What Is This? by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 4, 1893

What Is This?

By Editor

Are Roman Catholics idolators? Do they exalt the creature above the Creator? Let the following from a sermon preached at the dedication of St. Joseph's Church, De Pere, Wis., with Monsignor Satolli and Bishop Messmer in attendance, answer. We quote from the Independent of November 9:—

Joseph was the head of the family, the foster father of Jesus, the spouse of Mary. Jesus was subject to him, so the Scriptures say, not only loving him, but was a dutiful child to him, obeying him readily. A mere wish of Joseph had the power of command for Jesus. The relations of the three are not now changed, although the surroundings are; the Virgin Mary is still the spouse of St. Joseph, as Jesus is still the foster child. That Mary, queen of heaven and earth, is still the perfect spouse, and Jesus still subject to Joseph, his foster father, gives some idea of the high position in heaven of Joseph;

with the exception of the blessed Virgin, he alone of all the saints takes first rank; for even Mary and Jesus pay homage to Joseph, what they could pay to no one else. Therefore his influence with the Fountain of Grace must be powerful, a mere wish of Joseph equaling to Jesus as a command. This immense influence Joseph uses in the interest of the welfare of his clients and as protector of their temporal interests.

The testimony of the Bible is that when the children of Israel "ate the sacrifices of the dead," or to the dead heroes in the heathen worship, that they in reality sacrificed "to devils, and not to God." See Lev. 17:7; Ps. 106:20, 37; 1 Cor. 10:20. They did not know it, but it was the fact, nevertheless. The testimony of the Scriptures is that "the dead know not anything;" that "his [the dead's] sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Satan induced our first parents to believe that they would not die, but would be as God. (See Gen. 3:4, R. V.) Believing that their ancestors and great men possessed something that did not die, demons, the messengers of Satan could claim to be that something, and so deceive men. Hence came ancient sorcery and witchcraft. Hence comes Modern Spiritualism. Hence comes the saint worship, the Mariolatry, and the Josepholatry of Roman Catholics. Satan said Joseph did not die, he became as God, and Catholics believe it. Are they not idolators? Whom do they worship in worshiping the supposed Joseph? And yet many Protestants call the system which recognizes and permits this "Christian"! There are Roman Catholics who are Christians, but it is in spite of the system.