STORM2K

Being a Baptist, I'm not very educated on Catholisism. What significance do you think the stain on the underpass has? Why would Mary appear in such a place?
I'm not trying to be negative, just curious. Also, I'm wondering why Catholics tend to place a lot of emphasis on Mary. As a Baptist, we've always been taught that our worship and praise should go to God and Jesus. Baptists place no emphasis on the earthly mother of Jesus.

Thanks for your help!
Tim

Well Tim, I'm not the Mary you wrote to, but I am a Mary and a Catholic/Baptist convert..........

If people want to believe that the stain on the underpass is a symbol of Mary, they certainly can. It is (was before the graffiti) beautiful and looked like a image of her. Some people just seem closer to the Lord when they see images of the Blessed Virgin and some think its a sign that she is trying to tell us something.....keep Christ in your life.

Now the Baptist keep Mary as an important part of Jesus' life as she was his mother and a Virgin......Catholics DO NOT WORSHIP Mary...man I have explained these to so many of my aunts, uncles and cousins on my moms side. Catholics believe she is Holy in that she WAS Jesus' mother and therefore is the Blessed Virgin. We talk to her/ask her for guidance and for a little extra "in" with God. Don't you think your Mom would have a little influence on you? Asking for intercessions on our behalf, just a little bit of help. Same as asking St. Christopher to protect us and St. Jude to help us.

One prayer asking for the Blessed Virgin's help is the Hail Mary as follows:

Hail Mary
A prayer for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traditional version:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newer version:

Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hail Mary is based on these passages from the Bible:

Luke 1:28-35, 42-48.


http://www.catholicplanet.com/catholic/hail.htm


Home I helped a little,

Mary.....the other Mary or another Mary since there are a few of us on here

Well Mary, you sure filled in for me, quite well I might add! Better than I would have done I'm afraid.

You see Tim, I'm going thru a faith questioning phase. I was raised Catholic but here of late, I feel out of sorts with the Catholic Church. Haven't lost my faith, just lost faith in my local archdiocese (yes my opinions are related to the abuse victim's and their stories). I really think the Catholic Church blew it - they should have stood up for the victims, from day one, apologizing. Instead the church is embarrassed and calls it a scandal. I'm getting off track here......I'm having trouble separating the two - going to church on Sunday and knowing our very own diocese and archbishop knowingly shuffled abusive priests around, with new children to prey upon. One was our former Pastor, who officiated at one of my daughter's First Communion.

Oddly enough, you asked for my opinion but in this case the better Mary spoke up. I'm in a faith funk right now. And not really sure where I'm headed. But I still believe what I've always believed - you treat others as you wish to be treated, every day and live a good life, what Jesus wanted us to. For now, that's enough for me. In time, I'll figure out what I'll do with this phase I'm in. And my pastor would be shocked, but I don't feel guilty for skipping Mass right now. I've long said goodbye to that former Catholic school girl I was that never questioned anything, never talked back, never missed Mass!

Mary

Ditto the above.

Read here from page 3 (azsnowman's post) onward. http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=60213

We've discussed it before somewhere else also, well over a year ago, I think. But I can't find it this late at night. I'll try tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies! Helped clear my mind a bit.