Shall we bow our heads for prayer? 00:00:37.02\00:00:38.42 Father in heaven, as we study this very solemn subject 00:00:38.45\00:00:43.72 this evening, we ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. 00:00:43.75\00:00:47.89 Particularly I ask, not only for those who are gathered here 00:00:47.92\00:00:52.24 in this place, but for all of those who are watching 00:00:52.27\00:00:56.27 this program worldwide, I ask Father, that You will give us 00:00:56.30\00:01:00.99 clear minds, and You will give us tender hearts 00:01:01.02\00:01:03.33 to receive Your message. 00:01:03.36\00:01:05.12 And I thank You, Father for hearing my prayer, 00:01:05.15\00:01:07.70 for I ask it in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:01:07.73\00:01:10.77 The title of our study for this evening is 00:01:10.80\00:01:15.68 Mary, the Rival of Jesus. 00:01:15.71\00:01:20.02 And basically I would like to begin by mentioning some of the 00:01:20.05\00:01:25.36 things that we studied in our first lecture about what the 00:01:25.39\00:01:28.43 Bible has to say about Mary. 00:01:28.46\00:01:31.83 And the reason I'm handling my notes is because 00:01:31.86\00:01:35.10 we're going to be reading several statements this evening, 00:01:35.13\00:01:37.43 and I would like to have these in hand 00:01:37.46\00:01:41.88 because they're very, very important. 00:01:41.91\00:01:43.63 Lets review what we've studied about Mary. 00:01:43.66\00:01:46.47 First of all the Bible says that she was a great woman. 00:01:46.50\00:01:49.88 No doubt about that! 00:01:49.91\00:01:51.00 God chose the best available. 00:01:51.03\00:01:53.64 We have no record whatsoever about the birth of Mary; 00:01:53.67\00:01:59.23 where she was born, to whom she was born, 00:01:59.26\00:02:02.73 or how she was born. 00:02:02.76\00:02:04.75 We know that she was from David's line. 00:02:04.78\00:02:08.46 We know that she actually had royal blood in her veins. 00:02:08.49\00:02:13.20 We also noticed that Mary needed a Savior, 00:02:13.23\00:02:18.10 because she rejoiced in the Lord her Savior. 00:02:18.13\00:02:21.98 We also notice that there's no record whatsoever 00:02:22.01\00:02:25.29 of her conception or of her birth. 00:02:25.32\00:02:27.55 There's no idea that she was conceived immaculately, 00:02:27.58\00:02:32.46 and that she never sinned. 00:02:32.49\00:02:34.01 Scripture does not address that issue at all. 00:02:34.04\00:02:36.94 We also don't find anywhere in Scripture that she was a virgin 00:02:36.97\00:02:43.34 after Jesus was born. 00:02:43.37\00:02:45.51 In other words that she was perpetually a virgin. 00:02:45.54\00:02:48.81 We know from Scripture that technically speaking she was not 00:02:48.84\00:02:53.07 the mother of God, because Jesus was her Creator. 00:02:53.10\00:02:55.93 Jesus existed before she did. 00:02:55.96\00:02:58.14 We also noticed that Mary was not full of grace, 00:02:58.17\00:03:04.74 but she was the highly favored one. 00:03:04.77\00:03:07.15 That is the proper translation. 00:03:07.18\00:03:09.46 In other words she wasn't full of favors to give to people, 00:03:09.49\00:03:12.14 she was actually favored by God. 00:03:12.17\00:03:14.88 And we also noticed that the last reference to Mary 00:03:14.91\00:03:18.73 in Scripture is in Acts 1:14, where she is in the upper room 00:03:18.76\00:03:23.81 with the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. 00:03:23.84\00:03:25.94 There is no record of Mary's death. 00:03:25.97\00:03:28.49 It shouldn't surprise us because we don't have the record 00:03:28.52\00:03:32.02 of most of the deaths of the apostles either, 00:03:32.05\00:03:34.23 and many other heroes in Scripture. 00:03:34.26\00:03:37.04 So the last reference to Mary is in Acts 1:14. 00:03:37.07\00:03:42.09 There's nothing in Scripture about her ascending to heaven 00:03:42.12\00:03:45.81 after her death, and after her body not seeing corruption. 00:03:45.84\00:03:50.65 The Bible simply is silent on anything like this. 00:03:50.68\00:03:54.29 Now I would like to dedicate the next several minutes to portray 00:03:54.32\00:04:00.15 for you the Biblical picture of Jesus; who Jesus was. 00:04:00.18\00:04:06.86 And I'm going to be referring to a lot of Bible verses. 00:04:06.89\00:04:10.40 I'm not going to be able to read them 00:04:10.43\00:04:12.42 because there are too many, and our time constraints 00:04:12.45\00:04:14.92 will not allow us to read all of these verses. 00:04:14.95\00:04:17.99 But I will share with you the content of each verse. 00:04:18.02\00:04:21.44 John 1:3 tells us that Jesus was the Creator of all things. 00:04:21.47\00:04:30.10 We also know that Jesus was born The Holy One. 00:04:38.00\00:04:41.55 According to Luke 1:35, He's called That Holy Thing. 00:04:41.58\00:04:47.36 In other words He was Holy from the moment of His birth. 00:04:47.39\00:04:50.84 We also know from Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus, during His life, 00:04:50.87\00:04:56.92 was tempted in all things, and yet He never sinned. 00:04:56.95\00:05:02.04 Not even once. We also know from John 1:14 that Jesus 00:05:02.07\00:05:08.41 was full of grace and truth. 00:05:08.44\00:05:11.95 So we know that Jesus definitely was full of grace. 00:05:11.98\00:05:15.04 We also know from John 1:14 that Jesus was 00:05:15.07\00:05:21.50 born with our flesh. 00:05:21.53\00:05:24.06 The Bible says, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. 00:05:24.09\00:05:28.55 In other words, He was our brother. 00:05:28.58\00:05:30.92 He had our flesh. We also know from John 3:16 that the Father 00:05:30.95\00:05:39.23 gave His only begotten Son. 00:05:39.26\00:05:42.10 In other words, the Son was given by God the Father. 00:05:42.13\00:05:46.16 You're going to see in a few moments the reason why 00:05:46.19\00:05:48.38 I am referring to all of these things. 00:05:48.41\00:05:49.79 Most of us probably already know them. 00:05:49.82\00:05:51.81 But you're going to understand in a few moments, 00:05:51.84\00:05:54.67 why I'm bringing all of these things to view. 00:05:54.70\00:05:57.44 We also notice in the gospels that Jesus was a very loving, 00:05:57.47\00:06:02.06 benevolent person. 00:06:02.09\00:06:03.14 He healed the sick. 00:06:03.17\00:06:04.68 He cast out devils. 00:06:04.71\00:06:06.38 He gave encouragement. 00:06:06.41\00:06:08.07 He forgave sinners. 00:06:08.10\00:06:09.20 In other words, He was someone that people could approach, 00:06:09.23\00:06:12.52 someone who people could love. 00:06:12.55\00:06:14.99 Also, we're told in Hebrews 7: 23, 24, 00:06:15.02\00:06:20.47 that Jesus is our high priest. 00:06:20.50\00:06:26.22 In fact, in the book of Hebrews He's called 00:06:26.25\00:06:28.50 our only high priest. 00:06:28.53\00:06:30.52 In 1 John 2:1 the Bible tells us that Jesus is our advocate 00:06:30.55\00:06:37.10 before the Father. 00:06:37.13\00:06:38.33 That's very, very important. 00:06:38.36\00:06:40.50 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that Jesus is our only intercessor. 00:06:40.53\00:06:45.79 We have one intercessor between God and man, 00:06:45.82\00:06:48.80 Jesus Christ the man. 00:06:48.83\00:06:51.27 And that's corroborated by Hebrews 7:25. 00:06:51.30\00:06:55.17 We're also told in Acts 4:12 that there is no name given 00:06:55.20\00:07:01.16 under heaven whereby we might be saved except 00:07:01.19\00:07:04.66 in the name of Jesus. 00:07:04.69\00:07:06.78 And that is corroborated by Matthew 1:21 where His name 00:07:06.81\00:07:11.85 is called Immanuel because He will save the people 00:07:11.88\00:07:16.10 in this world from their sins. 00:07:16.13\00:07:18.65 We also notice in Scripture, Hebrews 9:26, that Jesus 00:07:18.68\00:07:24.43 sacrificed Himself. 00:07:24.46\00:07:26.60 He was not sacrificed by any priest. 00:07:26.63\00:07:28.93 He was not sacrificed by any person. 00:07:28.96\00:07:31.39 He offered His own sacrifice according to Scripture. 00:07:31.42\00:07:36.50 Also we're told in John 1:51 that Jesus is the ladder 00:07:36.53\00:07:45.01 between heaven and earth. 00:07:45.04\00:07:47.46 We're told in John 16:26, 27, that we are to pray 00:07:47.49\00:07:53.52 to the Father in the name of Jesus. 00:07:53.55\00:07:58.14 We are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. 00:07:58.17\00:08:02.53 We also notice in John 1:18 that no one has ever seen God. 00:08:02.56\00:08:09.46 Jesus Christ has made Him known. 00:08:09.49\00:08:13.21 In other words, we come to know God the Father 00:08:13.24\00:08:16.54 through Jesus Christ. 00:08:16.57\00:08:18.99 We notice also in Hebrews 2: 17, 18, that Jesus helps us 00:08:19.02\00:08:25.60 when we are tempted. 00:08:25.63\00:08:26.91 In that He was tempted He is powerful also to help 00:08:26.94\00:08:31.63 those who are tempted. 00:08:31.66\00:08:34.23 John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the way, 00:08:34.26\00:08:37.93 In John 10:9 Jesus is called the door which we must enter 00:08:43.89\00:08:49.52 through in order to be saved. 00:08:49.55\00:08:51.62 In Isaiah 11:1 Jesus is called the root of Jesse. 00:08:51.65\00:08:58.26 In Ephesians 1:7 Jesus is called the only redeemer. 00:08:58.29\00:09:04.03 He has redeemed us through His blood. 00:09:04.06\00:09:06.89 In Hebrews 6:18 we're told that we are to flee 00:09:06.92\00:09:11.58 to Jesus for refuge. 00:09:11.61\00:09:13.66 In Hebrews 4:15, once again we have the idea that Jesus 00:09:13.69\00:09:19.73 gives us power to overcome temptation. 00:09:19.76\00:09:23.00 In that He was tempted, He is able to help 00:09:23.03\00:09:25.64 those who are tempted. 00:09:25.67\00:09:27.20 Psalm 84:11 refers to Jesus as the Son. 00:09:27.23\00:09:32.42 In fact Jesus spoke of Himself as the light of the world, 00:09:32.45\00:09:36.09 referring to the sun. 00:09:36.12\00:09:37.37 In Colossians 3:3, 4, Jesus is called our life. 00:09:37.40\00:09:44.11 In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we're told that by beholding Jesus, 00:09:44.14\00:09:49.98 we are changed into His likeness. 00:09:50.01\00:09:52.98 In 1 John 2:2 we're told that Jesus is our 00:09:53.01\00:09:58.03 propitiation with the Father. 00:09:58.06\00:09:59.91 In other words Jesus is the one who stands 00:09:59.94\00:10:03.32 between us and God. 00:10:03.35\00:10:05.06 Psalm 23:4 says that when we: 00:10:05.09\00:10:09.40 In other words the Lord comforts us when we face death. 00:10:15.31\00:10:19.25 Philippians 4:13 speaks of Jesus as being omnipotent. 00:10:19.28\00:10:24.36 He is able to help those who come to Him to overcome sin, 00:10:24.39\00:10:30.02 and to do deeds of omnipotence. It says there: 00:10:30.05\00:10:33.06 Revelation 22:16 calls Jesus the star. 00:10:36.82\00:10:42.34 In 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus is called the last Adam. 00:10:42.37\00:10:48.02 In Genesis 3:15 we're told that Jesus would crush 00:10:48.05\00:10:53.52 the head of the serpent. 00:10:53.55\00:10:55.31 In Exodus 13:21, 22 we're told that Jesus was in the 00:10:55.34\00:11:02.20 pillar of cloud, and He was in the pillar of fire 00:11:02.23\00:11:05.25 in the wilderness guiding Israel. 00:11:05.28\00:11:07.59 In Luke 10:17 we're told that through the power of the name 00:11:07.62\00:11:12.52 of Jesus demons can be cast out. 00:11:12.55\00:11:15.61 John 4:13, 14 tells us that Jesus is the 00:11:15.64\00:11:21.11 fountain of living water. 00:11:21.14\00:11:23.12 In other words He is the aqueduct, if you please. 00:11:23.15\00:11:25.96 In Ephesians 2:14 Jesus is called our peace. 00:11:25.99\00:11:32.22 In Psalm 144:2 Jesus is called our fortress, and our refuge. 00:11:32.25\00:11:40.76 In John 12:32, 33 we're told that Jesus draws all men 00:11:40.79\00:11:46.86 like a magnet to Himself. 00:11:46.89\00:11:49.01 In Romans 6:23 we're told that Jesus is the One who gives 00:11:49.04\00:11:54.24 eternal, or everlasting life. 00:11:54.27\00:11:56.75 1 Timothy 1:1 tells us that Jesus is our hope. 00:11:56.78\00:12:03.19 Revelation 5:11-13 tells us that Jesus is worthy to be praised 00:12:03.22\00:12:08.35 by all of the heavenly beings, all of the angels, 00:12:08.38\00:12:11.18 and all of the inhabitants of other worlds 00:12:11.21\00:12:15.29 in the heavenly realms. 00:12:15.32\00:12:17.39 And in Romans 8:34 we're told that Jesus died, He resurrected, 00:12:17.42\00:12:24.06 He ascended body and soul, and He's seated 00:12:24.09\00:12:28.39 at the right hand of God, and that His body saw 00:12:28.42\00:12:32.16 no corruption in the grave. 00:12:32.19\00:12:35.00 Now you're probably saying, Pastor Bohr, 00:12:35.03\00:12:37.57 we knew all of this. 00:12:37.60\00:12:39.10 We knew all of these things about Jesus. 00:12:39.13\00:12:42.16 And I'm sure that you did. 00:12:42.19\00:12:44.00 Why have I taken the time to mention all of these verses? 00:12:44.03\00:12:48.99 For the simple reason that now I am going to share with you 00:12:49.02\00:12:53.48 the fact that the Roman Catholic Church attributes to Mary 00:12:53.51\00:12:59.16 everything that the Bible attributes to Jesus. 00:12:59.19\00:13:02.65 In fact I'd like to read you a statement from the writings 00:13:02.68\00:13:06.39 of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who lived in the 17th century. 00:13:06.42\00:13:10.30 On page 407 of his book, The Glories of Mary, he gives us the 00:13:10.33\00:13:16.19 principle that he applies to teach that Mary has to be equal 00:13:16.22\00:13:21.50 to Jesus in everything. 00:13:21.53\00:13:22.68 Here's the statement. 00:13:22.71\00:13:24.44 Now where is that in the Bible? nowhere. 00:13:33.77\00:13:37.50 It's a declaration of Liguori. 00:13:37.53\00:13:40.31 Now you'll always find in the writings of Roman Catholic 00:13:52.47\00:13:56.75 writers expressions such as it was fitting, 00:13:56.78\00:14:01.38 it was necessary, it was befitting that the mother 00:14:01.41\00:14:06.85 experienced the same as her son. 00:14:06.88\00:14:09.64 But we're going to notice that in Roman Catholic theology 00:14:09.67\00:14:13.88 what actually happens is that Mary has become 00:14:13.91\00:14:17.40 the rival of Jesus. 00:14:17.43\00:14:18.91 Mary has overshadowed Jesus, and has taken away the glory 00:14:18.94\00:14:24.59 which belongs to Him alone. 00:14:24.62\00:14:26.84 Now I'm going to read you several statements from an 00:14:26.87\00:14:30.78 author, a very famous author of the Roman Catholic Church. 00:14:30.81\00:14:34.56 His name is St. Alphonsus Liguori. 00:14:34.59\00:14:38.57 I'm going to tell you a few things about him so that you 00:14:38.60\00:14:40.62 know why I'm going to take so many quotations 00:14:40.65\00:14:42.91 from his writings. 00:14:42.94\00:14:43.97 He lived in the 17 century. 00:14:44.00\00:14:46.79 He wrote 22 volumes that have been published so far; 00:14:46.82\00:14:50.88 22 books in other words. 00:14:50.91\00:14:53.04 He was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church 00:14:53.07\00:14:58.46 in 1839 by Pope Gregory XIV. 00:14:58.49\00:15:02.68 He has been called a doctor of the church. 00:15:02.71\00:15:06.99 I don't know whether you're aware, but the Roman Catholic 00:15:07.02\00:15:09.84 Church has 32 doctors in its almost 2,000 year history. 00:15:09.87\00:15:14.05 And these are the individuals who are the most authoritative 00:15:14.08\00:15:18.33 writers in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. 00:15:18.36\00:15:21.78 He was actually declared a doctor of the 00:15:21.81\00:15:24.71 Church by Pope Pius IX. 00:15:24.74\00:15:27.91 One of the books that he wrote is called The Glories of Mary. 00:15:27.94\00:15:32.03 And that's the book that I'm going to quote from extensively 00:15:32.06\00:15:36.42 in our study today. 00:15:36.45\00:15:38.39 Now you might be thinking, Well, what you find in this book 00:15:38.42\00:15:41.63 is simply the opinion of St. Alphonsus Liguori. 00:15:41.66\00:15:45.54 It's just the opinion of one man about Mary. 00:15:45.57\00:15:48.51 Lest you think that, allow me to share with you that this book 00:15:48.54\00:15:54.25 does not contain merely Liguori's opinions. 00:15:54.28\00:15:58.23 In fact the book is composed of a collection of the best 00:15:58.26\00:16:04.02 writings of the early church fathers, of the doctors, 00:16:04.05\00:16:08.54 and of the saints of the Roman Catholic Church about Mary. 00:16:08.57\00:16:12.74 In other words it is a compendium of the Roman Catholic 00:16:12.77\00:16:16.90 wisdom about Mary from the early church all the way 00:16:16.93\00:16:22.17 till the times of the 17th century when Liguori lived. 00:16:22.20\00:16:26.68 Notice the reason that Liguori gives for writing his book, 00:16:26.71\00:16:30.65 The Glories of Mary. 00:16:30.68\00:16:31.83 He says this: I endeavored to collect, from as many authors 00:16:31.86\00:16:37.20 as I could lay my hands, on the choicest passages extracted 00:16:37.23\00:16:42.95 from fathers and theologians, and those which seemed to me 00:16:42.98\00:16:47.48 to be the most to the point, and and have put them together 00:16:47.51\00:16:51.21 in this book in order that the devout may, with little trouble 00:16:51.24\00:16:57.81 and expense, be able to inflame themselves 00:16:57.84\00:17:01.75 with the love of Mary. 00:17:01.78\00:17:03.09 And more particularly, to furnish the priests with matter 00:17:03.12\00:17:07.61 for their sermons wherewith to excite others to devotion 00:17:07.64\00:17:12.04 towards this divine mother. 00:17:12.07\00:17:14.27 This book is composed of many chapters, and the chapters 00:17:14.30\00:17:19.99 are divided in three parts. 00:17:20.02\00:17:21.40 The first part has a certain teaching about a role that 00:17:21.43\00:17:26.05 Mary plays in the church. 00:17:26.08\00:17:27.75 Then towards the end of the chapter he illustrates that role 00:17:27.78\00:17:31.96 of Mary by, according to him, a real-life episode. 00:17:31.99\00:17:36.04 And finally he ends that chapter with a prayer to Mary 00:17:36.07\00:17:40.78 having to do with the function that he has just 00:17:40.81\00:17:43.75 described in that chapter. 00:17:43.78\00:17:45.46 The addition of The Glories of Mary that I am going to use 00:17:45.49\00:17:49.60 was published in 1931 by the Redemptorist Fathers. 00:17:49.63\00:17:53.85 It has the imprimatur of Cardinal Patrick Hayes, 00:17:53.88\00:17:59.00 and the imprimatur is from April 16, 1931. 00:17:59.03\00:18:02.67 The imprimatur means that this book is officially condoned 00:18:02.70\00:18:08.94 by the Catholic church to be read by the faithful. 00:18:08.97\00:18:12.82 The preponderance of Liguori's quotations in this book are from 00:18:12.85\00:18:18.34 the apocryphal books of Ecclesiasticus 00:18:18.37\00:18:21.62 and Wisdom of Solomon. 00:18:21.65\00:18:22.90 He has very few quotations from Scripture. 00:18:22.93\00:18:25.74 The places that he does quote Scripture are mainly from 00:18:25.77\00:18:30.23 Song of Solomon and from the Proverbs. 00:18:30.26\00:18:34.12 And texts there, which apply to the church, 00:18:34.15\00:18:37.30 he applies in his book to Mary. 00:18:37.33\00:18:40.61 In fact as you read this book you discover that constantly 00:18:40.64\00:18:45.33 he tears Biblical texts out of their context. 00:18:45.36\00:18:48.87 For example, he gives this quotation on page 101 00:18:48.90\00:18:53.56 of his book, If Mary is for us, who can be against us? 00:18:53.59\00:18:58.59 That's a quotation in Romans 8: 31, which applies to Jesus. 00:18:58.62\00:19:03.38 Notice another example. 00:19:03.41\00:19:05.30 And I could give you dozens, and dozens of them. 00:19:05.33\00:19:08.54 He says, Mary was pre-figured by the dove which returned 00:19:08.57\00:19:13.38 to Noah in the ark with an olive branch in its beak 00:19:13.41\00:19:17.46 as a pledge of the peace which God granted to men. 00:19:17.49\00:19:22.04 Now where in the Bible are we told that that 00:19:22.07\00:19:24.11 dove represented Mary? 00:19:24.14\00:19:25.35 It's simply a human opinion. 00:19:25.38\00:19:27.69 There's no Biblical basis for that. 00:19:27.72\00:19:29.72 That's page 202, by the way. 00:19:29.75\00:19:32.89 On page 244 St. Alphonsus Liguori quotes a psalm that 00:19:32.92\00:19:40.76 says, Glorious things are said of you, Oh city of God. 00:19:40.79\00:19:44.42 And then he quotes St. Gregory, who said, To whom can this refer 00:19:44.45\00:19:49.87 but Mary, the city of God? 00:19:49.90\00:19:52.83 In another quotation that we find on pages 244 and 245, 00:19:52.86\00:19:58.29 Liguori says this: Correctly then, we can hearsay with 00:19:58.32\00:20:04.36 St. Paul, having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are His. 00:20:04.39\00:20:10.30 And then he explains, That is to say, Whoever carries with him 00:20:10.33\00:20:15.44 the mark of devotion to Mary, is recognized by God as His. 00:20:15.47\00:20:19.79 You can read that text in the New Testament and you will 00:20:19.82\00:20:23.28 not find Mary anywhere. 00:20:23.31\00:20:24.80 She's been inserted in that passage. 00:20:24.83\00:20:27.40 After Liguori died his grave was opened in Nosara. 00:20:27.43\00:20:33.53 Three fingers were cut off of his writing hand and were sent 00:20:33.56\00:20:39.57 to Rome by the wish of Pope Pius VII. 00:20:39.60\00:20:43.50 And Pope Pius VII said this as the reason: Let those three 00:20:43.53\00:20:48.85 fingers that have written so well for the honor of God, 00:20:48.88\00:20:53.33 of the blessed virgin, and of religion, be carefully 00:20:53.36\00:20:57.97 preserved and sent to Rome. 00:20:58.00\00:21:00.79 Now you know some things about St. Alphonsus Liguori. 00:21:00.82\00:21:04.71 And I felt that it was important for you to know, 00:21:04.74\00:21:07.52 because I'm going to read mostly quotations from his book, 00:21:07.55\00:21:11.07 The Glories of Mary, which is an Encyclopedia of the history 00:21:11.10\00:21:16.54 of the concept that the Roman Catholic Church has had of Mary 00:21:16.57\00:21:20.55 in the course of the centuries. 00:21:20.58\00:21:22.39 What we're going to discover is that everything which the Bible 00:21:22.42\00:21:28.45 attributes to Jesus, the book The Glories of Mary 00:21:28.48\00:21:32.96 attributes to Mary. 00:21:32.99\00:21:34.58 Now lets go through these one by one, the ones that I 00:21:34.61\00:21:38.84 mentioned at the beginning of our talk about Jesus. 00:21:38.87\00:21:41.63 And I'm going to read you some quotations in Liguori's book 00:21:41.66\00:21:45.30 where he applies all of these titles, 00:21:45.33\00:21:47.45 and all of these functions to Mary. 00:21:47.48\00:21:49.51 How about the Creator? 00:21:49.54\00:21:52.15 You say, certainly Liguori could not say that Mary 00:21:52.18\00:21:56.71 was there creating with Jesus. 00:21:56.74\00:21:58.50 If you don't think so, think again. 00:21:58.53\00:22:00.87 Allow me to read you this statement from 00:22:00.90\00:22:02.58 page 368 of his book. 00:22:02.61\00:22:04.80 By the way, I read this book with a fine tooth comb, 00:22:04.83\00:22:07.52 very, very carefully in preparation for this lecture. 00:22:07.55\00:22:10.53 He says this, and he's quoting St. Bonaventure: 00:22:10.56\00:22:15.06 He's speaking about Mary. 00:22:19.30\00:22:20.53 And these are the words. 00:22:41.64\00:22:43.72 Now where in the Bible do you find such a concept, 00:23:02.71\00:23:06.47 that Mary was there at the beginning creating 00:23:06.50\00:23:10.09 this world with Jesus? 00:23:10.12\00:23:12.31 It is absurd because Mary obviously had an origin 00:23:12.34\00:23:17.40 long after the creation of this world. 00:23:17.43\00:23:20.26 Now the Bible says that Jesus was born holy. 00:23:20.29\00:23:23.64 And so St. Alphonsus Liguori says, Mary must also 00:23:23.67\00:23:27.02 have been born holy. 00:23:27.05\00:23:28.12 Notice this statement from page 296. 00:23:28.15\00:23:32.05 Notice that Mary was conceived without sin so that Jesus 00:23:42.94\00:23:47.52 could also be conceived without sin. 00:23:47.55\00:23:50.28 Not only that, the Bible says that Jesus never sinned 00:23:50.31\00:23:53.07 during His life, so of course, Mary never sinned 00:23:53.10\00:23:55.95 during her life either. 00:23:55.98\00:23:57.07 Notice Liguori, page 299. 00:23:57.10\00:24:00.02 And in the Roman Catholicism there are mortal sins, 00:24:09.53\00:24:12.54 which are the most serious, and there are venial sins, 00:24:12.57\00:24:15.34 which are less serious. 00:24:15.37\00:24:18.30 And so what Liguori is saying is that Mary was not only 00:24:18.33\00:24:22.07 conceived without sin, but he's saying that she actually, 00:24:22.10\00:24:25.62 during her whole life, never sinned. 00:24:25.65\00:24:28.33 Now the Bible says that Jesus is God in the flesh. 00:24:28.36\00:24:31.75 Listen to this quotation. 00:24:31.78\00:24:33.26 This isn't from Liguori. 00:24:33.29\00:24:34.69 It's from Mark Miravalle, who is from Spain. 00:24:34.72\00:24:38.03 He wrote a book called, Mary Co-Redemptorex, Mediatrix, 00:24:38.06\00:24:41.54 Advocate. Page 54 he says this, speaking about Mary 00:24:41.57\00:24:46.78 and the Holy Spirit: Still their union is so inexpressible, 00:24:46.81\00:24:52.20 and so perfect, that the Holy Spirit acts only by the 00:24:52.23\00:24:57.73 immaculata, in other words, by the immaculate one, His spouse. 00:24:57.76\00:25:02.11 The third person of the blessed trinity never took flesh. 00:25:02.14\00:25:06.13 In other words the Holy Spirit never took flesh. 00:25:06.16\00:25:08.06 Still our human word spouse is far too weak to express the 00:25:08.09\00:25:14.71 reality of the relationship between the immaculata 00:25:14.74\00:25:18.59 and the Holy Spirit. 00:25:18.62\00:25:19.71 And here comes the amazing portion of the quotation. 00:25:19.74\00:25:22.87 We can affirm that she is in a certain sense the incarnation 00:25:22.90\00:25:30.61 of the Holy Spirit. 00:25:30.64\00:25:31.71 She would have to be God to be the incarnation 00:25:31.74\00:25:37.16 of the Holy Spirit. 00:25:37.19\00:25:38.22 We noticed in Scripture that Jesus is full of grace. 00:25:38.25\00:25:42.47 Of course Mary has to be full of grace too, 00:25:42.50\00:25:44.65 because she's actually competing with Jesus 00:25:44.68\00:25:48.32 in Roman Catholic theology. 00:25:48.35\00:25:49.74 Page 155, actually Liguori is quoting Father Contenson, 00:25:49.77\00:25:55.09 and he says, speaking about Jesus: 00:25:55.12\00:25:59.55 On page 159 and 160 we find this amazing statement: 00:26:17.80\00:26:23.22 And notice the quotation he gives from St. Bernardine, 00:26:45.79\00:26:49.44 one of the great saints of the Roman Catholic Church. 00:26:49.47\00:26:51.78 On page 161: 00:26:51.81\00:26:53.55 You see, she's full of grace, and therefore she is the only 00:27:19.05\00:27:22.38 one who is able to impart all of the graces of 00:27:22.41\00:27:25.71 God to human beings. 00:27:25.74\00:27:27.55 Now, interestingly enough, the Roman Catholic Church teaches 00:27:27.58\00:27:33.30 that she took the nature of Adam before the fall, 00:27:33.33\00:27:36.43 as they believe that Jesus took the nature of 00:27:36.46\00:27:39.34 Adam before the fall. 00:27:39.37\00:27:40.58 On page 297 of Liguori we find this quotation: 00:27:40.61\00:27:44.55 You read Liguori's book and you constantly find that Mary 00:28:01.03\00:28:04.42 is loving, kind, accessible, compassionate, very sympathetic, 00:28:04.45\00:28:09.84 and very easy to approach. 00:28:09.87\00:28:12.26 It's interesting to notice that the Roman Catholic Church 00:28:12.29\00:28:15.45 also teaches in The Glories of Mary, through the writings of 00:28:15.48\00:28:18.96 Liguori, that Mary was a priest because she offered 00:28:18.99\00:28:22.88 her son on the cross. 00:28:22.91\00:28:24.83 In fact let me read you that statement. 00:28:24.86\00:28:27.91 On page 394 we find this, according to Liguori: 00:28:27.94\00:28:33.27 Constantly you will find the idea that Mary immolated Jesus. 00:28:38.03\00:28:43.50 Immolated means to what? to sacrifice or to offer. 00:28:43.53\00:28:47.85 Now if she offered Jesus, she must be a priest 00:28:47.88\00:28:52.26 in order to be able to offer Him. 00:28:52.29\00:28:54.21 And so you find several times in the book of Liguori that Mary 00:28:54.24\00:28:58.37 was a priest, but of course, Jesus was a priest also. 00:28:58.40\00:29:01.52 Also in the book of Liguori several times you find the idea 00:29:01.55\00:29:07.96 that Mary is the advocate, or the mediator, which the Bible 00:29:07.99\00:29:15.29 says that only Jesus is the advocate and the mediator. 00:29:15.32\00:29:18.76 Notice on page 124 he quotes St. Bonaventure. 00:29:18.79\00:29:24.51 What picture of Jesus does that give? 00:29:44.65\00:29:47.05 On page 196 Liguori says: 00:29:47.08\00:29:50.94 So you need a mediator with the mediator, 00:30:12.48\00:30:15.89 because the mediator, Jesus, is basically unapproachable. 00:30:15.92\00:30:20.69 Notice this statement from page 246: 00:30:20.72\00:30:25.64 Can you imagine prayers being answered more quickly going 00:30:44.09\00:30:47.60 through Mary than going directly to Jesus? 00:30:47.63\00:30:50.18 Where in Scripture do we find such an idea? 00:30:50.21\00:30:53.28 Page 246 Liguori says this: 00:30:53.31\00:30:56.80 That's blasphemy folks. 00:31:40.55\00:31:42.94 When you say that Mary is more compassionate than Jesus is, 00:31:42.97\00:31:49.28 it totally flies in the face of the Scriptural evidence. 00:31:49.31\00:31:53.06 On page 256 Liguori quotes St. Fulgentius: 00:31:53.09\00:31:59.35 He also quotes a prayer by St. Ephraim, 00:32:10.18\00:32:14.89 and this is incredible. Page 273: 00:32:14.92\00:32:18.68 St. Bernard, according to Liguori, prayed this prayer: 00:32:39.85\00:32:46.31 According to Liguori's book Mary is not only our Advocate, 00:32:55.69\00:33:00.99 but she's also our mediator and our intercessor. 00:33:01.02\00:33:04.43 Listen to this amazing quotation from page 117, 00:33:04.46\00:33:08.55 and this is a prayer. 00:33:08.58\00:33:10.95 Did we notice that Jesus is all of those three things: 00:33:19.12\00:33:24.10 our life, our refuge, our hope? 00:33:24.13\00:33:26.36 Page 164: 00:33:46.11\00:33:48.20 That's a quotation from Scripture. 00:33:51.83\00:33:54.50 Page 38. There's so many of these that I could read. 00:34:07.45\00:34:11.39 He says, Earnest Archbishop of Prague also remarks that the 00:34:11.42\00:34:17.48 Eternal Father gave the office of judge and avenger to the Son 00:34:17.51\00:34:21.56 and that of showing mercy, and relieving the 00:34:21.59\00:34:24.09 necessities to the mother. 00:34:24.12\00:34:26.63 On page 43 he says, Although Mary is under an infinite 00:34:26.66\00:34:31.32 obligation to the Son for having chosen her to be His mother, 00:34:31.35\00:34:35.52 yet it cannot be denied that the Son is under great obligation 00:34:35.55\00:34:39.86 to her for having given Him His humanity. 00:34:39.89\00:34:42.84 And therefore Jesus to pay, as it were, what He owes to Mary, 00:34:42.87\00:34:48.29 and glorying in her glory, honors her in a special manner 00:34:48.32\00:34:53.04 by listening to, and granting all her petitions. 00:34:53.07\00:34:57.54 On pages 136 and 137 he quotes St. Anselm in the following way: 00:34:57.57\00:35:05.11 When we have recourse to this divine mother not only 00:35:05.14\00:35:10.17 we may be sure of her protection, but that often we 00:35:10.20\00:35:14.57 shall be heard more quickly, and be thus preserved if we have 00:35:14.60\00:35:18.78 recourse to Mary, and call on her holy name, than we should 00:35:18.81\00:35:23.32 if we called on the name of Jesus our Savior. 00:35:23.35\00:35:26.74 And what is the reason Anselm gives for this? 00:35:26.77\00:35:29.92 That to Jesus as judge it belongs also to punish, 00:35:29.95\00:35:35.25 but mercy alone belongs to the blessed virgin as a patroness. 00:35:35.28\00:35:41.55 Page 137, he says this: Many things are asked from God 00:35:41.58\00:35:49.30 and are not granted. 00:35:49.33\00:35:50.49 They are asked from Mary and they are obtained. 00:35:50.52\00:35:54.88 Do you remember that we read that Jesus is the Savior 00:35:54.91\00:35:58.65 according to Scripture? 00:35:58.68\00:35:59.74 Listen to this quotation that we find in chapter 8, 00:35:59.77\00:36:04.03 which the title of this chapter is: Mary Our Salvation. 00:36:04.06\00:36:09.56 It's amazing! He quotes Novorinus who says, 00:36:09.59\00:36:15.95 Loving mother no sooner hears them call... 00:36:15.98\00:36:21.64 The loving mother no sooner hears them call upon her 00:36:21.67\00:36:25.19 than she offers her prayers to God, and these prayers 00:36:25.22\00:36:29.57 as a heavenly dew immediately refresh them 00:36:29.60\00:36:33.41 in their burning pains. 00:36:33.44\00:36:34.74 She's talking about those who are burning 00:36:34.77\00:36:36.58 in the fires of purgatory. 00:36:36.61\00:36:38.03 He also quotes, on page 247, the prayer to Mary, 00:36:38.06\00:36:45.21 which is titled, Salve Regina. 00:36:45.24\00:36:47.99 According to Scripture who is the only Savior? Jesus Christ! 00:37:11.72\00:37:16.07 But because in all things Mary has to be like Jesus, 00:37:16.10\00:37:19.36 Mary also is declared the savior. 00:37:19.39\00:37:23.21 On page 170 we find these words of Liguori, 00:37:23.24\00:37:28.90 speaking about Mary as savior: 00:37:28.93\00:37:31.26 The Bible says that Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice. 00:37:53.41\00:37:59.50 Notice, according to Liguori, who offered 00:37:59.53\00:38:03.67 Jesus as a sacrifice. Page 49. 00:38:03.70\00:38:06.32 And this is only one quotation of many. 00:38:22.25\00:38:24.73 The Bible says that God gave His Son. 00:38:24.76\00:38:27.09 Well, if God gave His Son, of course, Roman Catholics say, 00:38:27.12\00:38:30.36 Mary had to give her Son, too. 00:38:30.39\00:38:32.17 So on page 35 we find this statement: 00:38:32.20\00:38:34.86 That's page 35. You remember the Bible says 00:38:50.07\00:38:53.67 that Jesus is the ladder? 00:38:53.70\00:38:54.80 Notice this statement, page 20 of Liguori. 00:38:54.83\00:38:58.16 He's quoting St. Bernard. 00:38:58.19\00:38:59.72 Notice this one on page 83. 00:39:15.37\00:39:17.92 So she's the ladder. 00:39:32.67\00:39:33.78 What about prayer? 00:39:33.81\00:39:36.58 We're supposed to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. 00:39:36.61\00:39:39.27 The idea, according to Liguori, time again in the book 00:39:39.30\00:39:42.99 is that we are to pray to Jesus through Mary. 00:39:43.02\00:39:46.46 Notice this statement on page 162. 00:39:46.49\00:39:49.28 He's quoting, actually, the words of the 00:39:49.31\00:39:52.15 Venerable Abbot of Celles. He says: 00:39:52.18\00:39:56.75 I don't know about you, but I'm simply amazed 00:40:13.70\00:40:19.11 at reading these statements. 00:40:19.14\00:40:20.33 And these are only a sampling of the statements that we find 00:40:20.36\00:40:22.94 in this book, The Glories of Mary. 00:40:22.97\00:40:24.97 Now the Bible says that we know the Father through Jesus. 00:40:25.00\00:40:28.58 Notice page 171 of Liguori's book. 00:40:28.61\00:40:32.14 So the only way that we can know Jesus and the Father, 00:40:58.78\00:41:01.83 according to Liguori, is through the instrumentality of Mary. 00:41:01.86\00:41:07.24 The Bible says that Jesus helps us when we are tempted. 00:41:07.27\00:41:10.48 Well, obviously we must conclude that Mary has to help people 00:41:10.51\00:41:13.84 when they are tempted. 00:41:13.87\00:41:14.90 Notice page... this is a different book. 00:41:14.93\00:41:17.41 No, it's actually The Glories of Mary, page 58. 00:41:17.44\00:41:20.52 Now, the Bible says that Jesus is the door. 00:41:46.35\00:41:49.88 Of course Mary would have to be the door, too. 00:41:49.91\00:41:52.07 Notice Liguori, page 153: 00:41:52.10\00:41:56.15 On page 160 we find this quotation: 00:42:12.78\00:42:16.46 On page 239 he quotes St. Abrose who says this: 00:42:27.46\00:42:33.64 Finally, on page 43 we find this remarkable statement. 00:42:46.99\00:42:51.61 Supposedly Mary appeared to St. Bridget and said these words: 00:42:51.64\00:42:56.30 You see, Jesus is no longer the door; Mary is the door. 00:43:07.50\00:43:11.96 Do you remember the rod of Jesse? 00:43:11.99\00:43:14.66 It says in Isaiah 11:1 that Jesus is the rod of Jesse? 00:43:14.69\00:43:18.77 It's a Messianic prophecy. 00:43:18.80\00:43:20.81 Listen to Liguori, page 101: 00:43:20.84\00:43:23.73 Quoting Isaiah 11:1 and applying it to Mary. 00:43:51.94\00:43:56.65 The Bible says that Jesus is the Redeemer. 00:43:56.68\00:43:59.30 Well, you would have to conclude that Mary is also the Redeemer, 00:43:59.33\00:44:04.14 or Co-Redemptrix. We're going to talk about this a little bit 00:44:04.17\00:44:06.58 later on in our series. 00:44:06.61\00:44:08.07 I have to move on. 00:44:08.10\00:44:10.28 Do you remember that we're supposed to flee to Jesus, 00:44:10.31\00:44:13.17 who is our refuge? 00:44:13.20\00:44:14.31 Notice Liguori, page 119. 00:44:14.34\00:44:16.92 Constantly he says that we're to flee to Mary for refuge. 00:44:36.14\00:44:39.56 In Hebrews 6:18 it says we're to flee to Jesus for refuge. 00:44:39.59\00:44:44.54 In Hebrews 4 we're told that we're supposed to come 00:44:44.57\00:44:48.39 to the throne of grace for help in time of trial. 00:44:48.42\00:44:52.15 Notice Liguori, page 257. 00:44:52.18\00:44:54.76 He's quoting St. Antoninus. 00:44:54.79\00:44:57.76 Hebrews says that it was Jesus. 00:45:12.82\00:45:15.71 We noticed that Jesus, according to Scripture, is the sun, SUN. 00:45:15.74\00:45:22.06 Liguori says on page 90: 00:45:22.10\00:45:25.10 Page 55. 00:45:41.63\00:45:43.39 SUN. You remember the Bible says that Jesus is our life? 00:45:55.11\00:46:00.27 Well, Mary would have to be our life 00:46:00.30\00:46:02.55 according to Roman Catholic theology. Liguori, page 91. 00:46:02.58\00:46:06.36 The Bible says that we're transformed by contemplating 00:46:30.46\00:46:34.73 Jesus, by beholding Jesus. 00:46:34.76\00:46:36.89 Notice what Liguori says about how we're changed. Page 70. 00:46:36.92\00:46:42.16 Scripture says that we're protected from the power 00:47:23.03\00:47:25.72 of Satan through Jesus. 00:47:25.75\00:47:26.90 Notice this statement in Liguori, page 148. 00:47:26.93\00:47:30.77 As wax melts before the fire, so do the devil's lose their 00:47:30.80\00:47:36.19 power against those souls who often remember the name of Mary, 00:47:36.22\00:47:40.73 and devoutly invoke it, and still more so if they also 00:47:40.76\00:47:45.56 endeavor to imitate her virtues. 00:47:45.59\00:47:48.44 Scripture says that Jesus is our propitiation. 00:47:48.47\00:47:52.46 Page 178 of The Glories of Mary we find this 00:47:52.49\00:47:57.11 statement of Liguori. 00:47:57.14\00:47:58.41 It's actually a prayer of his at the end of a chapter. 00:47:58.44\00:48:02.18 He says, I do not even fear an angry God for a single prayer 00:48:02.21\00:48:06.98 of thine will appease Him. That's page 178. 00:48:07.01\00:48:11.97 Does God need to be appeased? 00:48:12.00\00:48:14.10 Doesn't God love us? 00:48:14.13\00:48:15.72 The Bible says that Jesus has a name that is exalted 00:48:15.75\00:48:19.09 above every other name. 00:48:19.12\00:48:20.36 Notice this amazing statement. Page 260. 00:48:20.39\00:48:24.61 That's Philippians 2. 00:48:38.94\00:48:41.11 It applies to Jesus there. 00:48:41.14\00:48:43.82 You remember the Bible says that when we die 00:48:43.85\00:48:46.60 our hope is found in Jesus? 00:48:46.63\00:48:48.17 Well, notice page 103 of Liguori, 00:48:48.20\00:48:51.65 speaking about Richard of St. Lawrence, 00:48:51.68\00:48:54.80 he asks, Who would dare accuse one who is patronized by the 00:48:54.83\00:49:01.43 mother of Him who is to judge? 00:49:01.46\00:49:03.55 Mary not only assists her beloved servants at death 00:49:03.58\00:49:08.33 and encourages them, but she herself accompanies them 00:49:08.36\00:49:12.90 to the tribunal seat of God. 00:49:12.93\00:49:16.03 Well, you have two problems there: the state of the dead 00:49:17.44\00:49:20.73 problem, and you have the problem of her accompanying 00:49:20.76\00:49:25.40 the person who has died to the tribunal of God. 00:49:25.43\00:49:29.19 The Bible says that Jesus is omnipotent. 00:49:29.22\00:49:31.66 He can do all things. 00:49:31.69\00:49:32.91 Listen to this amazing statement. 00:49:32.94\00:49:35.35 Page 181. He's quoting Richard of St. Lawrence. 00:49:35.38\00:49:39.17 On page 275 he quotes a prayer of St. Germanus 00:49:57.28\00:50:01.99 of Constantinople. 00:50:02.02\00:50:03.45 Oh Mary, thou art omnipotent to save sinners, 00:50:03.48\00:50:08.51 nor needest thou any other recommendation, for thou art 00:50:08.54\00:50:14.08 the mother of true life. 00:50:14.11\00:50:16.25 Jesus is the morning star so, of course, Mary has to be the star. 00:50:16.28\00:50:20.76 Page 122, he quotes St. Bernard. 00:50:20.79\00:50:24.93 If thou wouldest not be lost in the tempest cast thine eyes 00:50:24.96\00:50:30.06 on the star and invoke Mary. 00:50:30.09\00:50:33.42 The mercy seat that was above the ark of the covenant 00:50:33.45\00:50:36.87 represents the throne of God. 00:50:36.90\00:50:38.71 But, of course, in Roman Catholic theology, 00:50:38.74\00:50:41.22 the mercy seat is Mary. 00:50:41.25\00:50:43.29 Notice this quotation from page lll. 00:50:43.32\00:50:46.03 In the book of Exodus we read that God commanded Moses to make 00:50:46.06\00:50:51.08 a mercy seat of the purest gold, because it was thence that He 00:50:51.11\00:50:56.09 would speak to him. 00:50:56.12\00:50:57.15 St. Andrew of Crete says that the whole world embraces Mary 00:50:57.18\00:51:02.79 as being this propitiatory, which is actually the meaning 00:51:02.82\00:51:07.96 of the word mercy seat. 00:51:07.99\00:51:09.74 The Bible says that Jesus is the last Adam, so, of course, Mary 00:51:09.77\00:51:14.15 has to be the last Eve. 00:51:14.18\00:51:16.41 Now notice this statement. 00:51:16.44\00:51:18.74 This is found on page 113. 00:51:18.77\00:51:22.20 Hence St. Irenaeus remarks that as Eve was seduced by a fallen 00:51:22.23\00:51:28.49 angel to flee from God, so Mary was led to receive God 00:51:28.52\00:51:33.32 into her womb, obeying a good angel. 00:51:33.35\00:51:36.13 And thus by her obedience repaired Eve's disobedience, 00:51:36.16\00:51:42.47 and became her advocate and that of the whole human race. 00:51:42.50\00:51:46.99 On page 165 he quotes St. Bernard, "that as a man 00:51:47.02\00:51:52.59 and a woman cooperated in our ruin, so it was proper 00:51:52.62\00:51:57.81 that another man and another woman should cooperate 00:51:57.84\00:52:01.37 in our redemption; and these two were Jesus and His mother Mary. 00:52:01.40\00:52:06.25 The Bible says that Jesus crushed the head of the serpent. 00:52:06.28\00:52:09.79 Notice in Liguori, page 141, according to him 00:52:09.82\00:52:14.73 who crushed the head of the serpent. 00:52:14.76\00:52:16.20 Who would obtain over the serpent? Our what? Our Queen. 00:52:24.80\00:52:27.99 On page 142 we find this statement about Genesis 3:15. 00:52:42.59\00:52:47.57 Mary then was this great and valiant woman who conquered 00:52:47.60\00:52:52.62 the devil and crushed his head by bringing down his pride. 00:52:52.65\00:52:56.56 And as it was foretold by God Himself, 00:52:56.59\00:52:59.51 she shall crush thy head. 00:52:59.54\00:53:01.65 Some doubt as to whether these words refer to Mary, 00:53:01.68\00:53:05.13 or whether they do not rather refer to Jesus Christ. 00:53:05.16\00:53:08.33 For the Septuagint renders them, He shall crush thy head. 00:53:08.36\00:53:12.86 But in the Vulgate, which alone was approved by the sacred 00:53:12.89\00:53:16.98 Council of Trent, we find she and not He. 00:53:17.01\00:53:20.25 And thus it was understood by St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, 00:53:20.28\00:53:24.06 St. Augustine, and a great many others. 00:53:24.09\00:53:26.75 Quoting tradition, quoting the fathers. 00:53:26.78\00:53:29.88 Scripture says that Jesus was in the pillar of fire 00:53:29.91\00:53:33.15 and the pillar of cloud. 00:53:33.18\00:53:34.23 Guess who is in the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud 00:53:34.26\00:53:37.70 according to Roman Catholic theology? 00:53:37.73\00:53:40.10 Page 147. It is said in the Old Testament that God guided 00:53:40.13\00:53:44.87 His people from Egypt to the land of promise, 00:53:44.90\00:53:47.54 by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire. 00:53:47.57\00:53:51.11 This stupendous pillar, at times as a cloud at others a fire 00:53:51.14\00:53:56.74 says Richard of St. Lawrence, was a figure of Mary. 00:53:56.77\00:54:00.86 Fulfilling the double office, she constantly 00:54:00.89\00:54:04.14 exercises for our good. 00:54:04.17\00:54:05.71 As a cloud she protects us from the ardor of, or the burning of 00:54:05.74\00:54:10.94 divine justice, and as fire she protects us from the devils. 00:54:10.97\00:54:15.71 The Bible says that we're supposed to cast out devils 00:54:15.74\00:54:18.59 in the name of Jesus. 00:54:18.62\00:54:19.68 Liguori says it's supposed to be done in the name of Mary. 00:54:19.71\00:54:23.13 Notice page 96. This is a very humorous example. 00:54:23.16\00:54:28.84 Bernardine de Bustis relates that a bird was 00:54:28.87\00:54:32.77 taught to say Hail Mary. 00:54:32.80\00:54:34.21 A hawk was on the point of seizing it when the bird 00:54:34.24\00:54:37.46 cried out, Hail Mary! 00:54:37.49\00:54:38.85 In an instant the hawk fell dead. 00:54:38.88\00:54:41.50 God intended to show thereby that if even an irrational 00:54:41.53\00:54:45.86 creature was preserved by calling on Mary, 00:54:45.89\00:54:48.65 how much more would those who are prompt in calling on her 00:54:48.68\00:54:52.48 when assaulted by devils be delivered from them. 00:54:52.51\00:54:56.49 Page 265. He quotes Thomas a Kempis. 00:54:56.52\00:55:01.33 Our time is just about up. 00:55:16.53\00:55:18.68 But, you know, Jesus is the water of life, 00:55:18.71\00:55:21.42 so guess who is the aqueduct according to Liguori? 00:55:21.45\00:55:25.32 This is page 159, quoting St. Bernard. 00:55:25.35\00:55:29.54 Before the birth of the blessed virgin, a constant flow 00:55:29.57\00:55:34.08 of graces was wanting because this aqueduct did not exist. 00:55:34.11\00:55:39.08 Jesus, according to the Bible, is the peace maker. 00:55:39.11\00:55:42.09 Notice Liguori, page 197. 00:55:42.12\00:55:44.97 He's quoting a prayer of William of Paris. 00:55:45.00\00:55:48.18 Since then, Oh Mary, thy office is to be the peace maker 00:55:48.21\00:55:53.05 between God and man, let thy tender compassion, 00:55:53.08\00:55:56.32 which far exceeds all my sins, move thee to succor me, 00:55:56.35\00:56:01.30 and that is to help me. 00:56:01.33\00:56:02.71 She's called the tower of refuge. 00:56:02.74\00:56:05.44 That's on page 201. 00:56:05.47\00:56:08.10 On page 205 we're told that Mary draws all men to herself. 00:56:08.13\00:56:14.52 On page 243 we're told that she gives eternal life. 00:56:14.55\00:56:19.44 She's, according to Liguori, page 29, she's worthy of being 00:56:19.47\00:56:25.37 praised and glorified by all of the heavenly hosts. 00:56:25.40\00:56:28.18 Notice this quotation. 00:56:28.21\00:56:29.38 If all the tongues of men were put together, and even if each 00:56:29.41\00:56:33.44 of their members was changed into a tongue, they would not 00:56:33.47\00:56:36.89 suffice to praise her as much as she deserves. 00:56:36.92\00:56:40.80 She's called our hope. 00:56:40.83\00:56:42.75 We are saved by her merits. 00:56:42.78\00:56:45.96 She's called the rainbow. 00:56:45.99\00:56:47.79 And finally, Roman Catholic theology teaches, 00:56:47.82\00:56:52.06 and we'll study this later on, that when Mary died 00:56:52.09\00:56:55.46 her body saw no corruption. 00:56:55.49\00:56:57.30 She was buried, she resurrected the third day, 00:56:57.33\00:57:00.64 she ascended to heaven, and she sat at the right hand of Jesus. 00:57:00.67\00:57:05.60 Now you tell me where the Bible gives any of this 00:57:05.63\00:57:10.30 scenario about Mary. Nowhere! 00:57:10.33\00:57:13.27 What has happened is this book has totally stolen the glory 00:57:13.30\00:57:17.54 which belongs to Jesus, and it has given it 00:57:17.57\00:57:21.07 to a creature, Mary. 00:57:21.10\00:57:22.76 Our only hope, folks, is found in Jesus, not in a creature. 00:57:22.79\00:57:29.63