Devotion to Mary and the Recitation of the Rosary is necessary for Salvation

[rstrats]

"Let us remember that Jesus Christ is a very good Son and that He does not permit that we offend and despise His Most Holy Mother. 

Did He even consider Mary to be His mother? In the only 5 times that scripture mentions the Messiah's comments regarding Mary, He never once refers to her as mother. And in none of those times does it seem that there was any warmth being shown between them.

[Rella]

Did He even consider Mary to be His mother? In the only 5 times that scripture mentions the Messiah's comments regarding Mary, He never once refers to her as mother. And in none of those times does it seem that there was any warmth being shown between them.

Even at the crucifixion when Jesus said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!"
it could have almost been as an afterthought, rather then a loving son caring for what would become of his mother once he was gone.


And never once did he show any reverence toward her that I recall.

[NyawehNyoh]

.
● Phil 4:6-7 . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer Nov 2022. At the time, I was devastated; so much so that I feared a nervous breakdown; and seriously considered suicide by drowning myself in the bathtub.

Well; as it turned out Phil 4:6-7 was my safety net-- not by reciting scripted prayers. I obtained freedom from a severe case of anxiety by telling God in my own words exactly how I felt: straight from the shoulder, man to man.

Mother Teresa complained in her private letters to spiritual counselors that she felt not the slightest glimmer of the Lord's presence during virtually the entire five decades she was a missionary in India; plus lamented that her prayers returned to her like sharp knives, cutting her soul. I'm not talking about sporadic returns; it was always that way with her, and it was very discouraging-- so discouraging that after a while Teresa began to seriously question whether there's really a God out there.

Well; I would hazard to guess that as a good Catholic girl, Teresa didn't practice conversational prayer, instead she practiced rosary prayer; and she likely expected God to read her thoughts so she wouldn't have to spell them out.

Well; in my judicious estimation: God's IQ is at least equal to that of our loved ones, our associates, our BFF, and the drivers that deliver pizza. So; if we don't talk any of them in rote lest we appear to them as mental cases, then why in God's name are Christians talking to the supernatural genius who created the universe-- all of its life, matter, and energy --as if He were a totem pole?

● 1Cor 13:11 . .When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Honestly: some Christians really need to grow up.
_

[NyawehNyoh]

.
My recommendation is that we avoid debates with folks for whom an important part of their religion is Mary's veneration-- amounting to +/- 1.28 Billion souls; which is +/- 53% of the world's total number of Christians of all denominations. I can just about guarantee they will become very defensive, circle the wagons, and put up a whale of a fight for their survival.

A better topic of discussion with Mary's admirers would be the good shepherd presented in the tenth chapter of John's gospel, to wit:

Jesus has been tasked with tending a number of very special sheep.

● John 10:29 . . My sheep . . my Father gave them to me

Jesus' Father expects His son to be conscientious about the sheep's safety.

● John 6:39 . .This is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose anything of what He gave me.

Jesus never fails to give the One what He wants.

● John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of the One who sent me.

● John 8:29 . . I always do what is pleasing to Him.

Now the thing is: were Jesus to lose even one of the sheep that his Father entrusted to his care-- just one --then Jesus would not be able to say that he "always" pleases the One who sent him. He could say that he pleases the One most of the time, but certainly not always without fail.

People are actually casting a nay vote in regard to Jesus' competence when they insist it's possible for him to lose some of the sheep that his Father gave him. I would be inclined to agree with the skeptics were Christ an ordinary guy; but his miracles demonstrate that the good shepherd has all the powers and abilities of the supreme being at his disposal to insure he succeeds at keeping the sheep right where his Father wants them kept.

● John 10:9 . . I am the door; whoever enters through me shall be saved.

Were Christ an ordinary guy; then he wouldn't dare say "shall be saved" no, he'd have to tone it down a bit and say safer instead of saved. That would leave him some room for error. But when Christ says "shall be saved" he's claiming a 0.0% failure rate. That's how confident Christ is that he will lose nothing of those that the One gave him.

FAQ: Why can't the sheep change their minds about following Christ and leave him to follow someone else?

REPLY: Animal husbandry isn't democratic, on the contrary: it's quite despotic.

The thing is: a rancher's free will trumps the herd's free will; and the rancher's brand burned into the animals' skins indelibly identify them with their owner. So be advised: once someone makes the decision to unify with Christ, they relinquish whatever sovereignty they had as a beast at large, viz: they become Christ's property, and there's no going back because he and his Father play for keeps.

● John 10:28-29 . . No one can take them out of my hand-- my Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. I and my Father stand together.

● 1Cor 6:19-20 . .You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

● Eph 1:13 . . In him you also-- who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him --were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

I kinda doubt folks are ending up in Hell for venerating Jesus' mom; but I have no doubt whatsoever that multitudes of folks end up in Hell because they neglected to seek protection from retribution with the good shepherd.
_