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The special place of honor given
to Mary in Catholic dogma is not based on Scripture although texts are
quoted to support it. After the time of Christ, apostasy developed in the
church 2th0203,
ac2029.
In order to escape the connection with the Jews who tended to rebel against
the empire and later in order to entice people of the pagan nations of
the fallen empire, symbols and practices of paganism were introduced into
the church. One important part of pagan belief is the worship of a fertility
goddess often accompanied by prostitution in or associated with the pagan
temples. Probably the most significant such temple for Christianity appears
in the story of the Ephesian church. It was for the goddess Diana ac1927.
The church also followed legends about the "Queen of Heaven," a pagan goddess
mentioned by Jeremiah je0718,
je4417.
I know of no evidence that Catholics have practiced temple prostitution
although priests have sexually abused many without punishment and often
without removal from office!
. The Catholic church accepted the place of Mary at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. The definition of her role has changed a number of times until now she is said to be a Redeemer along with Christ. The greeting she received from the angel lu0128 has been augmented by words of Elizabeth and the fabrication of Mary being the "mother of God." |
In item 2676 we read, "This twofold
movement of prayer to Mary has found a privileged expression in the Ave
Maria:" Ave Maria means "Holy Mary." The item continues with each line
followed by explanations. We will look at all the lines with explanation
for two of them. The brackets [ ] and the words between them are from the
source (not added by this commentary). The last two lines are under item
2677.
Item 2679 is also of interest. "Mary is the perfect Orans (pray-er) a figure of the Church. When we pray to her, we are adhering with her to the plan of the Father, who sends his Son to save all men. Like the beloved disciple, we welcome Jesus' mother into our homes, for she has become the mother of all the living. We can pray with and to her. The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary and united with it in hope." |
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Also see on re1203. Mary is in the picture of the woman threatened by the dragon but the symbolism points beyond Mary. And see beginning at lu0126. |
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Quotations from the new Chatechism
of the Catholic Church:
"It is in the Church that 'the fullness of the means of salvation' has been deposited." Article No 824. "Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation." No. 846. "The Church . . . bears in herself the totality of the means of salvation." No. 982. "Were there no forgiveness of sins in the Church, there would be no hope of life to come or eternal liberatin." No. 983. Compare da0725. |
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At Jesus' baptism, he was anointed
by the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel 9.
The year John the Baptist began his ministry may be established as 27 AD by comparing the information about the Roman rulers given in lu0301 with Roman history. See the endnote for that chapter. Jesus and John the Baptist were both thirty when they began their ministries lu0323, lu0180. John was born six months earlier than Jesus so his ministry began six months before the baptism considering anointing to be the event to happen at age thirty. Jesus began His public ministry at the end of forty days of temptation which followed His baptism lu0401. It's possible that this later time was at age thirty. Bible ages are calculated differently from our practice today. We would say a person is thirty years of age when he reaches the end of his thirtieth year of life ge0706. Then, it was at the beginning. So Jesus and John may have been twenty-nine as we look at it. |
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