問：天主教拜聖母嗎？瑪利亞是天主教眾神之一？
答：
| 1. |
題目：崇拜瑪利亞？ 本來我作為一個非基督徒不應貼這篇文，但我素來沒門戶之見。姑且貼來： http://cwo.com/~pentrack/catholic/apolo.html#General
其中http://www.transporter.com/apologia/faq01.htm 以上是 Opus Dei （版友名字，不是那個組織）很久以前提供的天主教護教學 links。我自己覺得部份題目略嫌簡略，但應足夠本版版友使用。這裡有脫苦海和 Te Deum 兩位天主教徒，我相信會比我了解得多（我連天主教用的譯名也常搞錯），且不多談。
|
| 2. |
題目：Re: 其他基督教同天主教有什麼不同 當然不是啦，「天主教傾於信瑪麗亞」只是部份福音派教會的誤解(他們樂於繼續 去宣揚這個誤解)。 其實，天主教把對聖徒或者瑪利亞（耶穌的母親）的崇敬稱為「dulia」，代表他們對先聖的紀念、追憶和敬重，特別是殉道者或者特別的聖徒，在早期，他們小心保存他們的遺物、紀念他們的生日，情況像我們紀念孫中山一樣。 他們求先聖代禱是因為他們相信這些殉道者或者聖徒已經進入了神的榮耀，與基督同在，到第四世紀，連先知、使徒（APOSTLES）、列祖（亞伯郎／亞伯拉罕，摩西等）都被記念。而這些「代求」，不是祈禱，而是向我們要求其他信徒「代禱」一樣，天主教認為這些聖徒已經進入了神的榮耀，不是死了的。 對于神（三位一體）的神，他們對神的敬拜、信仰是「latria」，「latria」是單單指對神的敬拜，是 reserved 了給神的，人之可以對聖徒／瑪利亞「dulia」，對神一定要／只可以「latria」。封立聖人是一種對先聖的表揚，要信徒學習他們的榜樣。 雖然我不認同他們的做法，但是覺得這些問題上面，也不足以定他們為什麼「異端」。其實，要定「浸信會」是異端都得o架，看你如何「屈」罷了。 在我理解，他們並非教導人去拜偶像，但是由于個別地方民間信仰的影響，latria和dulia的區分往往混淆，你看見菲律賓的女佣「向瑪利亞／聖人祈禱」，可能是她自小母親教的， 她家庭做的可能不是天主教的教導。
|
| 3. |
題目：基督教與天主教的不同之處（節錄自"慕道者指南"） （七）對耶穌基督的母親瑪利亞，天主教予以適當的敬禮。第一，因為她是耶穌的母親，她養育了耶穌，當耶穌代人贖罪受苦難時，她在精神上分擔了耶穌的苦痛。耶穌基督都很敬愛她，我們作基督的信徒的，對她也該予以尊敬。第二，因為聖母瑪利亞擁有很多美德，如服從天主、謙卑自下、忍耐寬仁、慈善助人等，是我們為人處世的榜樣，直得我們效法敬重。 不過天主教恭敬聖母瑪利亞，與恭敬天主和救主基督不同。天主教恭敬聖母瑪利亞，並不認為她是神明主宰如同天主或基督一樣，能降福免禍，只認為她是我們在基督前的中保，她在耶穌基督前說話有力量，她能為我們轉求，為我們求得天主的豐富恩寵，加強我們的信仰生活，能更虔誠的事奉天主和救主基督。 基督教各派並不恭敬聖母瑪利亞，他們認為聖母瑪利亞與其他一般婦女一樣，為什麼要恭敬她？有的教派還反對恭敬聖母，甚至遣責、曲解天主教恭敬聖母之本意；有的教派還公開誣蔑說：「天主教不崇拜上帝，不崇拜耶穌基督，只崇拜瑪利亞，天主教是瑪利亞教。」社會上有許多人受到這樣種誣蔑宣傳的誤導，令人遺憾。 （八）關於供奉聖像之事，天主教可在教堂或教友家中供奉聖像比如耶穌苦像、耶穌聖心像、聖母及其他聖人聖女像等，供教友瞻仰敬禮；其目的非為引人尊敬該像本身，乃為助人引發睹像思人之心，比如目睹耶穌苦像，內心就會想起耶穌被釘死在十字架上代人贖罪之大恩；目睹耶穌聖心像，就會想起耶穌聖心愛人之深；目睹聖母像，就會想起聖母的慈悲為懷。天主教供奉聖像，猶如我們供奉父母的照片一樣，供奉父母照像之目的，乃為睹像思親，天主教供奉聖像之目的也是如此。基督教各教派反對供奉聖像，認為是崇拜偶像，罪惡行為；不過他們卻把十字架供奉在他們的教堂頂上，令人瞻仰尊敬，不認為是偶像崇拜，這種矛盾作風，令人莫解。
|
| 4. |
作者：蕊儀 Prologue For practicing Catholics, it is essential to comprehend the objective of our faith; for redemption lies on faith, faith in Christ, and trust in God. It is every Christian's obligation to defend what we believe, and be it during times of darkness, or in times of glory. One who takes pride in faith commits hypocrisy and pride, one of the seven deadly sins. Those who stand for faith and die for it, as the ancient Roman martyrs in times of persecution, their rewards will be great in heaven. I record our objective of faith, and the subjective will required to achieve redemption, not for the sake of glorifying myself; but for the future, for those who losses faith, or those who were misled, so they can repent and share the ultimate resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. On Mary It is then, clearly understood and having no room for debate, that Jesus Christ is both Human and Divine in Nature. So, it follows that Mary, mother of Jesus, plays a distinctive role on our salvation history (living history of man since creation, in the journey to seek re-union with God). In Genesis, God said "Her (Eve) offspring will crush your (snake) head" (Gen 3:15). This is a clear indication of Mary's power over Satan. Indeed, her son brought salvation back into humanity. It is true that Mary is a mortal, but yet she deserves honour and respect for her obedience to God and her important role to all living man. It is important to note that we do not worship Mary, for that is idolatry. We honour Mary, and pray to her. We ask her to pray for us in heaven; for she is closer to God, and she is the mother of the Word Incarnate. We ask her to add in her praise to God the prayers of our needs - giving attention to both prayers of ours and hers. This is all the same concept with praying to the saints, hoping that, they, in union with God, can earn us favour by praying for us; for the Church exists through the Holy Spirit, whom transcends through time. Therefore the Church is the ecclesia (assembly) of repented sinners of the past, present and future; of the living, the dead, and the unborn. This concerns the doctrine of Communion of Saints, which is to be discussed elsewhere. Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit... In various Creeds, or Credos, we claim that Christ is (conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit). This has no room of doubt. The Annunciation to Mary (Lk 1:26-28) inaugurates "the fullness of time", the time of the fulfilment of God's promise and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the "whole fullness of deity" would dwell "bodily". The divine response to her question, "How can this be, since I know no man?" (Lk 1:34) was given by the power of the Spirit, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you."(Lk 1:35) The mission of the Holy Spirit is always conjoined and ordered to that of the Son. The Holy Spirit, Catholic claims in the Nicene Creed (wrote by the council of Nicaea, 325 BC.) to be "the Lord, the giver of life". He is sent to sanctify the womb of the Virgin Mary and divinely fecundate it, causing her to conceive the eternal Son of the Father in a humanity drawn from her own. The Father's only Son, conceived as man in the womb of the Virgin Mary, is "Christ", that is to say, anointed by the Holy Spirit, from the beginning of his human existence, though the manifestation of this fact takes place only progressively: to the shepherds, to the magi, to John the Baptist, to the disciples. Thus the whole life of Jesus Christ will make manifest "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power". (It is important to note that the address of Jesus refers to His human nature, and the address Christ refers to His divine nature.) ... Born of the Virgin Mary What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mart illumines in turn the faith in Christ. These two believes go in parallel, and it is mutually impossible to deny one and accept the other, like many Protestant hold to be their distorted truth. Of Mary's Predestination (role destined to play in the history of man) "God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him, (Gal 4:4, Heb 10:5) he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. For this, from all eternity God chose for the mother of His Son a daughter of Israel, a young Jewish women of Nazareth in Galilee, "a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary". (Lk 1:26-27) The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by the assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in the coming of death, so also should a women contribute to the coming of life. (Lumen Gentium) Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy woman prepared for that of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a prosperity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. (Gen 3:15,20) By virtue of this promise, Sarah (wife of Abraham, mother of Isaac) conceives a son in spite of her old age. Against all human expectation God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth his faithfulness to his promises: Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Deborah; Ruth; Judith and Esther; and many other women. (Cor 1:17) Mary "stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Zion, and the new plan of salvation is established. Of the Immaculate Conception (The doctrine which refers to Mary's birth, claiming that Mary is born without original sins) To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary was "enriched by God with gifts appropriates to such a role". The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace". In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly born by God's grace. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854. (that Mary was born in grace and without original sin) The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved Immune from all stain of original sin. The "splendour of an entirely holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her own Son." The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy (holy means set apart) and blameless before him in love." (Eph 1:3-4) The Fathers of Eastern Tradition call the Mother of God the "All-Holy" (Panagia) and celebrate her as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed a new creature". By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long. "Let it be dine to me according to your word..." At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that" with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word." Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with Him and dependent on Him, by God's grace. Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. For she paid the debt that Eve had owned in creation. Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was united by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the Living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve; life through Mary". (Epiphanies) Mary's Divine Motherhood Called in the Gospels "the Mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her Son, as "the Mother of my Lord". In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God", or theotokos. (Theotokos is the early Greek form of the phrase 'Mother of God', for the title is given at around 200 AD., starting in the polis of Corinth) Virginal Conception (This section of the chapter includes three subsections: Mary's virginity, Mary the ever-virgin, and Mary's virginal motherhood in God's plan. This section was too long to translate. Its argument in general is to prove and claim that Mary gave birth to Christ as a virgin. It further stresses the purity of Mary and the divine blessing upon her; that she should be set apart from the mortal damnation of Eve. For God damned women to hard pregnancy. I don't think Protestants argue on the Virginal Conception of Christ, that is why I omit this section. I shouldn't omit this section, for its third subsection on "Mary's virginal motherhood in God's plan" is an important argument. But I think the argument I translated is enough to prove my point.) In Conclusion From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. "Full of grace", Mary is "the most excellent fruit of redemption": from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life. She is truly the Mother of God, since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself, the Word Incarnate. (Jn 1:1,15) As a divine blessing of God, Mary was, is , and remains a virgin till the end of time, fulfilling the purity and innocent role as the mother of God. Viewing from these aspects of Mary, it is important that we pay respect and honour her. As the Mother of our Saviour, it is impossible to have Christ delivered without her. As a virgin and obedient creation, she pays the most humility possible to God. Her power over Satan is undoubted, and her role as mother to all redeemed beings is also undebatable. It is reasonable to assure that she shares the glory of her Son, beseated ere the glory of God. Since this holds true, then as a mother she loves all beings. Of natural sense, our prayers offered to her will not be unanswered, for she in turn will pray to God for us. Being granted such essential seat in heaven, our Triune God would offer Mary more attentions than us sinners - for she has repented, and walking in the light of God. All we ask from Mary is to pray for us, in front of the royal seat of God. As an example to all living man, she demonstrated proper obedience and faith; thus we honour her, as a model to all Christians. Hail Mary, full of grace.... This is what we Catholics hold true, and will continue to hold true, till the end of time. |