Someone recently sent me a calendar from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. On the inside of the calendar is a description of the Shrine, including a list of some of the chapels found there. Once quote caught my eye, which can also be found on the Shrine's website:
"Renowned as an intercessor for suffering souls in purgatory, Our Lady of Mount Carmel answers the plea inscribed on the balcony: 'Virgin mother remember us. On our behalf speak to God. His anger turn away from us.' Christians who are still pilgrims on earth speak the prayer on the inside arch: 'Our Lady of the Scapular of Mount Carmel, pray for us who are clothed in your sign of salvation'."
I am assuming the "anger" mentioned above is a reference to God's anger towards the remaining sin of those in purgatory. Most modern-day Catholics now speak of purgatory as a "cleaning up" which isn't quite consistent with the more historical view of purgatory as a punishment (to satisy God's justice or "anger" as quoted above) for personal sin. This quote also perpetuates a sad aspect of Mariology I have witnessed before - that Mary is a kinder, gentler mediator than Christ.
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Most modern-day Catholics now speak of purgatory as a "cleaning up"
"Purgatory" means "purificatory".
Catholic Apologists insist that the sinner has been forgiven, but the remaining temporal penalty associated with the sinner's sin has not yet been satisfied.
Is the sinner forgiven or not? If the sinner is forgiven, why is God angry? If God is angry, one must assume that He is justifiably angry. If God is justifiably angry (righteously angry), what can assuage that anger other than justice? How does Mary effect a more mild or efficacious mercy (or justice) than that which God has provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the Cross?
Catholic Apologists insist that the sinner has been forgiven, but the remaining temporal penalty associated with the sinner's sin has not yet been satisfied.
The reasoning, as I understand it from Rome's interpreter, Catholic Answers, is that say you steal 5 dollars from a little old lady. The little old lady can forgive
you and not press legal charges, but you still have to pay her the 5 dollars back.
The Wstmnstr CF mentions "God's displeasure" towards the grave sin of the justified. It even ends a paragraph w/ ..and bring temporal judgements upon themselves. I'm not stretching the comparison any futher than this, but this captures well what "anger" means here. Mary is a woman. Jesus is a man. It is particularly becoming of women to be more gentle and kind than men. No sadness is needed. Thanks for bringing punishment/judgement back to our vocabulary.
http://tinyurl.com/GodsAnger
"Renowned as an intercessor for suffering souls in purgatory, Our Lady of Mount Carmel answers the plea....
Renowned by whom? Is someone channeling Mary? Can they see purgatory? How do they know what Mary is up to?
Do Mary and the saints recieve some kind of limited omniscience to hear and answer prayers? Is God creating "little gods" in heaven?
Check out Quote Catholic - www.quotecatholic.com - lots of awesome quotes from Mary.
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