MARIOLATRY NOT CHRISTIANITY.
By Editor
PROBABLY few Protestants are aware of the extent to which the Scriptures are perverted to serve the cause of Mariolatry. She is called "the Ark of the New Testament;" "the antitype of the ark of the Covenant;" "the mercy seat;" or "propitiatory;" the woman who was to bruise the serpent's head, Gen. 3:15; the antitype of Noah's ark; and the rainbow in the cloud; she is "the city of refuge," "the city of God " of which glorious things are spoken, Ps. 87:3; she is "the fenced city" of Jer. 8:14, into which the saints enter; Mary is "the rod" which comforts us in the midst of the shadow of death, Ps. 23:4; she is also the "rod out of the stem of Jesse," foretold by Isa. 11:1; all that is spoken of "wisdom" in Prov. 8, is applied to her (please read); in truth, if we examine all the prophecies and types and titles which are applied to her we shall not wonder that she is called "the only hope of the saints," for there is nothing left to be applied to Christ as a Mediator or Saviour. And, according to accepted Catholic doctrine, we are saved, not merely by her intercessions, but by her merits. "St. Lawrence Justinian also says: Can she be otherwise than full of grace, who has been made the ladder of Paradise, the gate of Heaven, the most true mediatrix between God and man. Wherefore St. Anselm well remarks, that when we implore the holy Virgin to obtain graces for us, it is not that we distrust the divine mercy, but rather that we distrust our own unworthiness, and commend ourselves to Mary that her merits may compensate for our unworthiness."—Glories of Mary, p. 170. "And the saint [Bernard] exhorts us, whenever we desire and ask any favor to recommend ourselves to Mary, and trust that we shall obtain it through her intercession. For, says the saint, if you do not deserve from God the favor you ask, Mary, who asks it in your behalf, merits to obtain it. Hence the same Bernard exhorts us each and all, that, whatever we offer to God, whether works or prayers, we recommend all to Mary, if we wish our Lord to accept them." P. 196. And hence the trust reposed in her, as everywhere expressed by the saints and doctors, whose testimony is complete authority with the Catholic church. "Those who are servants of Mary, and for whom Mary intercedes, are as secure of Paradise as if they were already there." P. 280. "James the Monk, esteemed a doctor among the Greek fathers, says that God has made Mary a bridge of salvation, by which we are enabled to pass over the waves of this world, and reach the blessed port of Paradise. Hence St. Bonaventure exclaims: Hear, O ye people who desire Paradise; serve and honor Mary, and you will certainly find life eternal." P. 281. "God has ordained that all graces should be dispensed by the prayers of Mary: where these are wanting, there is no hope of mercy, as our Lord signified to St. Bridget, saying to her: 'Unless Mary interposes by her prayers, there is no hope of mercy.'" P. 293. "St. Idelbert remarks, that Mary is called fair as the moon; because as the moon illuminates and benefits the smallest bodies upon the earth, so Mary enlightens and helps the most unworthy sinners. And although the moon receives all her light from the sun, she moves more quickly than the sun; for, as some author remarks, what the sun does in a year, the moon does in a month. Hence says St. Anselm: Our relief is sometimes more immediate when the name of Mary is invoked than when we invoke the name of Jesus." P. 297-8. "And how is it that the same Lord, who was under the old law so severe in punishing, exercises so great mercy towards the greatest sinners? Thus asks the author Del Pomerio; and he also answers: He does all this for the love and merits of Mary. Oh, how long since would the world have been destroyed, says St. Fulgentius, if Mary had not preserved it by her intercession." P. 299. "Oh how many, exclaims the Abbot of Celles, who merit to be condemned by the divine justice, are saved by the mercy of Mary! for she is the treasure of God and the treasurer of all graces; therefore it is that our salvation is in her hands. Let us always then have recourse to this mother of mercy, and confidently hope to be saved by means of her intercession; since she, as Bernardine de Bustis encourages us to believe, is our salvation, our life, our hope, our counsel, our refuge, our help. Mary is the very throne of grace. It is our salvation, to which the apostle exhorts us to have recourse with confidence, that we may obtain the divine mercy, with all needed help for our salvation. To the throne of grace, that is, to Mary, as St. Antoninus remarks." Pp. 300-1. We think we might be excused from offering any further proof to vindicate that we have ever said about the unchristian nature of Catholic worship. If Mr. McDonald is really the conscientious Christian which we hope he is, and which, by his letter, he professes to be, he will certainly withdraw the severe charges which he brings against us. When we published the remarks of "Father Gavazzi," we supposed that what he said about the two ladders was merely the oral teaching of some priest, as we did not remember ever having read it. But Liguori has produced it, and the Catholic church has sanctioned it. The following is the record:— "In the Franciscan Chronicles it is stated of brother Leo, that he once saw a red ladder, upon which Jesus Christ was standing, and a white one upon which stood his holy mother. He saw persons attempting to ascend the red ladder; they ascended a few steps and then fell; they ascended again, and again fell. Then they were exhorted to ascend the white ladder, and on that he saw them succeed, for the blessed Virgin offered them her hand, and they arrived in that manner safe in Paradise." P. 279. Thus in every manner is the devout Catholic instructed to look away from Christ, and unto Mary as the only hope of salvation. Christ is represented as austere, the minister of justice, appointed of God to punish the sinner, while Mary is all love, the minister of mercy, whose merits and intercessions are sure to avert the punishment. "Mary is called the gate of Heaven, because no one can enter into Heaven, as St. Bonaventure declares, except through Mary." P. 744. "Bernardine de Bustis calls Mary the book of Life." Id. "Oh, how many would have been eternally condemned, or remained in obstinacy, if Mary had not interceded with her Son to exercise mercy! Thus says Thomas á Kempis." P. 261. And she more than intercedes—she commands her Son to release her servants at her will. God is not only pleased to answer her requests, but is under obligation to do what she asks for those who serve her. This is given as a reason why confidence may safely be reposed in her. The following is from a prayer to Mary by St. Methodius:— "Thy name, O mother of God, is full of all graces and divine blessings. Thou hast comprehended him who is incomprehensible, and nourished him who nourishes all living creatures. He who fills Heaven and earth and is Lord of all, has chosen to have need of thee, since thou hast clothed him with that garment of flesh that he had not before. Rejoice, O mother and handmaid of God! rejoice! rejoice! thou hast for a debtor him to whom all creatures owe their being. We are all debtors to God, but God is a debtor to thee." P. 327. Of prayers to Mary, there are over thirty in this book, beside the short petitions with which it abounds. As a specimen the following is given entire:— "O Queen and Mother of mercy! who dost dispense graces to all those who have recourse to thee, so liberally because thou art queen, and with so much love because thou art our most loving mother; to thee I commend myself to-day, destitute of merits and virtues as I am, and laden with debts to the divine justice. O Mary, thou hast the keys of all the divine mercies, do not forget my miseries, and do not leave me in my great poverty. Thou who art so liberal with all, and who givest more than is asked of thee, do so with me. O lady, protect me, this is all I ask. If thou dost protect me I fear nothing. I do not fear the demons, for thou art more powerful than all the spirits of hell; nor my sins, for one word of thine in my behalf can obtain pardon of them all from God. If I have thy favor I do not fear even the anger of God, for he is appeased by one prayer of thine. In a word, if thou dost protect me, I hope all things, because all things are possible with thee. O mother of mercy, I know that thou takest pleasure and pride in giving succor to the most miserable, for thou canst aid them, if not prevented by their obstinacy. I am a sinner, but I am not obstinate; I wish to change my life. Thou canst, then, help me; do help and save me. To-day I place myself entirely in thy hands. Teach me what I must do to please God, and I will do it; and I hope to do so with thy aid, O Mary, Mary, my mother, my light, my consolation, my refuge, and my hope. Amen, amen, amen." Pp. 198-9. The following is extracted from another prayer to her:— "O Mary! O our beloved advocate! since thou hast a heart so compassionate that thou canst not behold the miserable without pity; and, at the same time, hast so great a power with God to save all those whom thou dost defend; deign to intercede in behalf of us miserable creatures, who place in thee all our hopes." P. 204. The following is a "prayer of St. Germanus:"— "O my only Lady, who art the sole consolation which I receive from God; thou who art the only celestial dew that doth soothe my pains; thou who art the light of my soul when it is surrounded with darkness; thou who art my guide in my journeying, my strength in my weakness, my treasure in my poverty; balm for my wounds, my consolation in sorrow; thou who art my refuge in misery, the hope of my salvation, graciously hear my prayer, have pity on me, as is befitting the mother of a God who hath so much love for men. Thou who art our defense and joy, grant me what I ask; make me worthy of enjoying with thee that great happiness which thou dost enjoy in Heaven. Yes, my Lady, my refuge, my life, my help, my defense, the strength, my joy, my hope, make me to come with thee to Paradise. I know that, being the mother of God thou canst obtain this for me if thou wilt. O Mary, thou art omnipotent to save sinners, thou needest nothing else to recommend us to thee, for thou art the mother of true life." Pp. 325-6. All these extracts are but specimens, an abundance of which exist, which have universally delighted Catholic Europe, and now, under the sanction of Archbishop Hughes, are sent forth to delight Catholic America. We hope next week to conclude the examination of this subject by some quotations to show more directly how this worship of Mary subverts the truth as it is in Christ. We should feel like apologizing to our readers for the publication of so much of these extravagant expressions were not the subject of vital importance, and one which ought to be well understood by all.