The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-12-10


fruits of its observing. For the Year designated
as time in which to stir up in Christian hearts
and lasting spirit of egion. And it was meant
to show to mankind that the readest way to Christ
is the way in which Christ came to mankind that is,
through the Immaculate Mother of God.
The non.Catholic world has never understood,
and refuses to understand, the true attitude of
Christian towards the Blessed Mother. Yet nothing
could be more reasonable, more sane, than that
attitude Only bigotry perversey refuse to see
that attitude for what it is, dst0rting it, misrepre-
senting it, and then condemnng it.
Those who dislike devotion to the Blessed Virgin
say that we are meant TO pay honor to God alone.
Yet Gods own word tells us to honor our parents,
and ST. Paul, speaking by the inspiration OF the
Holy Ghost, says, Fear Cod honor the king. We
are to give diUine honor to God alone But we are TO
honor and reverence Gods image in all men, and
Gods authority in parents and justly established
rulers
Surely, then, we are to honor Mary if we are to
honor every child OF God IL what we do to the
least of Gods human creatures is done to Cod
and Our Lord Himself says that this is so,-cer-
tainly what we do to the greatest of human crea-
lures is done to God Ordinate reverence paid to
the Blessed Virgin is reverence paid to God Himself
For the Blessed Virgin is Gods masterpiece,
her we honor the Master All that we honor in Mary
is the work of God and she herself declares that
il is God who has made her worthy of our honor
and reverence She says that all generations shall
call her blessed because He that is Mighty hath
done great things to me"
When we are accused of Mdriodtry, we declare
with simple truth that the accusation is false. The
ending of word in Iatry drom the Greek tdtrtd
which means divine Worship indicates that divine
worship or a fanaticsl devotion, is paid to the per-
son or thing indicated by The first part OF the word
Thus idoldtrg means divine worship paid to ldolsi
zoointru means divine worship OF animals State0atFB
means fanatical devotion paid to the civil rule even
in matters that contravene the natural and divine
law.
Catholics give 10 Mary neither divine worship nor
fanaical devotion. They merely accept The Blessed
Mother as God has given her to us. And God has
made her the channel Of His coming in the Incar-
nation For this wonderful office he has kept her
from every stain OF original sin and from every
actual sin without at all interfering with her human
free-wil He has endowed her with every gift and
grace the angel of the Annunciation saluted her as
"flll of grace" God has given her the two glores
of womanhood which are found united in no other:
she is both virgin and mother.
Is it unreasonable to honor her whom God
has honored above every creature? Is 1t taking away
perfect and dearest image? Mo- ii Is the person
who refuses to honor the Blessed Mother who dis
honors God No one can treat mother with neglect
or dsrespect without offending her devoted son.
And Marys Son is God himself
Anyone who refuses to look into the sheer logic
of the matter may take instruction from the facts
of human history. For abe story Of hereses IS
largely the story of people who loudly proclaim
heir belief in Christ as God and their exclusive
devotion 10 Christ They have no time nor regard
for the saints, especially the Queen Of Saints. And
what happens is that very soon they cease to have
belief in Christ.
Thousands today call themselves Christian with
out having any real belief in the divinity or God
head of Christ. They regard Him as great Teacher
as Leader but not a Divine Teacher or Leader.
who is God-madeMan They do not hesttate,-aF
Unconscious of basphemy in the act-to compare
mere men with Christ and to set Christ on level
with Confueius, or Socrates or even Buddha.
Catholics venerate the Blessed Virgin with re-
ligouS veneraton that is greater than that paid
To any of the holy men and women called Saints
This is right and reasonable and in full accord with
what God has manifested But Catholics never adore
the Blessed Virgin with divine alteration They know
that while Mary is the most noble and holy of all
creatures she is creature. They understand that
her sublime part in the workings Of Providence is
Catholics sec in Mary not only an ideal that is
to be admired and loved They know her as a
Mother, and as an active and most powerful inter
cessor Of God 1t was by her own free, human
Will albeit will filled and supported by Gods
grace, that Mary consented TO be the Mother of the
Savior. She might have refused; she might have
Shrunk from the tremendous dignity and response
hllity OF her vocation But she did not refuse she
consented fully 10 the lulfillment Of Gods will in
her. And for that consent, every human being from
greatest to least owes her unending gratitude.
love, and honor
For il was BY Mary's consent to do what God
would have her do that mankind was given its
chance to rise from sin and work towards heaven.
We have redemption and the chance of salvation,
and the needful grace for salvation, from Christ;
God has given us "a things together with Him. >
And in Gods marvellous plan, we have Christ
through Mary,
Plain, ordinary gratitude If nothing else ought
to make every man devoted child and client OF
Mary. May the Marian Year. Just closed continue