought was just the perfect gift you decided to see if this counter on the way in was where you should try to make payment, you decided to make a way over to pay for this gift. On reaching this counter you notice some people there. Some would make issue at the price of their choice. Some would be courteous, polite, but from the distance to this young lady behind the counter I noticed of her smiling to all regardless of the customers manner to her. She appeared to be of a young age, quite beautiful eyes, stern, yet smiling to all, yet a sense of sadness to some who passed by her place of attendance. You do notice as you wait your turn to pay as to how quickly and yet how slowly the people seem to go before this young lady. You also notice a small brass name plate on the counter which you try to read as you wait your turn to pay for this item of choice.

Hello, my name is Mary. How may I be of service to you ?

I've found the Rosary to be a most powerful prayer.

I for one am very glad that unlike Eve, Our Lady trusted God and and siad :

"Let it be"

I use it to help me do a regular study of the 20 Mysteries and sacred scripture, i've found it a brilliant contemplation and meditation, and it brings me great peace.


Joyful Mysteries:

1. The Annunciation (Humility) Luke 1:26-38; John 1:14

2. The Visitation (Charity/Love of Neighbor) Luke 1:39-56

3. The Nativity (Poverty) Luke 2:6-20; Matthew 1:18-25

4. The Presentation (Obedience) Luke 2:22-39

5. The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Joy in finding Jesus; prudence) Luke 2:41-51


Luminous Mysteries:

1. The Baptism of Jesus (Fidelity to our baptismal promises) Matthew 3:11-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:15-22; John 1:26-34

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana (Faith in Mary‘s intercession and maternal care) John 2:1-12

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Conversion of heart) Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 5:1-16; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:21

4. The Transfiguration (Desire to become a new person in Christ) Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36

5. The Institution of the Eucharist (Love of the Eucharist; active participation at Mass); Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 22-25; Luke 22:14-20; John 6:33-59


Sorrowful Mysteries:

1. The Agony in the Garden (True sorrow for sin; repentance) Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Modesty and purity) Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16-22; John 19:1

3. The Crowning of Thorns (Moral courage; love of our enemies) Matthew 27:29-30; Mark 15:16-20; John 19: 2-3

4. The Carrying of the Cross (Patience, especially when suffering; fortitude) Luke 23: 26-32; Matthew 27:31-32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26-32

5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance; mercy) Luke 23: 33-46; Matthew 27: 33-54; Mark 15: 22-39; Luke 23: 33-47; John 1917-37


Glorious Mysteries:

1. The Resurrection (Faith) Matthew 28: 1-10; Mark 16: 1-18; Luke 24: 1-49; John 20:1-29

2. The Ascension (Hope) Mark: 16: 19-20; Luke 24: 50-51; Acts 1: 6-11

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Love of God; gifts of the Holy Spirit) Acts 2:1-41

4. The Assumption (Grace of a happy death; eternal happiness) Revelation 12:1

5. The Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (True devotion to Mary) Revelation 12:1