Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: MMJ
Program Code: MMJ000003
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00:37 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:38 Father in heaven, as we study this very solemn subject 00:43 this evening, we ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. 00:47 Particularly I ask, not only for those who are gathered here 00:52 in this place, but for all of those who are watching 00:56 this program worldwide, I ask Father, that You will give us 01:01 clear minds, and You will give us tender hearts 01:03 to receive Your message. 01:05 And I thank You, Father for hearing my prayer, 01:07 for I ask it in Jesus' name, Amen. 01:10 The title of our study for this evening is 01:15 Mary, the Rival of Jesus. 01:20 And basically I would like to begin by mentioning some of the 01:25 things that we studied in our first lecture about what the 01:28 Bible has to say about Mary. 01:31 And the reason I'm handling my notes is because 01:35 we're going to be reading several statements this evening, 01:37 and I would like to have these in hand 01:41 because they're very, very important. 01:43 Lets review what we've studied about Mary. 01:46 First of all the Bible says that she was a great woman. 01:49 No doubt about that! 01:51 God chose the best available. 01:53 We have no record whatsoever about the birth of Mary; 01:59 where she was born, to whom she was born, 02:02 or how she was born. 02:04 We know that she was from David's line. 02:08 We know that she actually had royal blood in her veins. 02:13 We also noticed that Mary needed a Savior, 02:18 because she rejoiced in the Lord her Savior. 02:22 We also notice that there's no record whatsoever 02:25 of her conception or of her birth. 02:27 There's no idea that she was conceived immaculately, 02:32 and that she never sinned. 02:34 Scripture does not address that issue at all. 02:36 We also don't find anywhere in Scripture that she was a virgin 02:43 after Jesus was born. 02:45 In other words that she was perpetually a virgin. 02:48 We know from Scripture that technically speaking she was not 02:53 the mother of God, because Jesus was her Creator. 02:55 Jesus existed before she did. 02:58 We also noticed that Mary was not full of grace, 03:04 but she was the highly favored one. 03:07 That is the proper translation. 03:09 In other words she wasn't full of favors to give to people, 03:12 she was actually favored by God. 03:14 And we also noticed that the last reference to Mary 03:18 in Scripture is in Acts 1:14, where she is in the upper room 03:23 with the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. 03:25 There is no record of Mary's death. 03:28 It shouldn't surprise us because we don't have the record 03:32 of most of the deaths of the apostles either, 03:34 and many other heroes in Scripture. 03:37 So the last reference to Mary is in Acts 1:14. 03:42 There's nothing in Scripture about her ascending to heaven 03:45 after her death, and after her body not seeing corruption. 03:50 The Bible simply is silent on anything like this. 03:54 Now I would like to dedicate the next several minutes to portray 04:00 for you the Biblical picture of Jesus; who Jesus was. 04:06 And I'm going to be referring to a lot of Bible verses. 04:10 I'm not going to be able to read them 04:12 because there are too many, and our time constraints 04:14 will not allow us to read all of these verses. 04:18 But I will share with you the content of each verse. 04:21 John 1:3 tells us that Jesus was the Creator of all things. 04:38 We also know that Jesus was born The Holy One. 04:41 According to Luke 1:35, He's called That Holy Thing. 04:47 In other words He was Holy from the moment of His birth. 04:50 We also know from Hebrews 4:15 that Jesus, during His life, 04:56 was tempted in all things, and yet He never sinned. 05:02 Not even once. We also know from John 1:14 that Jesus 05:08 was full of grace and truth. 05:11 So we know that Jesus definitely was full of grace. 05:15 We also know from John 1:14 that Jesus was 05:21 born with our flesh. 05:24 The Bible says, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. 05:28 In other words, He was our brother. 05:30 He had our flesh. We also know from John 3:16 that the Father 05:39 gave His only begotten Son. 05:42 In other words, the Son was given by God the Father. 05:46 You're going to see in a few moments the reason why 05:48 I am referring to all of these things. 05:49 Most of us probably already know them. 05:51 But you're going to understand in a few moments, 05:54 why I'm bringing all of these things to view. 05:57 We also notice in the gospels that Jesus was a very loving, 06:02 benevolent person. 06:03 He healed the sick. 06:04 He cast out devils. 06:06 He gave encouragement. 06:08 He forgave sinners. 06:09 In other words, He was someone that people could approach, 06:12 someone who people could love. 06:15 Also, we're told in Hebrews 7: 23, 24, 06:20 that Jesus is our high priest. 06:26 In fact, in the book of Hebrews He's called 06:28 our only high priest. 06:30 In 1 John 2:1 the Bible tells us that Jesus is our advocate 06:37 before the Father. 06:38 That's very, very important. 06:40 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that Jesus is our only intercessor. 06:45 We have one intercessor between God and man, 06:48 Jesus Christ the man. 06:51 And that's corroborated by Hebrews 7:25. 06:55 We're also told in Acts 4:12 that there is no name given 07:01 under heaven whereby we might be saved except 07:04 in the name of Jesus. 07:06 And that is corroborated by Matthew 1:21 where His name 07:11 is called Immanuel because He will save the people 07:16 in this world from their sins. 07:18 We also notice in Scripture, Hebrews 9:26, that Jesus 07:24 sacrificed Himself. 07:26 He was not sacrificed by any priest. 07:28 He was not sacrificed by any person. 07:31 He offered His own sacrifice according to Scripture. 07:36 Also we're told in John 1:51 that Jesus is the ladder 07:45 between heaven and earth. 07:47 We're told in John 16:26, 27, that we are to pray 07:53 to the Father in the name of Jesus. 07:58 We are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. 08:02 We also notice in John 1:18 that no one has ever seen God. 08:09 Jesus Christ has made Him known. 08:13 In other words, we come to know God the Father 08:16 through Jesus Christ. 08:19 We notice also in Hebrews 2: 17, 18, that Jesus helps us 08:25 when we are tempted. 08:26 In that He was tempted He is powerful also to help 08:31 those who are tempted. 08:34 John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the way, 08:43 In John 10:9 Jesus is called the door which we must enter 08:49 through in order to be saved. 08:51 In Isaiah 11:1 Jesus is called the root of Jesse. 08:58 In Ephesians 1:7 Jesus is called the only redeemer. 09:04 He has redeemed us through His blood. 09:06 In Hebrews 6:18 we're told that we are to flee 09:11 to Jesus for refuge. 09:13 In Hebrews 4:15, once again we have the idea that Jesus 09:19 gives us power to overcome temptation. 09:23 In that He was tempted, He is able to help 09:25 those who are tempted. 09:27 Psalm 84:11 refers to Jesus as the Son. 09:32 In fact Jesus spoke of Himself as the light of the world, 09:36 referring to the sun. 09:37 In Colossians 3:3, 4, Jesus is called our life. 09:44 In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we're told that by beholding Jesus, 09:50 we are changed into His likeness. 09:53 In 1 John 2:2 we're told that Jesus is our 09:58 propitiation with the Father. 09:59 In other words Jesus is the one who stands 10:03 between us and God. 10:05 Psalm 23:4 says that when we: 10:15 In other words the Lord comforts us when we face death. 10:19 Philippians 4:13 speaks of Jesus as being omnipotent. 10:24 He is able to help those who come to Him to overcome sin, 10:30 and to do deeds of omnipotence. It says there: 10:36 Revelation 22:16 calls Jesus the star. 10:42 In 1 Corinthians 15:45 Jesus is called the last Adam. 10:48 In Genesis 3:15 we're told that Jesus would crush 10:53 the head of the serpent. 10:55 In Exodus 13:21, 22 we're told that Jesus was in the 11:02 pillar of cloud, and He was in the pillar of fire 11:05 in the wilderness guiding Israel. 11:07 In Luke 10:17 we're told that through the power of the name 11:12 of Jesus demons can be cast out. 11:15 John 4:13, 14 tells us that Jesus is the 11:21 fountain of living water. 11:23 In other words He is the aqueduct, if you please. 11:25 In Ephesians 2:14 Jesus is called our peace. 11:32 In Psalm 144:2 Jesus is called our fortress, and our refuge. 11:40 In John 12:32, 33 we're told that Jesus draws all men 11:46 like a magnet to Himself. 11:49 In Romans 6:23 we're told that Jesus is the One who gives 11:54 eternal, or everlasting life. 11:56 1 Timothy 1:1 tells us that Jesus is our hope. 12:03 Revelation 5:11-13 tells us that Jesus is worthy to be praised 12:08 by all of the heavenly beings, all of the angels, 12:11 and all of the inhabitants of other worlds 12:15 in the heavenly realms. 12:17 And in Romans 8:34 we're told that Jesus died, He resurrected, 12:24 He ascended body and soul, and He's seated 12:28 at the right hand of God, and that His body saw 12:32 no corruption in the grave. 12:35 Now you're probably saying, Pastor Bohr, 12:37 we knew all of this. 12:39 We knew all of these things about Jesus. 12:42 And I'm sure that you did. 12:44 Why have I taken the time to mention all of these verses? 12:49 For the simple reason that now I am going to share with you 12:53 the fact that the Roman Catholic Church attributes to Mary 12:59 everything that the Bible attributes to Jesus. 13:02 In fact I'd like to read you a statement from the writings 13:06 of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who lived in the 17th century. 13:10 On page 407 of his book, The Glories of Mary, he gives us the 13:16 principle that he applies to teach that Mary has to be equal 13:21 to Jesus in everything. 13:22 Here's the statement. 13:33 Now where is that in the Bible? nowhere. 13:37 It's a declaration of Liguori. 13:52 Now you'll always find in the writings of Roman Catholic 13:56 writers expressions such as it was fitting, 14:01 it was necessary, it was befitting that the mother 14:06 experienced the same as her son. 14:09 But we're going to notice that in Roman Catholic theology 14:13 what actually happens is that Mary has become 14:17 the rival of Jesus. 14:18 Mary has overshadowed Jesus, and has taken away the glory 14:24 which belongs to Him alone. 14:26 Now I'm going to read you several statements from an 14:30 author, a very famous author of the Roman Catholic Church. 14:34 His name is St. Alphonsus Liguori. 14:38 I'm going to tell you a few things about him so that you 14:40 know why I'm going to take so many quotations 14:42 from his writings. 14:44 He lived in the 17 century. 14:46 He wrote 22 volumes that have been published so far; 14:50 22 books in other words. 14:53 He was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church 14:58 in 1839 by Pope Gregory XIV. 15:02 He has been called a doctor of the church. 15:07 I don't know whether you're aware, but the Roman Catholic 15:09 Church has 32 doctors in its almost 2,000 year history. 15:14 And these are the individuals who are the most authoritative 15:18 writers in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. 15:21 He was actually declared a doctor of the 15:24 Church by Pope Pius IX. 15:27 One of the books that he wrote is called The Glories of Mary. 15:32 And that's the book that I'm going to quote from extensively 15:36 in our study today. 15:38 Now you might be thinking, Well, what you find in this book 15:41 is simply the opinion of St. Alphonsus Liguori. 15:45 It's just the opinion of one man about Mary. 15:48 Lest you think that, allow me to share with you that this book 15:54 does not contain merely Liguori's opinions. 15:58 In fact the book is composed of a collection of the best 16:04 writings of the early church fathers, of the doctors, 16:08 and of the saints of the Roman Catholic Church about Mary. 16:12 In other words it is a compendium of the Roman Catholic 16:16 wisdom about Mary from the early church all the way 16:22 till the times of the 17th century when Liguori lived. 16:26 Notice the reason that Liguori gives for writing his book, 16:30 The Glories of Mary. 16:31 He says this: I endeavored to collect, from as many authors 16:37 as I could lay my hands, on the choicest passages extracted 16:42 from fathers and theologians, and those which seemed to me 16:47 to be the most to the point, and and have put them together 16:51 in this book in order that the devout may, with little trouble 16:57 and expense, be able to inflame themselves 17:01 with the love of Mary. 17:03 And more particularly, to furnish the priests with matter 17:07 for their sermons wherewith to excite others to devotion 17:12 towards this divine mother. 17:14 This book is composed of many chapters, and the chapters 17:20 are divided in three parts. 17:21 The first part has a certain teaching about a role that 17:26 Mary plays in the church. 17:27 Then towards the end of the chapter he illustrates that role 17:31 of Mary by, according to him, a real-life episode. 17:36 And finally he ends that chapter with a prayer to Mary 17:40 having to do with the function that he has just 17:43 described in that chapter. 17:45 The addition of The Glories of Mary that I am going to use 17:49 was published in 1931 by the Redemptorist Fathers. 17:53 It has the imprimatur of Cardinal Patrick Hayes, 17:59 and the imprimatur is from April 16, 1931. 18:02 The imprimatur means that this book is officially condoned 18:08 by the Catholic church to be read by the faithful. 18:12 The preponderance of Liguori's quotations in this book are from 18:18 the apocryphal books of Ecclesiasticus 18:21 and Wisdom of Solomon. 18:22 He has very few quotations from Scripture. 18:25 The places that he does quote Scripture are mainly from 18:30 Song of Solomon and from the Proverbs. 18:34 And texts there, which apply to the church, 18:37 he applies in his book to Mary. 18:40 In fact as you read this book you discover that constantly 18:45 he tears Biblical texts out of their context. 18:48 For example, he gives this quotation on page 101 18:53 of his book, If Mary is for us, who can be against us? 18:58 That's a quotation in Romans 8: 31, which applies to Jesus. 19:03 Notice another example. 19:05 And I could give you dozens, and dozens of them. 19:08 He says, Mary was pre-figured by the dove which returned 19:13 to Noah in the ark with an olive branch in its beak 19:17 as a pledge of the peace which God granted to men. 19:22 Now where in the Bible are we told that that 19:24 dove represented Mary? 19:25 It's simply a human opinion. 19:27 There's no Biblical basis for that. 19:29 That's page 202, by the way. 19:32 On page 244 St. Alphonsus Liguori quotes a psalm that 19:40 says, Glorious things are said of you, Oh city of God. 19:44 And then he quotes St. Gregory, who said, To whom can this refer 19:49 but Mary, the city of God? 19:52 In another quotation that we find on pages 244 and 245, 19:58 Liguori says this: Correctly then, we can hearsay with 20:04 St. Paul, having this seal, the Lord knoweth who are His. 20:10 And then he explains, That is to say, Whoever carries with him 20:15 the mark of devotion to Mary, is recognized by God as His. 20:19 You can read that text in the New Testament and you will 20:23 not find Mary anywhere. 20:24 She's been inserted in that passage. 20:27 After Liguori died his grave was opened in Nosara. 20:33 Three fingers were cut off of his writing hand and were sent 20:39 to Rome by the wish of Pope Pius VII. 20:43 And Pope Pius VII said this as the reason: Let those three 20:48 fingers that have written so well for the honor of God, 20:53 of the blessed virgin, and of religion, be carefully 20:58 preserved and sent to Rome. 21:00 Now you know some things about St. Alphonsus Liguori. 21:04 And I felt that it was important for you to know, 21:07 because I'm going to read mostly quotations from his book, 21:11 The Glories of Mary, which is an Encyclopedia of the history 21:16 of the concept that the Roman Catholic Church has had of Mary 21:20 in the course of the centuries. 21:22 What we're going to discover is that everything which the Bible 21:28 attributes to Jesus, the book The Glories of Mary 21:32 attributes to Mary. 21:34 Now lets go through these one by one, the ones that I 21:38 mentioned at the beginning of our talk about Jesus. 21:41 And I'm going to read you some quotations in Liguori's book 21:45 where he applies all of these titles, 21:47 and all of these functions to Mary. 21:49 How about the Creator? 21:52 You say, certainly Liguori could not say that Mary 21:56 was there creating with Jesus. 21:58 If you don't think so, think again. 22:00 Allow me to read you this statement from 22:02 page 368 of his book. 22:04 By the way, I read this book with a fine tooth comb, 22:07 very, very carefully in preparation for this lecture. 22:10 He says this, and he's quoting St. Bonaventure: 22:19 He's speaking about Mary. 22:41 And these are the words. 23:02 Now where in the Bible do you find such a concept, 23:06 that Mary was there at the beginning creating 23:10 this world with Jesus? 23:12 It is absurd because Mary obviously had an origin 23:17 long after the creation of this world. 23:20 Now the Bible says that Jesus was born holy. 23:23 And so St. Alphonsus Liguori says, Mary must also 23:27 have been born holy. 23:28 Notice this statement from page 296. 23:42 Notice that Mary was conceived without sin so that Jesus 23:47 could also be conceived without sin. 23:50 Not only that, the Bible says that Jesus never sinned 23:53 during His life, so of course, Mary never sinned 23:55 during her life either. 23:57 Notice Liguori, page 299. 24:09 And in the Roman Catholicism there are mortal sins, 24:12 which are the most serious, and there are venial sins, 24:15 which are less serious. 24:18 And so what Liguori is saying is that Mary was not only 24:22 conceived without sin, but he's saying that she actually, 24:25 during her whole life, never sinned. 24:28 Now the Bible says that Jesus is God in the flesh. 24:31 Listen to this quotation. 24:33 This isn't from Liguori. 24:34 It's from Mark Miravalle, who is from Spain. 24:38 He wrote a book called, Mary Co-Redemptorex, Mediatrix, 24:41 Advocate. Page 54 he says this, speaking about Mary 24:46 and the Holy Spirit: Still their union is so inexpressible, 24:52 and so perfect, that the Holy Spirit acts only by the 24:57 immaculata, in other words, by the immaculate one, His spouse. 25:02 The third person of the blessed trinity never took flesh. 25:06 In other words the Holy Spirit never took flesh. 25:08 Still our human word spouse is far too weak to express the 25:14 reality of the relationship between the immaculata 25:18 and the Holy Spirit. 25:19 And here comes the amazing portion of the quotation. 25:22 We can affirm that she is in a certain sense the incarnation 25:30 of the Holy Spirit. 25:31 She would have to be God to be the incarnation 25:37 of the Holy Spirit. 25:38 We noticed in Scripture that Jesus is full of grace. 25:42 Of course Mary has to be full of grace too, 25:44 because she's actually competing with Jesus 25:48 in Roman Catholic theology. 25:49 Page 155, actually Liguori is quoting Father Contenson, 25:55 and he says, speaking about Jesus: 26:17 On page 159 and 160 we find this amazing statement: 26:45 And notice the quotation he gives from St. Bernardine, 26:49 one of the great saints of the Roman Catholic Church. 26:51 On page 161: 27:19 You see, she's full of grace, and therefore she is the only 27:22 one who is able to impart all of the graces of 27:25 God to human beings. 27:27 Now, interestingly enough, the Roman Catholic Church teaches 27:33 that she took the nature of Adam before the fall, 27:36 as they believe that Jesus took the nature of 27:39 Adam before the fall. 27:40 On page 297 of Liguori we find this quotation: 28:01 You read Liguori's book and you constantly find that Mary 28:04 is loving, kind, accessible, compassionate, very sympathetic, 28:09 and very easy to approach. 28:12 It's interesting to notice that the Roman Catholic Church 28:15 also teaches in The Glories of Mary, through the writings of 28:18 Liguori, that Mary was a priest because she offered 28:22 her son on the cross. 28:24 In fact let me read you that statement. 28:27 On page 394 we find this, according to Liguori: 28:38 Constantly you will find the idea that Mary immolated Jesus. 28:43 Immolated means to what? to sacrifice or to offer. 28:47 Now if she offered Jesus, she must be a priest 28:52 in order to be able to offer Him. 28:54 And so you find several times in the book of Liguori that Mary 28:58 was a priest, but of course, Jesus was a priest also. 29:01 Also in the book of Liguori several times you find the idea 29:07 that Mary is the advocate, or the mediator, which the Bible 29:15 says that only Jesus is the advocate and the mediator. 29:18 Notice on page 124 he quotes St. Bonaventure. 29:44 What picture of Jesus does that give? 29:47 On page 196 Liguori says: 30:12 So you need a mediator with the mediator, 30:15 because the mediator, Jesus, is basically unapproachable. 30:20 Notice this statement from page 246: 30:44 Can you imagine prayers being answered more quickly going 30:47 through Mary than going directly to Jesus? 30:50 Where in Scripture do we find such an idea? 30:53 Page 246 Liguori says this: 31:40 That's blasphemy folks. 31:42 When you say that Mary is more compassionate than Jesus is, 31:49 it totally flies in the face of the Scriptural evidence. 31:53 On page 256 Liguori quotes St. Fulgentius: 32:10 He also quotes a prayer by St. Ephraim, 32:14 and this is incredible. Page 273: 32:39 St. Bernard, according to Liguori, prayed this prayer: 32:55 According to Liguori's book Mary is not only our Advocate, 33:01 but she's also our mediator and our intercessor. 33:04 Listen to this amazing quotation from page 117, 33:08 and this is a prayer. 33:19 Did we notice that Jesus is all of those three things: 33:24 our life, our refuge, our hope? 33:46 Page 164: 33:51 That's a quotation from Scripture. 34:07 Page 38. There's so many of these that I could read. 34:11 He says, Earnest Archbishop of Prague also remarks that the 34:17 Eternal Father gave the office of judge and avenger to the Son 34:21 and that of showing mercy, and relieving the 34:24 necessities to the mother. 34:26 On page 43 he says, Although Mary is under an infinite 34:31 obligation to the Son for having chosen her to be His mother, 34:35 yet it cannot be denied that the Son is under great obligation 34:39 to her for having given Him His humanity. 34:42 And therefore Jesus to pay, as it were, what He owes to Mary, 34:48 and glorying in her glory, honors her in a special manner 34:53 by listening to, and granting all her petitions. 34:57 On pages 136 and 137 he quotes St. Anselm in the following way: 35:05 When we have recourse to this divine mother not only 35:10 we may be sure of her protection, but that often we 35:14 shall be heard more quickly, and be thus preserved if we have 35:18 recourse to Mary, and call on her holy name, than we should 35:23 if we called on the name of Jesus our Savior. 35:26 And what is the reason Anselm gives for this? 35:29 That to Jesus as judge it belongs also to punish, 35:35 but mercy alone belongs to the blessed virgin as a patroness. 35:41 Page 137, he says this: Many things are asked from God 35:49 and are not granted. 35:50 They are asked from Mary and they are obtained. 35:54 Do you remember that we read that Jesus is the Savior 35:58 according to Scripture? 35:59 Listen to this quotation that we find in chapter 8, 36:04 which the title of this chapter is: Mary Our Salvation. 36:09 It's amazing! He quotes Novorinus who says, 36:15 Loving mother no sooner hears them call... 36:21 The loving mother no sooner hears them call upon her 36:25 than she offers her prayers to God, and these prayers 36:29 as a heavenly dew immediately refresh them 36:33 in their burning pains. 36:34 She's talking about those who are burning 36:36 in the fires of purgatory. 36:38 He also quotes, on page 247, the prayer to Mary, 36:45 which is titled, Salve Regina. 37:11 According to Scripture who is the only Savior? Jesus Christ! 37:16 But because in all things Mary has to be like Jesus, 37:19 Mary also is declared the savior. 37:23 On page 170 we find these words of Liguori, 37:28 speaking about Mary as savior: 37:53 The Bible says that Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice. 37:59 Notice, according to Liguori, who offered 38:03 Jesus as a sacrifice. Page 49. 38:22 And this is only one quotation of many. 38:24 The Bible says that God gave His Son. 38:27 Well, if God gave His Son, of course, Roman Catholics say, 38:30 Mary had to give her Son, too. 38:32 So on page 35 we find this statement: 38:50 That's page 35. You remember the Bible says 38:53 that Jesus is the ladder? 38:54 Notice this statement, page 20 of Liguori. 38:58 He's quoting St. Bernard. 39:15 Notice this one on page 83. 39:32 So she's the ladder. 39:33 What about prayer? 39:36 We're supposed to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. 39:39 The idea, according to Liguori, time again in the book 39:43 is that we are to pray to Jesus through Mary. 39:46 Notice this statement on page 162. 39:49 He's quoting, actually, the words of the 39:52 Venerable Abbot of Celles. He says: 40:13 I don't know about you, but I'm simply amazed 40:19 at reading these statements. 40:20 And these are only a sampling of the statements that we find 40:22 in this book, The Glories of Mary. 40:25 Now the Bible says that we know the Father through Jesus. 40:28 Notice page 171 of Liguori's book. 40:58 So the only way that we can know Jesus and the Father, 41:01 according to Liguori, is through the instrumentality of Mary. 41:07 The Bible says that Jesus helps us when we are tempted. 41:10 Well, obviously we must conclude that Mary has to help people 41:13 when they are tempted. 41:14 Notice page... this is a different book. 41:17 No, it's actually The Glories of Mary, page 58. 41:46 Now, the Bible says that Jesus is the door. 41:49 Of course Mary would have to be the door, too. 41:52 Notice Liguori, page 153: 42:12 On page 160 we find this quotation: 42:27 On page 239 he quotes St. Abrose who says this: 42:46 Finally, on page 43 we find this remarkable statement. 42:51 Supposedly Mary appeared to St. Bridget and said these words: 43:07 You see, Jesus is no longer the door; Mary is the door. 43:11 Do you remember the rod of Jesse? 43:14 It says in Isaiah 11:1 that Jesus is the rod of Jesse? 43:18 It's a Messianic prophecy. 43:20 Listen to Liguori, page 101: 43:51 Quoting Isaiah 11:1 and applying it to Mary. 43:56 The Bible says that Jesus is the Redeemer. 43:59 Well, you would have to conclude that Mary is also the Redeemer, 44:04 or Co-Redemptrix. We're going to talk about this a little bit 44:06 later on in our series. 44:08 I have to move on. 44:10 Do you remember that we're supposed to flee to Jesus, 44:13 who is our refuge? 44:14 Notice Liguori, page 119. 44:36 Constantly he says that we're to flee to Mary for refuge. 44:39 In Hebrews 6:18 it says we're to flee to Jesus for refuge. 44:44 In Hebrews 4 we're told that we're supposed to come 44:48 to the throne of grace for help in time of trial. 44:52 Notice Liguori, page 257. 44:54 He's quoting St. Antoninus. 45:12 Hebrews says that it was Jesus. 45:15 We noticed that Jesus, according to Scripture, is the sun, SUN. 45:22 Liguori says on page 90: 45:41 Page 55. 45:55 SUN. You remember the Bible says that Jesus is our life? 46:00 Well, Mary would have to be our life 46:02 according to Roman Catholic theology. Liguori, page 91. 46:30 The Bible says that we're transformed by contemplating 46:34 Jesus, by beholding Jesus. 46:36 Notice what Liguori says about how we're changed. Page 70. 47:23 Scripture says that we're protected from the power 47:25 of Satan through Jesus. 47:26 Notice this statement in Liguori, page 148. 47:30 As wax melts before the fire, so do the devil's lose their 47:36 power against those souls who often remember the name of Mary, 47:40 and devoutly invoke it, and still more so if they also 47:45 endeavor to imitate her virtues. 47:48 Scripture says that Jesus is our propitiation. 47:52 Page 178 of The Glories of Mary we find this 47:57 statement of Liguori. 47:58 It's actually a prayer of his at the end of a chapter. 48:02 He says, I do not even fear an angry God for a single prayer 48:07 of thine will appease Him. That's page 178. 48:12 Does God need to be appeased? 48:14 Doesn't God love us? 48:15 The Bible says that Jesus has a name that is exalted 48:19 above every other name. 48:20 Notice this amazing statement. Page 260. 48:38 That's Philippians 2. 48:41 It applies to Jesus there. 48:43 You remember the Bible says that when we die 48:46 our hope is found in Jesus? 48:48 Well, notice page 103 of Liguori, 48:51 speaking about Richard of St. Lawrence, 48:54 he asks, Who would dare accuse one who is patronized by the 49:01 mother of Him who is to judge? 49:03 Mary not only assists her beloved servants at death 49:08 and encourages them, but she herself accompanies them 49:12 to the tribunal seat of God. 49:17 Well, you have two problems there: the state of the dead 49:20 problem, and you have the problem of her accompanying 49:25 the person who has died to the tribunal of God. 49:29 The Bible says that Jesus is omnipotent. 49:31 He can do all things. 49:32 Listen to this amazing statement. 49:35 Page 181. He's quoting Richard of St. Lawrence. 49:57 On page 275 he quotes a prayer of St. Germanus 50:02 of Constantinople. 50:03 Oh Mary, thou art omnipotent to save sinners, 50:08 nor needest thou any other recommendation, for thou art 50:14 the mother of true life. 50:16 Jesus is the morning star so, of course, Mary has to be the star. 50:20 Page 122, he quotes St. Bernard. 50:24 If thou wouldest not be lost in the tempest cast thine eyes 50:30 on the star and invoke Mary. 50:33 The mercy seat that was above the ark of the covenant 50:36 represents the throne of God. 50:38 But, of course, in Roman Catholic theology, 50:41 the mercy seat is Mary. 50:43 Notice this quotation from page lll. 50:46 In the book of Exodus we read that God commanded Moses to make 50:51 a mercy seat of the purest gold, because it was thence that He 50:56 would speak to him. 50:57 St. Andrew of Crete says that the whole world embraces Mary 51:02 as being this propitiatory, which is actually the meaning 51:07 of the word mercy seat. 51:09 The Bible says that Jesus is the last Adam, so, of course, Mary 51:14 has to be the last Eve. 51:16 Now notice this statement. 51:18 This is found on page 113. 51:22 Hence St. Irenaeus remarks that as Eve was seduced by a fallen 51:28 angel to flee from God, so Mary was led to receive God 51:33 into her womb, obeying a good angel. 51:36 And thus by her obedience repaired Eve's disobedience, 51:42 and became her advocate and that of the whole human race. 51:47 On page 165 he quotes St. Bernard, "that as a man 51:52 and a woman cooperated in our ruin, so it was proper 51:57 that another man and another woman should cooperate 52:01 in our redemption; and these two were Jesus and His mother Mary. 52:06 The Bible says that Jesus crushed the head of the serpent. 52:09 Notice in Liguori, page 141, according to him 52:14 who crushed the head of the serpent. 52:24 Who would obtain over the serpent? Our what? Our Queen. 52:42 On page 142 we find this statement about Genesis 3:15. 52:47 Mary then was this great and valiant woman who conquered 52:52 the devil and crushed his head by bringing down his pride. 52:56 And as it was foretold by God Himself, 52:59 she shall crush thy head. 53:01 Some doubt as to whether these words refer to Mary, 53:05 or whether they do not rather refer to Jesus Christ. 53:08 For the Septuagint renders them, He shall crush thy head. 53:12 But in the Vulgate, which alone was approved by the sacred 53:17 Council of Trent, we find she and not He. 53:20 And thus it was understood by St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, 53:24 St. Augustine, and a great many others. 53:26 Quoting tradition, quoting the fathers. 53:29 Scripture says that Jesus was in the pillar of fire 53:33 and the pillar of cloud. 53:34 Guess who is in the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud 53:37 according to Roman Catholic theology? 53:40 Page 147. It is said in the Old Testament that God guided 53:44 His people from Egypt to the land of promise, 53:47 by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire. 53:51 This stupendous pillar, at times as a cloud at others a fire 53:56 says Richard of St. Lawrence, was a figure of Mary. 54:00 Fulfilling the double office, she constantly 54:04 exercises for our good. 54:05 As a cloud she protects us from the ardor of, or the burning of 54:10 divine justice, and as fire she protects us from the devils. 54:15 The Bible says that we're supposed to cast out devils 54:18 in the name of Jesus. 54:19 Liguori says it's supposed to be done in the name of Mary. 54:23 Notice page 96. This is a very humorous example. 54:28 Bernardine de Bustis relates that a bird was 54:32 taught to say Hail Mary. 54:34 A hawk was on the point of seizing it when the bird 54:37 cried out, Hail Mary! 54:38 In an instant the hawk fell dead. 54:41 God intended to show thereby that if even an irrational 54:45 creature was preserved by calling on Mary, 54:48 how much more would those who are prompt in calling on her 54:52 when assaulted by devils be delivered from them. 54:56 Page 265. He quotes Thomas a Kempis. 55:16 Our time is just about up. 55:18 But, you know, Jesus is the water of life, 55:21 so guess who is the aqueduct according to Liguori? 55:25 This is page 159, quoting St. Bernard. 55:29 Before the birth of the blessed virgin, a constant flow 55:34 of graces was wanting because this aqueduct did not exist. 55:39 Jesus, according to the Bible, is the peace maker. 55:42 Notice Liguori, page 197. 55:45 He's quoting a prayer of William of Paris. 55:48 Since then, Oh Mary, thy office is to be the peace maker 55:53 between God and man, let thy tender compassion, 55:56 which far exceeds all my sins, move thee to succor me, 56:01 and that is to help me. 56:02 She's called the tower of refuge. 56:05 That's on page 201. 56:08 On page 205 we're told that Mary draws all men to herself. 56:14 On page 243 we're told that she gives eternal life. 56:19 She's, according to Liguori, page 29, she's worthy of being 56:25 praised and glorified by all of the heavenly hosts. 56:28 Notice this quotation. 56:29 If all the tongues of men were put together, and even if each 56:33 of their members was changed into a tongue, they would not 56:36 suffice to praise her as much as she deserves. 56:40 She's called our hope. 56:42 We are saved by her merits. 56:45 She's called the rainbow. 56:47 And finally, Roman Catholic theology teaches, 56:52 and we'll study this later on, that when Mary died 56:55 her body saw no corruption. 56:57 She was buried, she resurrected the third day, 57:00 she ascended to heaven, and she sat at the right hand of Jesus. 57:05 Now you tell me where the Bible gives any of this 57:10 scenario about Mary. Nowhere! 57:13 What has happened is this book has totally stolen the glory 57:17 which belongs to Jesus, and it has given it 57:21 to a creature, Mary. 57:22 Our only hope, folks, is found in Jesus, not in a creature. |
Revised 2015-02-25