MARY OR CHRIST? by Francis Hope

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 12.

MARY OR CHRIST?

By Francis Hope

BEFORE me lies “A Little Book of Indulgenced Prayers,” issued by the Catholic Truth Society. In it is quite another Gospel proclaimed than the one known by Paul and set forth in the Word of God, and in all kindness to Catholic friends I would make a few comparisons of these two Gospels, and show what the little prayer-book says, and then what the Bible says.

1. The little book presents “Mary” as the saving name: “O Mother of Perpetual Succor, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living, and the salvation of the dying. O purest Mary! O sweetest Mary! let thy name henceforth be ever on my lips.”

But Peter (the claimed foundation of the Roman Church), when filled with the Holy Ghost, presented the name of Jesus, and added, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. And this is also the Word of God. Which is true?

2. Mary is said to be our life: “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope.”

But the Word of God says of Jesus, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. And again, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

3. The little book then says it is through Mary that we obtain eternal life: “Grant, we beseech thee, that through His mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.”

But Jesus in the Word says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

4. Mary is said to be our advocate: “Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.”

The Bible says, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” not Mary.

5. Mary is presented as our intercessor: “Defend, O Lord, we beseech thee, us thy servants, through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin Mother of God, the Blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, and all Saints, keep us, Thy servants, and our abodes in all holiness; cleanse us, our relations, kinsfolk, and acquaintances, from all vices.”

But the Bible says, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” also 1 Peter 3:22.

6. Mary is the one presented who will keep us: “Virgin most holy, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Treasurer of graces, Refuge of us poor sinners, . . . into thy most holy hands we commit the keeping of our hearts.”

But Peter exhorts us, “Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:19.

Again we read in this little book: “O blessed Aloysius, adorned with angelic virtues, I, thy most unworthy suppliant, recommend specially to thee the chastity of my soul and body, praying thee by thy angelic purity to plead for me with Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Lamb, and his Most Holy Mother, Virgin of virgins, that they would vouchsafe to keep me from all grievous sin.”

But Paul wrote, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12)—without the help of Mary—good woman tho she was. See also Jude 24.

7. Then Mary is presented as the seat of wisdom, who is to bring all into the only place where salvation is to be found, that is the Catholic Church: “O Mary, Mother of mercy and refuge of sinners, we beseech thee to look with pitying eyes on heretical and schismatical nations. Do thou, who art the seat of wisdom, illuminate their minds, wretchedly involved in the darkness of ignorance and sin, that they may know the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church to be the only true church of Jesus Christ, out of which no sanctity or salvation can be found. . . . That we may thus, O glorious Virgin, all sing exultingly forever, ‘Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, alone thou hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world.’ Amen.”

But the Word says of Jesus: “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. . . . For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2.

And now, dear friend, which Gospel do you think is the true one? In whom will you trust, Jesus or Mary? Will you look to him for salvation or to the Catholic Church?

FRANCIS HOPE