MARIOLATRY NOT CHRISTIANITY.
By Editor
THE Scriptures teach that Christ is the minister of righteousness, but is not the minister of sin; that the prayer of him who turns away from the law of God is an abomination. Prov. 28:9. But “the church” teaches that devotion to Mary is accepted and will be rewarded even though the devotee be living in open and wanton sin. The gospel of Christ enforces the strictest morality and regard for God’s law, and denounces as hateful hypocrisy any service offered by him who loves sin; but the Roman system countenances sin, and connives at immorality by teaching that a man may openly disregard the law of God and live in the constant commission of crime, and yet be regarded with favor in Heaven if he shows respect for Mary. If this be proved, then it is again sufficiently proved that Mariolatry is not Christianity; it is as different from the gospel of Christ as sin is different from morality—as unrighteousness is from righteousness. It is no disparagement to our argument that they deny this conclusion, and affirm that they do not admit of license to sin. We will present the proof and leave the reader to judge. “In the year 1604 there lived in the city of Flanders two young students, who, instead of attending to their studies, gave themselves up to excesses and dissipation. One night, having gone to the house of a woman of ill fame, one of them, named Richard, after some time returned home, but the other remained. Richard having gone home, was undressing to go to rest, when he remembered that he had not recited that day, as usual, some ‘Hail Marys.’ He was oppressed with sleep and very weary, yet he roused himself and recited them, although without devotion, and only half awake. He then went to bed, and having just fallen asleep, he heard a loud knocking at the door, and immediately after, before he had time to open it, he saw before him his companion, with a hideous and ghastly appearance. ‘Who are you?’ he said to him. ‘Do you not know me?’ answered the other. ‘But what has so changed you? you seem like a demon.’ ‘Alas!’ exclaimed this poor wretch, ‘I am damned.’ ‘And how is this?’ ‘Know,’ he said, ‘when I came out of that infamous house, a devil attacked me and strangled me. My body lies in the middle of the street, and my soul is in hell. Know that my punishment would also have been yours, but the Blessed Virgin, on account of those few ‘Hail Marys’ said in her honor, has saved you.’”—Glories of Mary. pp. 464-5. “Father Eusebius Nierembergh relates, that there lived in the city of Aragona a girl, named Alexandra. who, being noble and very beautiful, was greatly loved by two young men. Through jealousy, they one day fought and killed each other. Their enraged relatives, in return, killed the poor young girl, as the cause of so much trouble, cut off her head, and threw her into a well. A few days after, St. Dominic was passing through that place, and, inspired by the Lord, approached the well, and said: ‘Alexandra come forth,’ and immediately the head of the deceased came forth, placed itself on the edge of the well, and prayed St. Dominic to hear its confession. The saint heard its confession, and also gave it communion, in presence of a great concourse of persons who had assembled to witness the miracle. Then St. Dominic ordered her to speak and tell why she had received that grace. Alexandra answered, that when she was beheaded, she was in a state of mortal sin, but that the most holy Mary, on account of the rosary, which she was in the habit of reciting, had preserved her in life. Two days the head retained its life upon the edge of the well, in the presence of all, and then the soul went to purgatory. But fifteen days after, the soul of Alexandra appeared to St. Dominic, beautiful and radiant as a star, and told him that one of the principal sources of relief to the souls in purgatory is the rosary which is recited for them; and that as soon as they arrive in Paradise they pray for those who apply to them these powerful prayers. Having said this, St. Dominic saw that happy soul ascending in triumph to the kingdom of the blessed.’” pp. 273-4. Thus Mary saves those who go through the mummery of reciting the rosary, though they live and die in mortal sin. The gospel of Christ has no such salvation. It is no wonder that Romanists dislike to have their votaries read the Bible, for the reading of the word of God sweeps away such refuges of lies as this. “We read in the chronicles of the Capuchin Fathers, that there lived in Venice a celebrated advocate who, by fraud and evil practices, had become rich. His whole life was very bad, and it appears that he had but one good habit, that of reciting every day a certain prayer to the holy Virgin. Yet even this little devotion saved him from eternal death, through the mercy of Mary. It happened in this way: Happily for himself he had a great esteem for Father Matthew de Basso, and urged him so much to come and dine at his house that one day the Father gave him this pleasure. Having arrived, the advocate said to him: ‘Now, Father, I will show you something that you have never seen. I have a wonderful ape, who is my valet, washes my glasses, lays the table, and opens the door.’ ‘This may not be an ape,’ answered the Father: ‘it may be something more than an ape; order him to come here.’ The ape was called again and again, search was made for him everywhere, and he could not be found. At length he was discovered hidden under a bed in the lower part of the house, but he would not come out. ‘Come then,’ said the religious, ‘let us go and see him;’ and he went with the advocate to his hiding-place. ‘Infernal beast,’ he said, ‘come forth, and in the name of God I command you to tell me what you are.’ And behold, the ape answered that he was the devil, and that he was waiting until that sinner should omit some day to recite his accustomed prayer to the mother of God; for the first time he should omit it, God had given him leave to strangle him and take him to hell.’” pp. 251-2. “Father Charles Bovius relates that in Domans, in France, lived a married man who held a criminal connection with another woman. Now the wife being unable to endure this, continually besought God to punish the guilty parties; and one day in particular went to an altar of the blessed Virgin, which was in a certain church, to implore vengeance upon the woman who had alienated her husband from her; and this very woman went also every day to the same altar to repeat a ‘Hail Mary.’ One night the divine mother appeared in a dream to the wife, who, on seeing her, began her accustomed petition: ‘Justice, mother of justice! Do you seek justice of me? Go and find others to execute justice for you. It belongs not to me to do it for you. Be it known to you,’ she added, ‘that this very sinner offers every day a devotion in my honor, and that I cannot allow any sinner who does this, to suffer and be punished for his sins.’” pp. 301-2. We have now abundantly proved our proposition. No more proof can be needed. But we will refer to one more case, because of another point involved. For the sake of brevity we will not copy. A young man promised his mother to recite a “Hail Mary” every day. He led a very wicked and dissolute life, and became a highway robber, but never omitted the “Hail Mary.” He fell into the hands of justice and was condemned to death. In prison the devil appeared to him and offered to release him if he would obey him. First he ordered him to renounce Jesus Christ and the sacraments, which he consented to do. Then he ordered him to renounce the Virgin Mary. “‘This,’ exclaimed the young man, ‘I will never do,’ and turning to Mary, repeated the accustomed prayer.” The devil left him, and he was led forth to execution. On his way to the gallows he passed before a statue of Mary, and saluting her with a devotion, “the statue, in the presence of all, inclined its head and saluted him.” Having obtained the privilege of kissing the feet of the image, the Virgin, through the image, put forth her hand and held him fast. Of course he was released, and Mary was greatly honored. Thus the “Hail Marys” of an abandoned, dissolute highway robber were efficacious for his salvation. Had he renounced Mary and clung to Jesus Christ he would have been lost, “for all who are saved are saved through Mary.” She is the actual throne of grace—the “only hope” of the sinner. This is authentic Catholic doctrine, which no one can deny. We appeal to our readers—to the Catholics themselves—if we have done their system any injustice. Another instance: A vicious youth was reduced to beggary. A sorcerer introduced him to the devil, when the following conversation passed:— “‘If he will obey me,’ said the enemy, ‘I will make him richer than before; but in the first place, he must renounce God.’ At this the youth shuddered, but urged on by that cursed magician, he yielded, and renounced God. ‘But this is not sufficient,’ said the demon, ‘he must also renounce Mary; for it is to her that we attribute our greatest losses. Oh, how many souls she has snatched from us, and led back to God and saved!’ ‘Oh, this I will not do,’ exclaimed the youth; ‘deny Mary! why she is my only hope.’ I would rather be a beggar all my life.’” P. 183. This is recorded approvingly, and shows, again, that, in the estimation of the Catholic church, to renounce God is a small matter compared to renouncing Mary. In renouncing God there is ample chance of recovery; but renouncing Mary is fatal. “We acknowledge that one alone in Heaven is solicitous for us, as St. Augustine says of her.” P. 740. Giving a quotation from St. Anselm. Liguori adds:— “‘By which he gives us to understand that the sinner, being hated by God, is rendered odious and abominable in the eyes of all creatures; but if he has recourse to the refuge of sinners, Mary not only does not despise him, but affectionately embraces him, and does not abandon him until he is pardoned by her Son and our Judge, Jesus Christ.’” Pp. 746-7. Every Bible reader knows that this is contrary to the declarations of the gospel. John 3:16. “‘She could in no way show greater charity than by offering her Son for our salvation; so that St. Bonaventure says: Mary so loved the world as to give her only begotten Son.’” P. 612. We offer no more; we might multiply such testimonies, but this is enough. We pity the blindness of those who are so shamefully misled. We cannot fraternize such a system; it is not the gospel, nor even a resemblance to it. It is a human device to build up a system of worldliness and pride.