What do Catholics mean when they say things like "Mary also has redeemed us, or veinal sins can be washed away by "good deeds?" Where is this evidence from the Bible or the Church Fathers?

Also, I have a book ( the man is anti-Catholic) where he qoutes prayers to Mary as: "Mary of the new advent,we implore your protection on the preperations that will now begin for the next meeting [World Youth Day]. Mary, full of grace, we entrust the next world youth day to you. Mary, assumed into heaven, we entrust the young people of the world...the whole world to you!"

He also quotes Pope John Paul saying how Pope John has said things like "sustain us O Virgin Mary,on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation." or asking mary "to do what God would do, and protect the whol;e of humanity."

Later this Protestant says it's a LIE of how Catholics only say "they ask Mary only to pray for them, but not to protect the world, nor would a Christian ask another christian on earth things like these."

I'm not an anti-Catholic and this guy does anger me with his obvious hatred (as it seems), but what is a Catholic to say to these acusations?

-- Brian the curious (Noemail@nsb.net), May 28, 2004

Answers

Response to Mary has won our redemtion, not just or only Christ?

"What do Catholics mean when they say things like "Mary also has redeemed us, or veinal sins can be washed away by "good deeds?" Where is this evidence from the Bible or the Church Fathers?"

A: If a Catholics says "Mary has redeemed us", that is one misguided Catholic. The Church teaches no such thing. We have one Redeemer, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Presumably this is a reference to the proposed Marian title of "co-redemtrix", which while fully orthodox when understood in the context of Mary cooperating with God in His plan of salvation, has still been soundly rejected by the Pope because of the obvious likelihood of confusion and misunderstanding that might be generated by such a term among those who are not sufficiently knowledgeable.

"Also, I have a book ( the man is anti-Catholic) where he qoutes prayers to Mary as: "Mary of the new advent,we implore your protection on the preperations that will now begin for the next meeting [World Youth Day]."

A: Quoting "prayers to Mary" amounts to quoting what some Catholic said. There are hundreds of thousands of prayers that have been written by individuals for specific purposes, and their content, unless it has been specifically approved by the Church, reflects nothing more than the thoughts and ideas of the author, which may be more or less theologically sound. It is illogical, unethical, and plain dishonest to take such a prayer and quote it as though it represented the official teaching of the Church.

"He also quotes Pope John Paul saying how Pope John has said things like "sustain us O Virgin Mary,on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation." or asking mary "to do what God would do, and protect the whol;e of humanity."

A: Is it only God who can help to sustain us spiritually? There are many people in my life who sustain me on my journey. So I see no problem there. To ask a person to "obtain" something for us obviously means that the person himself does not have the authority to grant it personally, and would have to approach the one who does have the authority. Therefore, "obtain for us" is obviously a request for intercession, nothing more. In the same way, any request of Mary or the other saints for protection, grace, help, etc. is obviously a request for their intercession to the One Who is the source of all grace. Obvious that is, except to those who want to avoid the simple truth and find cause to attack that which they previously rebelled against. In so doing they seek to find, or create, some apparent justification for that rebellion and its ungodly aftermath.

"Later this Protestant says it's a LIE of how Catholics only say "they ask Mary only to pray for them, but not to protect the world, nor would a Christian ask another christian on earth things like these."

A: Why would a Christian on earth hesitate to ask another Christian to pray for protection? That is a perfectly legitimate request.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), May 28, 2004.