by neat blue dog 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Apostolic succession is a real thing. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.
I hardly think that proves apostolic succession, which asserts that a FAITHFUL TO DEATH apostle must be replaced. Judas wasn't replaced because he died physically, but, well, you know. Even Paul made a similar illustration about Christians being 'grafted in' to the vine
Never was Mary M or any other Mary or any woman an apostle...No offense, it just didn't happen that way.
Women have a huge role in Christianity, but priesthood isn't part of it, ..historically speaking anyway
Fr.Fras: To Sea Breeze's contention above, in fact the Catholic Church does not (now) officially or dogmatically refer to Mary as the Mediatrix or even Co-Redemptrix.
969 "This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix."512
In 1964 Vatican Council II reaffirmed this position given to Mary.
Regardless of how the RCC tries to spin this official doctrine (they claim this doesn't detract from Jesus role as Mediator), the fact is that titles that belong to God are given to Mary. Maybe some Catholics are able to see through this and able to have saving faith in Jesus alone. But for millions of others, it forms the basis of their Mariolatry.
Bishops don't mind praying to Mary:
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have joined together to “consecrate” their nations to the care of Mary on May 1 and to ask that she intercede to Jesus during the COVID pandemic.
