Sunday, January 06, 2008

A Mary Christmas

My friend shared a Christmas card she received from a Roman Catholic family member (inside of card shown):




Posted by at
Labels:

9 comments:

Disciples said...

I'm involved in a lengthy conversation over at the Reformed Catholicism blog regarding the cults of Mary and the Saints. You should check it out.

10:22 PM, January 06, 2008
Carrie said...

I'm involved in a lengthy conversation over at the Reformed Catholicism blog regarding the cults of Mary and the Saints.

Thanks for the heads up! I have starting reading through the comments but it looks like it will take awhile.

For others interested in the topic, the post was about some comments by Mark Shea on Mary devotion and Mark Shea has joined the discussion found here.

Just an FYI on the card, this is one of 2 my friend gave me from her RC relatives. Her in-laws are devout RCs and focus alot on Mary. In fact, my friend and I first starting talking about our faiths (she was RC at the time) when she asked me "what do you guys believe about Mary". God really opened the door in our conversations through discussing Mary - that was a sticking point for her.

But I am happy to say that she is now saved, attends my church and on fire for God.

8:31 AM, January 07, 2008
James Swan said...

Who put out the card?

I ask, because I am subscribed to the Fatima Crusader, and I get it in my mailbox every few months:

http://www.fatimacrusader.com/

The picture on the card looks very similar to what they use in their magazine, as well as the same sentiment.

The organization is run by by Father Nicholas Gruner- When I have mentioned him in the past on this blog, I've gotten back comments from RC's not wishing to be affiliated with him- that he's not well like be the Vatican either.

9:41 AM, January 07, 2008
Carrie said...

Who put out the card?

The Medugorje [sic] Herald (Galway, Ireland)

I can't find a website but I did find this clip on the unified church:

"Jul. 4, 2006 (CWNews.com) - The Catholic bishop whose diocese includes the town of Medjugorje has warned that "something similar to a schism" has arisen at the parish church where apparitions of the Virgin Mary are alleged to take place...Some of the Franciscan priests assigned to the Medjugorje parish, he said, have been expelled from their order because of their refusal to accept Church authority. "They have not only been illegally active in these parishes, but they have also administered the sacraments profanely, while others invalidly," he said. As Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, he said, he felt obliged to warn the faithful "who invalidly confess their sins to these priests and participate in sacrilegious liturgies."" source

Another interesting admission:

"Foley said it was obvious that some Medjugorje pilgrims have experienced spiritual awakening. But he said part of this could be attributed to a "charismatic element that grabs people's emotions."

Another factor, he said, is that Medjugorje may appeal to Catholics confused by changes after the Second Vatican Council.

"It's a sad reality that some people have had to go to Medjugorje to get priests who were enthusiastic about confession, and to get the things they used to be able to get in the church in the West," he said."source

It appears the Vatican has not reached a final conclusion on Medjugorje.

(What is funny is that I have two cards from the same group and both have "Medjugorje" spelled incorrectly.)

12:05 PM, January 07, 2008
Rhology said...

What would be the difference between this and the time I went to the liberal Methodist church where I grew up, for Christmas Eve service, and the pastor put a picture of the Miracle on 34th St's Santa Claus on the overhead and preached on the "Spirit of Christmas" and used the word "Jesus" exactly one time?

3:20 PM, January 07, 2008
Carrie said...

What would be the difference between this and the time I went to the liberal Methodist church where I grew up, for Christmas Eve service, and the pastor put a picture of the Miracle on 34th St's Santa Claus on the overhead and preached on the "Spirit of Christmas" and used the word "Jesus" exactly one time?

Not much. Your point?

4:09 PM, January 07, 2008
James Swan said...

...by the way, "a Mary Christmas"- very clever. now if i could just get it out of my head...

5:07 PM, January 07, 2008
Rhology said...

No point in particular. It's just depressing.

5:17 PM, January 07, 2008
Unknown said...

No point in particular. It's just depressing.

Agreed :(

Two things that did come to my mind in comparing this card to your story. First, I think this card is fully within the realm of acceptable Mary devotion. Second, I don't have to accept the liberal Methodist in the sake of unity. Sometimes division is good.

7:00 AM, January 08, 2008

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)