VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has written a special prayer for Chinese Catholics who face "daily trials" in the officially atheistic country, the Vatican said Friday.
The prayer will be uttered across the world on May 24, a day the pope has dedicated to praying for the Chinese church, which has long had a difficult relationship with the country's communist authorities.
The prayer — released in Chinese and six other languages — invokes the protection of the Virgin Mary and prominently mentions a shrine dedicated to her at Sheshan, in suburban Shanghai.
Chinese authorities have tried to restrict access to the shrine during this year's annual May pilgrimages, apparently out of anxiety over large religious gatherings.
"Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus," the prayer says.
China's officially atheistic Communist Party forced Chinese Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, and the two sides have not restored formal relations. Beijing sees the Vatican tradition of the pope naming his own bishops as interference in the country.
China appoints bishops for the state-sanctioned Catholic church. Still, many of the country's estimated 12 million Catholics worship in congregations outside the state-approved church and often suffer arrests and harassment.
Benedict has made the improvement of relations with Beijing a priority of his papacy. He sent a special letter to Catholics in China last year, praising the underground church, but also urging the faithful to reconcile with followers of the official church.
In the letter, the pope expressed hope that the yearly May celebration of the Virgin Mary would become a day when Chinese Catholics throughout the world were united in prayer for the church in China.
In the latest sign of a possible warming of relations between Beijing and the Holy See, the China Philharmonic Orchestra last week performed for Benedict in a landmark concert at the Vatican.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Notice that it does not say, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, O Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother.”
“For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48).
Notice that Mary did not say, From henceforth all generations shall call me…
Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Saviour, Mother of mercy, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honour, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower if ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comfort of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of families, Queen of peace.
Let us keep Mary grounded in scripture and not elevated above scripture.
“The Angel Gabriel in Scripture says, "HAIL MARY" The Word Hail contextually is only used for Royalty pertaining to a King or Queen, Prince or Princess.” --msnchris70
“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Lk 1:28).
As one can see in Luke 1:28, the angel does not say, “Hail Mary.” The angel simply says, “Hail” and then proceeds without saying Mary’s name at all. When the angel does say Mary’s name, it is in context and conjunction with “Fear not” and not “hail.” The word “hail” is simply a greeting, a hello, to attract a person‘s attention.
Jesus used the same word “hail” in Matthew 28:9 FOR THE WOMEN who had come to see the sepulcher. “And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met THEM, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
A portion of Benedict’s prayer: “In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high, offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love. Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love, ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.”
Be a credible witness to who’s love in offering Jesus to the world? Someone called Our Lady of Sheshan? I think not. What saith the scriptures?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn 3:16
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Tit 2:13, 14
“The more you honor Mary, the more deeper your personal relationship with Christ can become.” --msnchris70
What saith the scriptures?
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6)
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2Pe 3:18).
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (Jn 14:23)
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (Jn 4:23).
A portion of Benedict’s prayer: “Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China…”
Should we pray to someone called “Our Lady of Sheshan” asking her to sustain us or anyone else? What saith the scriptures? “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall SUSTAIN thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Ps 55:22).
Praying is talking to yourself.
A portion of Benedict’s prayer: “We come before you today to implore your protection.”
Coming before Virgin Most Holy to implore her protection? What saith the scriptures?
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Heb 13:6
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Ps 62:2
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust…Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Ps 31:1, 2
Showing Honor to those that God honored takes nothing away from Jesus Christ. In fact, when we love and honor Mary we are only honoring and loving what God Created.
Nothing can diminish the King of Kings. If you worship Mary, you are simply not a Christian and should be excommunicated. If you think that Mary can gain anything through herself alone, then you are mistaken. If you adore her, then you are guilty of idolotry.
If you do not call Mary blessed, then you go against Scripture. If you do not honor her, then you do not immitate Jesus. If you do not love her for saying "yes" to the Angel Gabriel, then you go against what Jesus did.
BE LIKE JESUS!
Let us immitate Jesus. Did Jesus honor and glorify His mother? Yes! Let us do the same and keep the commandment of honoring our mother and Father. Jesus honored, Glorified his mother and she is our Mother too.
Why do we Catholics love and show affection to Mary? because Jesus Did
Why do we Catholics call her blessed? Because Scripture says so and it is inspired by the HS.
Why do we call her Queen of Heaven? Because we clearly see Mary with the moon below her feet dipicting a royal stance of crushing ones enemy being the Devil, clothed with the sun and a crown above her head of 12 stars(Twelve Tribes of Israel and the 12 Faithful Apostles called by Christ). The Kings of the Davidic line's mother was always the Queen as we see in the OT Scriptures. The OT Scriptures point to the Mother of the King being an advocate and intercessor to her son. The Angel Gabriel in Scripture says, "HAIL MARY" The Word Hail contextually is only used for Royalty pertaining to a King or Queen, Prince or Princess.
Why do Catholics love Mary? Because she always points to her son "Do whatever he says", she never left His Side at the Cross, She was the first to hear the Gospel, the First to accept it.
Now WHO IS BEING MORE BIBLICAL? Loving and honoring Mary is only to immitate what Jesus did clearly in Scripture. The more you honor Mary, the more deeper your personal relationship with Christ can become.
If we ask Mary who is her savior? She will say "JESUS". If we ask Mary, can we earn Salvation by good works? Mary would say "NO, By the Grace of God alone through Faith in my Son who is the Christ." Mary loved Jesus more than anyone else and donated her flesh to become the flesh of the Savior of the World. It is Mary who is the New Eve, like Saint Paul mentions. Eve means "Mother of all", and now Mary is the new Mother of All those who follow the commandments of God. Rev 12.
Mary's faith is perfect and EVERTHING THAT IS GREAT ABOUT MARY IS BECAUSE OF HER SON JESUS. Mary is the Handmaiden of the Lord and she rejoiced in God her savior.
A portion of the Benedict's prayer: “Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother, venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title "Help of Christians," the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection.”
Mary, “Help of Christians?” What saith the scriptures? “God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in trouble” (Ps 46:1).
Look to Mary with devout affection? What saith the scriptures? “LOOKING unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2).