How Can Men Be Like Mary?

[Katholikos]

Good Friday, best writer and great lay theologian, here's to you!

(Imaginary smilie tips his hat . . . the mechanism isn't working.)

JMJ Likos

[Anna]

[quote name='mulls' date='May 21 2004, 06:32 PM'] good friday, are you being catholic today? [/quote]
Yesterday, today, and forevermore, we pray to Lord.

[Carnanc]

To be like mary is to follow her example of discipleship, her submission to God's will, her faith and love.

[Katholikos]

[quote name='Dusty Fro' date='May 21 2004, 03:57 PM']
I can see what you're saying about souls being feminine, like the "Bride of Christ." I can see how that relates to Mary because she was kind of like a bride because of her carrying the Son of God, being a virgin, and openness to God's gift. She accepted Christ LITERALLY

[/quote]
The "Bride of Christ" is the Catholic Church (Ephesians 5:25-33; 2 Cor 11:2; Rev 21:9-14, Rev 22:17). Nuns become "Brides of Christ" by committing their lives to Him. Priests commit their lives to Christ's Bride, the Church.

Mary is the daughter of God the Father, the Spouse (Bride) of the Holy Spirit, and the Mother of Jesus Christ, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity -- God Himself.

Peace be to you and to all.

Ave Cor Mariae, Likos

[Ellenita]

[quote]I guess I get a little confused because I see Mary as a specifically feminine figure, and can't imagine burly bearded men saying "I want to be more like Mary." [/quote]

The logic of this kind of argument presupposes that women in protestant churches can't identify with Jesus or say that they are striving to be more like Him......

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Ellenita' date='May 22 2004, 05:18 PM']
The logic of this kind of argument presupposes that women in protestant churches can't identify with Jesus or say that they are striving to be more like Him...... [/quote]
Yeah, what she said.

[Katholikos]

Ellenita:

:tiphat:

[Dusty Fro]

No one answered my question of "Why isn't there a 'Imatitation of Jesus' thread?" I don't see examples of Mary having that much contact with the disciples until the crucifixion.

[Good Friday]

[quote][b]mulls writes:[/b]
good friday, are you being catholic today?[/quote]
First, I'd like to say that I hope every thread I post in isn't going to hang on the question of whether or not I'm being Catholic today. I posted something about an anti-pope in another thread, and got two private messages asking whether or not I had decided to come back to the church. In actuality, I had not, and was only posting about it for clarification. What I posted was objectively true: according to Catholic teaching, the man elected by the whole College of Cardinals is pope, and he will be pope until he abdicates or dies, so according to Catholic teaching anyone who claims to be the pope while the man elected by the conclave is still alive and has not abdicated is an anti-pope. This does not take being Catholic to understand, it is perfectly understandable and objectively true to non-Catholics as well. And yet I still got two private messages asking if I had come back to the church. I really wish that would stop, since my faith is my business.

For the purpose of clarification, though, I will answer your question: yes, I am "being Catholic today," but I am not the kind of Catholic that most of the people on this forum would hope for. In other words, I'm not an orthodox Catholic, and I probably never will be. But I can't seem to effectively separate myself from the church without feeling spiritually dead inside, so I stay, but I don't obey what I think is preposterous. I'm a "cafeteria Catholic" -- as is every other Catholic I've ever met, including the ones on this forum. Admitting to being a cafeteria Catholic, in my mind, is being an honest Catholic. No one agrees with 100% of what the church has always universally taught -- ask ten Catholics about Limbo, no salvation outside the church, etc. and see if you don't think I'm right.

Now, back to the original purpose of the thread, which was:

[quote][b]Dusty Fro asks:[/b]
No one answered my question of "Why isn't there a 'Imatitation of Jesus' thread?" I don't see examples of Mary having that much contact with the disciples until the crucifixion.[/quote]
Well, for one thing, the imitation of Mary is the imitation of Jesus. Mary was the first and best disciple of Jesus, so imitating the woman who perfectly imitated Jesus is the equivalent of imitating Jesus. Secondly, while there may not be a thread here like that, one of the best selling Catholic books of all time is called [i]The Imitation of Christ[/i] by Thomas A. Kempis, which is all about imitating Jesus. Being Catholic is, essentially, rooted in the imitation of Jesus. The Mass itself is the imitation of Jesus.

[Katholikos]

[quote name='Dusty Fro' date='May 23 2004, 06:15 PM'] No one answered my question of "Why isn't there a 'Imatitation of Jesus' thread?" I don't see examples of Mary having that much contact with the disciples until the crucifixion. [/quote]
I was looking forward to your response to Ellenita's post -- her logic is inescapable. Please do reply.

Protestants make an assumption that everything we need to know about Jesus and His teachings was recorded in the New Testament. But the NT is a record of the spiritual journey of the newborn Catholic Church during the first 100 years or so of its existence. It's purpose is not to teach Christians what to believe or how to practice their faith. The letters -- more than half of the NT -- were written to address problems that arose in the local churches the Apostles had founded in carrying out their commission to spread the Gospel. They instructed their converts [i]orally[/i]. The letters were supplementary. The Gospels were written later and are the recorded [i]memories[/i] of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We would need a separate thread for Bible issues. But my point is that a lot went on that was not recorded in the NT. The NT is a part of the story.

You may start an imitation of Jesus thread if you wish. The best selling book in the world, next to the Bible, is by Thomas á Kempis, called the [i]Imitation of Christ[/i]. I'll open a thread by that title. Meet you there?

But I don't think that's your point. You think too much attention is paid to Mary and not enough to Jesus -- right? This is a common complaint among Protestants, who misunderstand Mary's role in Catholic life.

Ave Cor Mariae, Likos

[mulls]

[quote name='Good Friday' date='May 23 2004, 07:43 PM'] I'm a "cafeteria Catholic" -- as is every other Catholic I've ever met, including the ones on this forum. Admitting to being a cafeteria Catholic, in my mind, is being an honest Catholic. No one agrees with 100% of what the church has always universally taught -- ask ten Catholics about Limbo, no salvation outside the church, etc. and see if you don't think I'm right.

[/quote]
very good, thanks for the clarification.

[Livin_the_MASS]

[quote][b]GoodFriday writes:[/b]
I'm a "cafeteria Catholic" -- as is every other Catholic I've ever met, including the ones on this forum. Admitting to being a cafeteria Catholic, in my mind, is being an honest Catholic. No one agrees with 100% of what the church has always universally taught -- ask ten Catholics about Limbo, no salvation outside the church, etc. and see if you don't think I'm right.[/quote]

You shouldn't take you personal opinion and put them on others and their point of views! We are all learning, this is a debate table, I don't know it all, and I learn stuff everyday from here. So to say someone who might misunderstand something and call them a "cafeteria Catholic" is wrong and uncharitable.

God Bless
Jason

[Livin_the_MASS]

I submit my will to that of God's Will (only by His grace) and hope to come to learn and teach others the One Truth.

[Good Friday]

[quote][b]Jason writes:[/b]
You shouldn't take you personal opinion and put them on others and their point of views! We are all learning, this is a debate table, I don't know it all, and I learn stuff everyday from here. So to say someone who might misunderstand something and call them a "cafeteria Catholic" is wrong and uncharitable.[/quote]
I apologize if what I said was uncharitable, but there are many people who understand perfectly well and still reject church teaching. These are, by you folks' own definition, "cafeteria Catholics." Most believe that cafeteria Catholics only exist among liberals, but that's not the case: the Society of St. Pius X, the Society of St. Pius V, Una Voce International, etc. etc. are all populated by cafeteria Catholics. And the church itself is populated by cafeteria Catholics, because I've yet to meet one Catholic who [b]really[/b] accepts everything that the magisterium teaches.

[quote]I submit my will to that of God's Will (only by His grace) and hope to come to learn and teach others the One Truth.[/quote]
Me too.

[Livin_the_MASS]

[quote]because I've yet to meet one Catholic who really accepts everything that the magisterium teaches.[/quote]

I know this is getting off topic but share, what do you mean I know people who submit to the magisterium. I do

Give some examples of why you think some do not if you wish!

God Bless
Jason

Oh already forgiven, much love brother