The Pope and Mary
The Pope, in giving his weekly address from St Peter’s Square, referred recently to Mary as “a refuge in difficult times”. He concluded this particular homily with a “special thought” which is full of idolatrous blasphemy: “May the Mother of God be your refuge in times of joy, as well as in difficult times,
and may she guide your families so that they cultivate homes of prayer, reciprocal understanding and giving”.
That the biblical Mary was an eminently gracious person and greatly favoured in connection with God’s purpose of bringing the Saviour into the world is not in dispute. But the “Virgin Mary” that Rome sets up is held to be capable of performing actions only possible to God and also a mediatrix between God and men. This is not the Mary of the Bible. We must bear in mind that the real Mary was the mother of the Lord’s human nature and therefore the expression “Mother of God” should be avoided as it not only tends to distort our understanding of the two distinct natures in the one Person of Christ, but it also has the distinct tendency of – once again – attributing divine powers to a human being. In John 2:5 the real biblical Mary directed the wedding guests to obey Christ in all things, and that is what poor sinners need to do rather than take refuge in a false Romish goddess.
“Their idols silver are and gold, work of men’s hands they be,
Mouths have they, but they do not speak and eyes but do not see.
Like them their makers are, and all on them their trust that build,
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord, He is their help and shield.”
(Metrical Psalm 115:4-5,8-9)
AWM