The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-10-25
Correspondents for tO' 31cceate.
Lette1Sto Evangelist.
NJ MBER ONE.

relating to the prayer of the lrishmau
lost in the woods, and which was men
toned in the History Of Tx County. 1t
should always be pleasant task to give
information, when il oue5 power to
those asking it. but the task bucomes
doubly so when the request is couched
in language SO geutemanIy as yours
and so different from that generally as
suned when the same subject is men
toned. Add to this your sincerity aud
earnestneas, which is so evident in every
line Of your short article and to supply
the information desired becomes not on
ly pleasure but duty.
Before proceeding to consider wheth.
or the Blessed Virgin Mary aud the
saints in Heaven can hcGr the requests
which we make ta them, it may be well
to mention The manner in which they
are regarded by the Catholic Church,
which is the only church which pays to
them peculiar and especial honor, and
which admits their powers Of interces,
sion. You are perfectly correct when
you say, 81 suppose that those who
pray to the Virgin Mary and other
saints, would say that they only intend
by this to ask them to interceie for US
just as we ask Christian friends on
earth to pray for us You have exact
ly stated the position held by Catholics
upon the subject Of the intcrccssion Of
saints. But the doctrine OF the Calho-
lie Church on this point is almost uni
versally misreprcsemtcd hy those who
dissent from her. but il is so clear and
explicit that nothing short Of the gross
eat ignorance or prejudice can excuse
those who make use OF the common ar
guwens against the devotion 70 the
Blessed Virgin Mary and the other
eaints. The Catholic Church gives to
Mary the most exalted place next to
God Himself, and pays to her great no
nor and devotion, and only follows in
this the example set by her Divine Son.
who Always hunored her as His mother.
and paid to her the greatest respect aud
obedience Surely we cannot fear to
follow the example which lie has given
US, and we certainly cannot fail 10 please
him wheu We Lonor her whom lie so
honorcd and loyed. But the Church
does not consider Nary the equal Of Al
mighty God; she does not believe, nor
does she teach that She has the power
tf forciving sius, aud she would severe.
ly rctake any OF her children who
would pray 10 that manner TO her and
thus insult Almighty God, who alone
has the power Of forgiveness, But the
Church both believes and teaches that
Mary, on account Of her position as
HictheT Of God, docs rossex great pow
ers Of intc,ccs.ion with hoE Divine Sor,
and that lie will refuse her nothing
rhith Fhe asbs Of him. Again, thA
diECrince between the alteration which
the Church iays to Almighty Goa and
the honor which she ofTrrs to Mary. can
Le seen in all her prayers and deyotions;
il the Lords prayer VIC say to God
- forgive us our tresspasses," but M
prayer Can Lc found in which Maay is
asked for pardon and forgiveness. On
the contrary. in the Angciieal sa!utation
AZ Hail Mary" the Church says.
d" FRAY tor ns sinners. now and at the
hour Of oar DEATH" thus asking Mary
10 pray to God for US that Ha NAV for
give us our trausgressiors. 1t can also
be secn in the following teachings Of the
church, A" IL it lawful to honor the
Virgin Mary 7 Yes; whereas God
ilimseti so much honored her, and the
scripture says, Al nations shall call hcr
ta"~ limke. ch. AZ v "What
honor do We give our Blessed Lady ~"
4" We honor her more thon all the other
saints, because she is the Mother of
God.-but We never give her divine or su,
rreme honor which is due TO God alone"
The following example shows how
nicely the early writer's Of the church
} drew tho distinction which Catholics
now do St. Erjphonius thus writes Of
thv Blessed Virgin, reproving the errors
OF the Collyridiau herilics, who adored
her aud offered sa;rdce to her; "Tho'
therefore, she was a chosen Vessel, and
endowed with eminent ssnOtity, still she