p. 377 | IDOLATRY by M. E. Kellogg

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 11, 1901

IDOLATRY

By M. E. Kellogg

M. E. KELLOGG.

(Coomer Station, N. Y.)

WHAT is the worship of the Virgin Mary by Catholics but idolatry? She was a human being at best; and, moreover, she is not living, but dead! Is not the worship of a dead human being the worst kind of idolatry? But do they worship her? Read the following from a Catholic youth’s paper—the Angelus:—

“The festival we celebrate to-day, dear children, was appointed by Pope Innocent XI, that on it the faithful should recommend to God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the necessities of His Church, and return Him thanks for His gracious protection and numberless mercies. This festival dates its institution from the year 1683, when the Turks were defeated by the Christians, who placed all their confidence in Mary.

“The name of Mary is the most beautiful name, with the only exception of that of Jesus Christ himself, her divine Son. The holy Fathers tell us the name of Mary, when invoked in times of danger and temptation, is a most powerful weapon against the enemy of our soul. Mary signifies ‘Star of the sea;’ and well has our blessed lady been called by this beautiful title. We are, as it were, sailing upon the sea of this life, and constantly tossed about by the great waves and tempests of temptation, and constantly in danger of losing our soul. We need some one to console us during this time of trial, and some one to point out to us the true path, that we may not suffer shipwreck. Mary is the one on whom we can rely, and who will show us the way. The great St. Anselm tells us ‘that devotion to the name of Mary is a sure sign of predestination.’ This being the case, we should have a sincere devotion to that beautiful name, remembering that St. Bonaventure says, ‘It cannot be pronounced without benefit to him who pronounces it.’”

“Many a time during this school year you will have an opportunity to call upon the name of Mary, for at times you will meet with little difficulties in studying your lessons which will seem impossible to overcome; some lessons will appear so hard that you will feel you cannot master them. Stop for a moment and invoke that holy name of Mary, and you will find it easy to overcome these difficulties.”

Notice how much is said about Mary, and how little about Christ. A great victory was won over the Turks by Christians, “who placed all their confidence in Mary”! Then of course they had no confidence in Christ. But the apostle Peter calls attention to our privilege of casting all our care upon Him (not her); for He careth for us. 1 Peter 5: 7.

We surely need some one to console us during trials, and are we not taught in the Word that Christ was made flesh that He might be like us? “For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2: 8. After the reference to Mary in John 19: 25–27, where Christ, dying upon the cross, committed her to the care of John, she is not mentioned by name again in the Scriptures. Neither Paul, Peter, James, nor Jude in their letters make the least suggestion that she was deserving of worship, or that through her mediation any good could come to any one. Had they written like the Catholics of to-day, there would be ten references to Mary in their writings where there is one to Christ. The Catholics have turned from Christ, and like the heathen of whom Paul wrote, they have “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” Rom. 1: 25.