The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-05-07

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY


why Catholics Honor Her.
DEAR Sn:-I have frequently been
asked by Protestant friends Of the diff
ferent denominations, why the Catholics
give 80 much praise and honor 10 the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Aud ] think
there are many amongst said denomina-
Itions who would like 10 know the rea-
lson. Therefore would ask your kind
luess 10 allow me some space IN your val
uable paper 10 answer those questions
| The question is. why do the Catholics
give so much praise and honor 10 the
Blessed Virgin Mary? In answer 10
this l will say that the Catholics have
different reasons for loving. praising and
honoring ber so much. and will prove
that those reasons well founded. and in
reality there should be no Christian WI"
believes in our redemption. that would
not love, praise and honor The Blessed
Virgin Mary. the Mother OF God. Be-
,lcause she was the most meek, most hum
,lble. In other words, she was the most
I righteous and pleasing in the sight OF
God. The first reason why We honor
her IL. because the Almighty God has
first honored her, and In such great
manner, that the honor given 70 her by
lus u so insignificant, that when COM
pared with the honor he bestowed on
lber il is really nothing. Now LEI u see
how and in what manner he did honos
her. God our Heavenly Father sent An
angel. the Angel Gabriel, as messenger
from Heaven to bring to her the glad
ltidings Of our redemption. We read 10
Holy Writ that the Angel Gabriel was
lsent TO Nazareth into the house Of vir'
Iyin by the name OF Mary. And where
did the angel find her? Did be find bel
lin the dance hall? That is no place tc
secure virginity. Or did he find he'
Il ,lreading novels or romances? No, neitL
Ter Is that good feature or past time 4
leecure virginity. But where did b
lind her? The same Holy Book tells u
i. that be found her in her lonely room
imeditating on the coming Of the Messiah
beseecbing and imploring the God 0
LII ehoyah 10 condescend, and send the Re
deemer that lie might redeem the failel
I mankind from its misery. and when th
angel appeared 10 her, he ssluted her D.
saving: Hail Mary full Of grace, III
lord is with thee And when she va
. frightened and did not know what
meant. the angel said. "be not afrai'
MARY. for thou hast found grace befor
God And he further said, thou shal
/. name him Jesus. and he shall be caile'
the son OF Cod o.! consider . INC
meut, the humble virgin. She We
found worthy in the sight Of our HeaS
ienly Father. and che was selected b
, him out Of amongst all the daughters
Eve 10 become the mother Of bis divin
SlSon. Wasn't fbst great honor. Ne
the greatest honor that God could graz
Ibis creature think Of II, she was se!ecte
Ito become the Mother Of the King
Kings, . King that should reign foreve
% Now We come 10 . point OF great In
y iportance regarding our redemption
: lSupposing when the angel told ht
THAT she should conceive aud become
mother. she would have refused 10 sui
\. init ~ the will OF God. as We general
ldo when be tells u. take up my yok
INV woke Il sweet We don't believ
him and walk the path We have set o.
.lfor Us ourselves. The Blessed Virgi
Z. Mary. when she was in the Temple 81
lalso had set out . path for herse
Through her earthly career. She hs
!avowed her virginify TO God. that u, 81
N wanted 10 remain always Q virgin a.
~ serve God in that state No wonds
that she could not comprehend how
- was possible that she should become
N mother. She held that vow 50 grea
that she thought IL one Of the greate'
crimes and sins against God 70 break
therefore she answered and said, "ho'
I lean this be?- But when the angel tol
her that sSe would remain virgin
lbefore. that with God there was nothin
Al. - and <uIl
III am the handmaid Of the Lord, oe
dome according TO thy word" but q
Iyou believe that the Almighty Ood, o.
Heavenly Father would have forced %
Ito become the mother Of his Divir
ISon? lie had created her with : ~.
Twill like al Of us. lie never woul
have intruded on her liberty. II -,
lher own free will 10 submit TO God
Holy Will or to reject il. IL she wou
mot have submitted TO the Holy Will
~ Coo, how long would poor mankiI
buslhave suffered vet in this vale or tea
without Redeemer? God aloi
aPlknows. All mankind ought 20 Iov
praise and honor the Blessed Virg
. .llMary. especially those who believe
our redemption BY Jesus Christ the =
lof God, for having submitted to becou
!. The mother or our Redeemer. She ~
u leo TO say, cooperating in our REDEEM
- Ition. not BY and through her mer'
lbut by being the medium by which o
lredem ption could be accomplished.
Now, I will give the second resss
why the Catho love, praise and hon
the blessed Virgin Mary 90 much. y
before 90 any further, ] will state ne'
a that do not wish 10 be understood
We though The Catholics were giving prai
, and honor 70 the blessed Virgin, Viii
!, alone belongs to God; the Catholl
= make . great difference between !
Creator and the creature; they only 81
such praise and honor due her on
count Of her being the mother q 9
Redeemer. Every Catholic child !
wears old who knows it catccnis
!. knows full well that We dare not 81
rsE praise and honor 70 . creature wnl