Catholic News Agency reports a surge in Marian devotion among British Protestants:
"Walsingham is home to two Marian shrines — one Catholic and the other Anglican — located at opposite sides of the town.
[…]
"According to the New York Times, the number of Protestant pilgrims visiting the Marian shrine and staying overnight has risen since 1999, from 10,000 to 12,000.
"Protestant worshipers in Walsingham often belong to the Anglo-Catholic tradition, which accords greater reverence to the Virgin Mary than other Protestant sects, and uses the bells and incense like in the Roman Catholic liturgy.
"The shrines also appeal to other Christians, and the Orthodox and Methodist churches in the town are indicative of this."
This Rock ran an article a few years back on how one Catholic teacher presented the reasonableness of Marian devotion to Protestant students.
That story is incomplete. The strange comment in the CNA story “uses the bells and incense like in the Roman Catholic liturgy.” The real quote is “uses the bells and incense that have been become increasingly prevalent in the Roman Catholic liturgy.” When I read that in the NY imes I about flipped.
The complete story can be seen here.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/08/news/journal.php
Sorry. Make that the “NY Times”.
As the Blessed Mother continually points the way to Her Son, I think there is nothing but GOOD in increasing Protestant devotion to Her.
As they begin to delve into the teachings about Mary, they may soon come to see that the Catholic Church truly is The Church established by Our Lord.
That’s what I’m hoping too, Josh, that if this a serious trend that Mary will lead them in the end to the Eucharist.
that if this a serious trend that Mary will lead them in the end to the Eucharist.
Her soul does magnify the Lord!
Mary certainly could lead them to the Eucharist — it’s interesting how many Protestant Converts say that the biggest hurdle that they had to overcome in coming to the Church was Mary. Once they have Mary – they are more than half way home.
By the way, Michelle, the image of Mary and Jesus that you posted is really beautiful. I’ve never seen that one before.
How many of these are “real” protestants and how many are sychnrestic types that are prominent in all churches today?
I’ve never seen that madonna and child either. Michelle, can you give us the artists name?
“I’ve never seen that madonna and child either. Michelle, can you give us the artists name?”
Wish I could, but I don’t know. I found the image through Google Images. It was posted on the site of Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio.
Jeb: synchnrestic? Couldn’t find in it in the dictionary.
It isn’t Mary herself, but the Marian dogmas and devotions.
Well, if you accept the dogmas and devotions as true (which Catholics do) then most of them are facts about Mary. So what from a protestant point of view is an objectionable and false belief is, to a Catholic, simply “Mary”– because that’s who and how we believe she is.
synchnrestic?
No “h.” Syncretism, from sygkretizein. See the Catholic Encyclopedia, for example.
Jeb is asking whether these Protestants are people who keep consistent doctrines or just accept whatever they want, from any source whatever, even if it contradicts other elements of their faith.
If we look to the Reformers themselves, we find that Marian devotion was absolutely vital to their lives, so I’d be less suspicious than Jeb is.
I’d just like to add that at the heart of Christianity, as Saint Augustine noted (On Christian Doctrine), is the sense of antithesis, the Incarnation being the best example: “Seeing, then, that man fell through pride, He restored him through humility. We were ensnared by the wisdom of the serpent: we are set free by the foolishness of God.”
Since Eve-Mary provides the other half of the Adam-Christ antithesis, and since this sense has been lost among many, I think it’s only natural for some Christians to experience a pull back to it, and to the accompanying devotion. As a convert, seeing how Mary fitted into the overall picture in the teachings of the Church and in the writings of the fathers was very illuminating.
As a convert, seeing how Mary fitted into the overall picture in the teachings of the Church and in the writings of the fathers was very illuminating.
Same for me. Ironically, that “greatest obstacle” often becomes the greatest help.
I agree with Pha. Before I converted, praying to Mary seemed the strangest idea. Afterwards, after I finally had an understanding of how she fits into the whole “economy of salvation”, to borrow a phrase from the catechism, it as if praying to Her and asking Her help are second nature, almost.
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