The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-04
For the Central Presbyterian.
Rome and the Virgin Mary

MeSS7S. EdetorS,-ln my last letter
written from home on the eve of depar-
ture for this place | neglected to do what
l had intended, namely, to acknowledge
my Indebtedness for many of the facts
contained in that letter to a very admir-
able little work by Rev. DIR. William S.
Plumer, entitled, Rome against the BIZ
bic" | would advise the readers of the
Central Presbyterian to purchase and read
this little book, so as to learn the true at
titude of the Church of Rome towards the
Bible. And | would especially commend
it to L" Rufus, who has only walked for
little while in the genial light of Cath
olic truth. >" Re would be better instruct
ed as to the teachings of his own Church
the next time he undertakes to run tilt
with those garbling authors" 1t would
be good reading too for Bishop Keane if
he has an hour or two to spare. 1 won
der if after reading it he would class the
venerable and patriarchal DIR. Plumer
among the "liars" and "slanderers" of
his Church.
But my special purpose in this letter
is to call the attention of your readers to
the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church
towards the Virgin Mary. When on the
mount of temptation Satan babe our Lord
fall down and worship him, he received
the scathing reply, Matt. iv; 10) "Get
the hence Satan, for it is written, Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him
only shalt thou serve" This would seem
to settle forever the question of worship,
so that none would dare to offer it to the
Virgin Mary, or any other creature. But
what cares the Roman Catholic Church
for the Bible? Does not Father Muller"
tell us that the doctrines of the Church
are entirely independent of Scripture. ="
The Scripture says, God alone is to be
worshipped. The Church of Rome SAYS,
God and the Virgin Mary are both to be
worshipped No wonder the Church of
Rome breads the circulation of the Bible.
But you may ask, Is it not an inferior
kind of worship which Catholics are
taught to pay to the Virgin Mary, and
not really worship in the sense of adora-
ton? | answer that l will simply quote
from their own authorities, and then leave
you to Judge for yourselves.
| have before me several Catholic books
of devotion. They were not issued hun
dreds Of years ago, but are of recent date
and from the Catholic press in this coun-
try One is entitled, 4 Manual of cath.
oJ5c devotio7aS for the use of the faithful
aOho desire to bUe piouSlya and die happiIg,
published 90ith the appreciation of the
Most Reverend the archbishop of BaLti-
more. Baltimore; John M1rphv Of Co.
1866. This little book contains one hun
dred prayers to the Virgin Mary. l can
only quote one or two. On page 432 is
one, 80 holy mother of God, glorious
queen Of heaven and earth, choose thee
this day for my mother and my advocate
at the throne Of thy Divine Son. Accept
the Offering l here make of my heart may
it be irrevocable. 1t can never be out of
danger whilst at my disposal never Sc
cure but in thy hands" Page 438, IRE
member, 0 most pious Virgin Mary, that
no one ever had recourse to thy protec-
ton, implored thy help, or sought thy
mediation without obtaining relief Con
fiding then in thy goodness and mercy, l
cast myself at thy sacred feet, and do most
humbly supplicate thee, o mother of the
Eternal Word, to adopt me as thy child,
and take upon myself the care of my sal
walton 0 let it not be said, my dearest
Mother, that ! have persisted where no
one ever found but grace and salvation.
Amen" Page 595-Mother of God, moth
er Of mercy, l beseech thee by that cruel
sorrow which pierced thy afflicted soul
when standing under the cross of thy be-
loved Son, thou didst see him die for our
salvation, that thou wilt please to be ia
vorable to me, both now and at the last
period Of my mortal life. Permit not, O
great Comforter of sinners, that it be ever
said that thou didst leave soul in ex-
IRENE necessity which had recourse to
thee; but vouchsafe to look on me and all
my associates with those eyes of tender
passion as then thou didst behold bleed
ing Jesus when expiring on Mount Cal
vary. that with thee we may praise him,
the Father and the Holy Ghost for ali
eternity.
Another Of these works is entitled THe
Age Maria. h book of prayers for SER
rants and children of 1fa1v. Ne10 York Il
Thomas Kelly. 1874. Iaprin,at1u' John,
Cardinal HcGoskey, Arch5ishop of Ne1o
York. Here we read on page 219, Hail,