Blessed Mother Mary is the ark of the New covenant!

Mother Mary is the biggest obstacle and denial for most of Protestants. Protestants have distorted the doctrine, mislead, misinterpreted the scriptures and misunderstood Mother Mary. Protestantism denominations are Bible Twisting cults. They often ignore to understand simple truth that Jesus is God, Mary is the Mother of Jesus and hence Mary is the Mother of God.We know that within the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fullness of God dwells. (Colossians 2:9).Hence Mother Mary is a God bearer or Mother of God. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the Spirit of God which was the instrument through which God came to dwell among men and in the New Testament, Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and was the instrument through which God came to dwell among men. Hence Mother Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant. We also know from Genesis 3:15 that God promises to defeat Satan through a woman and her seed. And the woman is no one but Mother Mary and the seed was our Lord Jesus Christ. The woman of Genesis 3:15 is same as the women of Revelation 12. Many Protestants will accuse Catholic Church and label as an exaggeration to exalt Mary. But they are false. 1. In Old Testament we know that David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" (2 Samuel 6:9)can be compared in the New testament when Elizabeth says to Mary: And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43) 2. The Old Ark was the dwelling place of God in the Old Covenant ((Exodus 40:34), so the New Ark, the Virgin Mary, is the dwelling place of God in the New Covenant(Luke 1:35). 3. In the Old Testament the Ark of the Old Covenant was overshadowed by the power and presence of God (Exodus 40:34 -35) and in the New testament, the Virgin Mary was overshadowed by the power and presence of the Most High (Luke 1:35). 3.In the old testament when the Ark of the Covenant is brought before David, he danced when he saw the Ark of the Covenant in (2 Samuel 6:14) and he was wearing linen ephod which is a priestly vestment . So does in the New Testament we know John the Baptist belongs to priestly line of Aaron. John Baptist(Baby) leaped in her womb hearing the Ark of the Covenant(Luke 1:41) . 4.In the Old Testament After David dances before the Ark of the Covenant, the ark remains three months(2 Samuel 6:11) and likewise in New Testament Baby John the Baptist leaped in his mothers womb at hearing Mary, she remains three months(Luke 1:56). 5. In the Old Testament the ark traveled to the house of Obed-edom in the Hill country of Judea(2 Sam.6:1-11) and in the New testament we know that Mary traveled to the house of Elisabeth and Zechariah in the Hill country of Judea( Luke 1:39). 6. In the Old Testament David shouts in the presence of the ark(2 Sam.6:15) and in the New Testament Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry in the presence of Mary(Luke 1:42). 7. In the Old Testament, the house of Obed-edom was blessed by the presence of the ark.(2 Sam 6:11) and in the New testament the word is used 3 times and the house is surely blessed by God( Luke 1:39-45). 8. In the Old Testament, the ark returns to its home and ends up in Jerusalem, where Gods presence and glory is revealed in the temple.( 2 sam6:12,1kings8:9-11) and in the New Testament ,Mary returns home and eventually ends up in Jerusalem, where she presents God ,the incarnate in the temple( Luke 1:56,Luke2:21-22). 9. In the Old Testament, The Word was written by God on Tablets of Stone (Ex 25:10) placed inside the Ark (Deut 10:1-4) and In the New Testament the Word of God became Flesh (John 1) conceived inside Mary (Luke 2:38) which means Mary carried the Word of God. 10. In the Old Testament, The Ark of the Old Covenant contained the written word of God (Deut. 10:5) and In the New Testament the Virgin Mary contained the Word of God made flesh, Jesus (John. 1:1). 11. In the Old Testament, The Ark contained the manna from the desert( Hebrews 9:4) and in The New Testament Mary contained the manna from Heaven which is our Lord Jesus( John 6:48-51). Woman in Revelation 12 is not Israel But Virgin Mary: 1. In New Testament Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. Here The woman clothed with the Sun, moon and stars represents Mother Mary, and her child is Christ. There is no indication in Scripture anywhere that the Nation Israel gives birth to the Son who is the messiah. Everything here is individual and reality nothing symbolic. But For Protestants everything is symbols and symbolic meanings and personal opinions. And In Old Testament, in Isaiah 7:14 which says Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Here too clearly says the only person who gives birth to Jesus is Mary not Israel. When we look at the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament we will not find a single reference to Israel either being a woman. 1.Isaiah 66:7 Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. 3.Rev 12:3-9. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. We see here this "red dragon" Is Satan which is individual. those who are fighting against the dragon are Michael and the angels they are too individuals and real. John speaks also of a dragon who is seeks to destroy the child, and goes to war against the angels of God (Rev 3-4 and Rev 7-9). Again clearly here the child is Jesus, and the Woman is Mother Mary and Michael is real angel and the angels and as the Devil is real Satan. There are no symbols. Still Its reality. 4. Gen. 3is parallel to Rev. 12. The devil is at war both with the woman of Genesis 3:15, and the woman in Revelation 12 who bore a Son. The seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15 as Jesus. And the woman is Mother Mary who will be at war with the Devil. This fits perfectly again the Revelation 12 where the woman is at war with the devil. The Woman of Genesis 3 is not Israel but Mother Mary. Paul spoke of the seed born of a woman (Gal. 4:4), and John told of the woman clothed with the sun who brought forth the manchild (Rev 12:1). Both depict the birth of Christ not Israel. The woman is battling with the dragon, or Satan, she has some offspring who are at war with the devil. Revelation 12 indicates that those Christians, who bear testimony to Jesus, also are Marys offspring. Those who bear testimony to Jesus are christianswho have Mary as their Mother. That is clear Biblical truth.

Is Mary, Mother of Jesus a Virgin? Does Jesus have brothers?

By Shaila Touchton Virgin birth was a wonderful and miraculous demonstration of God' power (Luke1:31).Mary did not bore other children besides Jesus Christ. She was vowed to a life of virginity. 1.Isaiah 7:14 which says "therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel". Sin did not have dominion over her because she was not under the law but under grace.( Romans 6:14). Mary was "full of grace" (Luke 1:28) and "blessed" (Luke 1:42). Mary is the Mother of God. She was chosen out of all the women in the world that ever existed. Mary is the mother of Jesus, and because Jesus is God, Mary is the Mother of God. Mary was full of grace (Luke 1:28, Luke 1:34), without sin, Jesus can not be born of sinful women. She has been virgin, Pure, Godly conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). Mary was saved from all sin because she bore our Lord Jesus Christ(Gal 4:4).Hence she has to be sinless to give birth to Christ because Jesus can not exist by original sin of Adam. Mother Mary is the one who nursed, fed, taught Jesus Christ, she was made a pure vessel for the Word of the Lord. Consider the following verse: "Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut." (Ezekiel 44:2). This has always been interpreted by the Fathers of the Church to be a typological reference to the Virgin Mary. Many Christians are so defensive of sin because they have not been able to stop sinning in their own strength and effort. They fabricate arguments and quote "no one can be perfect" or "no one can really live without sin anyway" or 'There is none righteous, no, not one". Many often forget Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). Many people pick and choose the bible verse to defend themselves that suits their life style but ignore rest of the verses. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:11-14). God says that saints are made free from sin and have became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Adam, Abel, Joseph the Earthly Father of Jesus Christ ,Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Rahab, Ruth, Debrorah, John Baptist, Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist ,Miraim ,Mary Mother of Jesus(Judith 13:18, Luke 1:48) and many others were all found righteous before the Lord. 2.Luke 1:47: And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Mary can be viewed as a parallel to the Tabernacle of the Lord, as constructed by Moses In Exodus 40:34-35 and in Luke 1:35. We know Gods word says that through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.( Proverbs 16:6).The word of God keeps from sinning (Psalms 17:4, Psalms 119:11). God's word says that No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9). Mother Mary has submitted herself to God, resisted the devil (James 4:7).Even though she was capable of sinning but she did not choose to sin. The grace of God taught her no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). By the Grace she was saved and it was Gods gift on Mother Mary.( Ephesians 2:8-9). Lord Jesus commits His Mother into the care of John rather than her husband Joseph, at the crucifixion. In a Jewish tradition care of a mother would fall to the second born if the firstborn died Since she was without other children, her Son Jesus gives her into the care of his disciple John. She was chosen by the Father to bear His Only-Begotten Son, gave birth to the Savior of the world, and was the first person in history to receive Christ as her Savior. Consequently, she is our model of obedience and submission; of purity and holiness; of humility and royalty. Mary is called the mother of Jesus (Matt. 1: 18; 13:55; Mark 3:31; 32; 6:3; Luke 2:33; 43:48; John 2:1; 19:26; Acts 1:14). 3.Luke 8:21 - And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Here BRETHREN is a plural word for 'brother' in our modern dictionaries. There is no word in Bible that means the "brethren of the Lord "are called "children" or "sons of Mary". Mary remained a virgin with the birth of Christ (Matt. 1:23, Luke 1:27, 23:53), hence she is called Virgin.Brtethren means His "brothers" and "sisters" of His extended family. To accuse Virgin Mary after she had Jesus was not virgin is to deny this belief, is in essence to deny that Jesus Christ is God's Son. 4."Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his BRETHREN, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his SISTERS, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?" Matthew 13:55-56 Does it ever say that these other children are the children of Mary? No, it says that they are the "brothers of Jesus". According to Matthew, the women, who followed Jesus, were "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee." [Matt. 27:56) .Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome,... and also many other women." [Mark 15:4). According to both verses James and Joseph (or Joses) are the sons of Mary. But this Mary is not referred to as the mother of Jesus. Mary the mother of James and Joseph is distinct from the mother of the sons of Zebedee who is referred to as Mary Salome, and the other references to mother of James refer to Mary of James. 5.Galatians 1:19:But other of the apostles saw I none, save James THE LORD'S BROTHER." In Mark 15:40, we read, "There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome." It is clear from this verse that Mary, the mother of James and Joses was not Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible makes reference to more than one Mary. 'If Mary would have had other children, the prophecy regarding the virginity of Mary, Mother of Jesus would not have been fulfilled in Mt. 1:22-23 which says 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us. Mary the wife of Clopas, who is Mary's sister, is the mother of James and Joses, etc. there are six different women named as Mary in the New Testament: Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Mary of Bethany; Mary mother of James the younger; Mary mother of John Mark; and Mary of Rome. From John 19:26 we know that When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Here we know that Jesus commits the care of the Virgin Mary to the Apostle John Which was unacceptable if she had other children. If the oldest child dies, the care of the mother falls to the next oldest child. If the oldest child is the only child, it is his responsibility to appoint someone to care for his mother in the case that he dies. We can see that Jesus acts as if He is the only child of Mary. Mary was a virgin who was to conceive by being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. 6.Matthew 1:25 "And he knew her not till she had brought forth her FIRSTBORN son: and he called his name JESUS." Here again the Protestants misinterpret as first born means that Mother Mary had other childrens. This is false accusations.First Born doesn't necessarily mean the first of several children (Ex. 13:2). God commanded that all "firstborns" must be redeemed from Him (Ex. 13:2-15; 34:19; Ps. 78:51). Paul refers to Jesus spiritually as the "firstborn" of all Christians since He opened the gates of Heaven. [Rom. 8:29]. Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:15-19, Hebrews 11:28 and Hebrews 12:23, and Revelation 1:5, the first born is applied here as Jesus being a l Heir of the Kingdom, attesting that He is truly "first in all things." Jesus Himself indicated that He was the heir of all creation.( Colossians 2:9-10,Hebrews 1:2, Revelation 3:14. The correct interpretation is Colossians 1:15-21 "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven." Jesus is the only-begotten Son of God. Jesus is the only-begotten son of Mary. 7. Psalm 69:8: I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons. Here First lets read the verses Psalm 69:4-9 4: More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? 5: O God, thou knowest my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from thee. 6: Let not those who hope in thee be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. 7: For it is for thy sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face. 8: I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother's sons. 9: For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. The verse Psalm 69:8 is same as John 15:25:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason. Psalms 69:8 doesn't saying nothing about blood brothers or sisters of Jesus Christ. David is the youngest of eight sons in 1 Samuel17:12-14. David wrote most of the Psalms and he is saying most about himself and also the promise of foreshadowing the Messiah who was to come. David's older brothers were not accepted by God to be king and when they witnessed their youngest brother being anointed ((1 Samuel 16:3 -13). The whole paragraph from Psalm 69:4-9 is partly messianic and many parts of it does not apply for Jesus Christ. Because the verse Psalm 69:5 is talking about David himself not Jesus Christ because David was a sinner and he was a Coveter, Adulterer and a Murder.( 2 Samuel 11). The passage applies only to David and he is talking about his brothers in Psalm 69 and not Jesus Christ .Jesus Can not sin (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5) as it says in Psalm 69: 5. 39,000 different Protestant denominations today are interpreting Scripture on their personal individual opinions taking Holy Scripture out of context Causing errors. 8. Matthew 1:24 :And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. Protestants say after the birth of Jesus Christ Mary and Joseph did not refrain from marital relations UNTIL baby Jesus was born. Protestants often misinterpret the scripture and often neglect Isaiah 55:8-9 which says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" . Bible repeatedly warns us about those who spread error. 2 Timothy 4:3 reminds us that "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear". Jesus was both divine and human and the life of Jesus and Gods plan to His birth can not be compared merely on human wisdom or carnal nature. God's standards for holiness are high when compared to human beings. We humans think in carnal mind. The Bible does not teach contradictory doctrines. These preachers hold the Bible up and say, "We preach the Bible". That is what we do they say but they have forgotten that they are sowing seeds of hatred in the minds of their followers and are DIVIDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 1Corinthians 1:10 says I plead with you brothers, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be "no divisions" among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. Protestants love to quote scripture Romans 3:23" For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" if this is true then Able, Noah and Enoch declares them PERFECT in their generation. Bible CLEARLY States in numerous passages that Children are born innocent with no knowledge of right or wrong. (Rom9:11, Ecc7:29, Duet1:39). We have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) but this freedom is not to indulge the sinful nature (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16). Many places through the Scriptures, wherever God resided was deemed a sacred place. Whether we are talking about Jacob's ladder to heaven, Moses and the burning bush, Mount Sinai, the Ark of the Covenant, or the Holy of Holies in the temple, those places were treated with respect, and became sacred, that is, sanctified and dedicated to the sole use of God's purpose, and not human. Marys womb was the temple of God. God lived in the womb of Mary, its unthinkable to think that Joseph would dare to defile the temple of God . The word "until" implies that an action did not take place up to a certain point. It says nothing of what happened after that point. Lets consider few examples , 2 Sam 6:23 says, "Michal the daughter of Saul had no children until [heõs] the day of her death." This can not mean that she had children after her death. Genesis 8:7, "He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, 'until' the waters were dried up off the earth." This doesn't mean that the raven stopped flying after? Deut 34:6 , Moses died, "...and no one knows his grave 'until' this day." Have we found Moses' grave? 1 Macc 5:54, "...not one of them was slain 'until' they had returned in peace." Were they slain afterward? Luke 1:80, John the Baptist "...was in the deserts 'until' the day of his manifestation to Israel." Did he stay in the desert? (Matt 3:1; Mark 1:3-4; Luke 3:2-4) Rom 8:22, "For we know that all creation groans and travails in pain 'until' now." Does it still groan? 1 Tim 4:13, "'Until' I come, be diligent in reading, in exhortation and in teaching." When Paul has come is there no more reading, no more exhorting, and no more teaching? 1 Tim 6:14, "....that you keep the commandment without stain, blameless 'until' the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" When Jesus comes back, do we still obey the commandment? Rev 2:25-26, "But that which you have hold fast 'til' I come. And to him who overcomes, and who keeps My works 'until' the end, I will give authority over the nations." Should we stop holding fast and stop keeping His works when He returns? Lk 1:34, "Then said Mary unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" This shows Mary had no relations with a man before and was virgin. 2Sam 6:23, "...the daughter of Saul had no child 'until' the day of her death." Did she have a child after she died? Jesus' brethren (Matt 13:55; Mark 3:31; Luke 8:19; John 2:12, 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal 1:9). In short we can read as Zebedee & Salome begat - James and John (Mt 4:21,Mk 1:19, Mk 3:17, Mt 27:56, Mk 15:40) Cleophas (Alphaeus) & Mary (the other Mary) begat - James (the less), Joseph (Joses), and Jude (Mt 10:2-3, Jn 19:25, Acts 1:13, Mt 27:56,61, 28:1, Jn 19:25) THE HOLY SPIRIT (Lk 1:35-38) - begat Jesus Christ the son of God through the Virgin Mary (Lk 1:30-38) We can read one more example , Jesus stretched out his hand towards his disciples he pointed out his mother and disciples.( (Matt 12:49-50) If one interprets brothers as siblings one has to interpret 500 brothers as same interpretation which is impossible in 1Cor 15:6. Conclusion: In Hebrew and in Aramaic there is no word of cousin and they most are often called as brethren. Jesus' "Brothers" (adelphoi)) = Cousins or Kinsmen in Hebrew. Luke 1:36 - Elizabeth is Mary's kinswoman. Some Bibles translate kinswoman as "cousin," but this is an improper translation because in Hebrew and Aramaic, there is no word for "cousin." In Luke 22:32 Jesus tells Peter to strengthen his "brethren." We can clearly see that Jesus used brethren to apostles not to his biological brothers. Acts 1:12-15,Acts 7:26; 11:1; 13:15,38; 15:3,23,32; 28:17,21 - these are some of many other examples where "brethren" does not mean blood relations. Rom. 9:3 - Paul uses "brethren" and "kinsmen" interchangeably. "Brothers" of Jesus does not prove Mary had other children. Gen. 11:26-28 - Lot is Abraham's nephew ("anepsios") / Gen. 13:8; 14:14,16 - Lot is still called Abraham's brother (adelphos") . This proves that, although a Greek word for cousin is "anepsios," Scripture also uses "adelphos" to describe a cousin. Gen. 29:15 - Laban calls Jacob is "brother" even though Jacob is his nephew. Again, this proves that brother means kinsmen or cousin. Deut. 23:7; 1 Chron. 15:5-18; Jer. 34:9; Neh. 5:7 -"brethren" means kinsmen. Hebrew and Aramaic have no word for "cousin." 2 Sam. 1:26; 1 Kings 9:13, 20:32 - here we see that "brethren" can even be one who is unrelated (no bloodline), such as a friend. 2 Kings 10:13-14 - King Ahaziah's 42 "brethren" were really his kinsmen. 1 Chron. 23:21-22 - Eleazar's daughters married their "brethren" who were really their cousins. Neh. 4:14; 5:1,5,8,10,14 - these are more examples of "brothers" meaning "cousins" or "kinsmen." Tobit 5:11 - Tobit asks Azarias to identify himself and his people, but still calls him "brother." Amos 1: 9 - brotherhood can also mean an ally where there is no bloodline. So throughout in the Old Testament and in New Testament mother of Jesus is called Virgin Mary. Because she indeed is a virgin. google-site-verification: google750ed417e48c90c4.html

Why Mother Mary is Honored?

By Shaila Touchton Mother Mary is Saint and she is venerated by Catholics with love as part of our spiritual family, and they ask their aid and prayers because in the Book of Revelation we are told clearly that the prayers of the saints rise as incense before the Lord's throne (Rev. 5:8). However they believe salvation is through Christ our Lord. Saints in Heaven, and the angels in Heaven, share in Christ‘s role as a intercessor even though 1 Tim 2:5 reads as follows: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…”.. God seeks intercessors. We know this from Moses Prayer, Interceding For Israel(Exodus 32:11-13),Elijah Asks God to Reveal Himself to the People (I Kings 18:36-37), Daniel's Prayer, Identifying With The Sins Of His People. Daniel 9:4-19), Stephen's Prayer, For His Murderers, At The Point Of His Death.(Acts 7:60). Intercession among members of the body of Christ is pleasing to God (1 Tm 2:1-4) and even commanded by him (Jn 15:17). 1. Mary is the Mother of God. She was chosen out of all the women in the world that ever existed. Mary is the mother of Jesus because Jesus is God so Mary is the Mother of God. Mary was full of grace, without sin, Jesus can not be born of sinful women. She has been virgin, Pure, Godly conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25). Mary was saved from all sin because She bore our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence she has to be sinless to give birth to Christ because Jesus can not exist by original sin of Adam. Mother Mary is the one who nursed, fed, taught Jesus Christ, she was made a pure vessel for the Word of the Lord. Galatians 4:4-5 says But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Mother Mary is the only woman who is mentioned both Old Testament (Gen 3:15, Isaiah 7:14) and New testament (Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:22-30). 2. Isaiah 7:14 says that The Lord himself will give a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” Here we know that the mother of Christ would have to be a virgin. GOD needed Mary to be the vessel to give birth to His Divine Son. 3. Mary said her soul doth magnify the Lord, And her spirit hath rejoiced in God her Saviour.( Luke 1:46-47).Her mind was saturated in God's Word whom the Holy Spirit blessed her so abundantly. 4.In Luke 1:38Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. This shows Mary's humility and obedience to God and she herself responded to grace with faith. The way the description reads (Luke 1:35 )that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Highest will overshadow her, reminds me of Moses being overshadowed by the cloud on Mt. Sinai. Mary carried the Word of GOD, the Power of GOD, and the Bread come down from heaven. 5. Luke 1:48"...behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed...". Mary points us to Christ, she brings glory to God, and she exemplifies as a true disciple, a model for discernment and obedience to God. 6. Luke 1:28 says "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women." . Mary is the only person in the entire Bible to be called "Blessed among women”. 7.Mary is the only women who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and carried the Divine Person of GOD in her womb for nine months. Luke 1:35-38. 8. Mary is the only mother who gave us our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and for us to imitate the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Mary is not a distraction from Christ but a reflection of Christ. 9. Mary was twice called "Blessed" by Elizabeth, being filled with the Holy Spirit, in Luke 1:42- 45. 10. In Judith 13:18 says And Uzziah said to her, “O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to strike the head of the leader of our enemies." 11. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41 12. Jesus obeyed the command to honor his mother(Matthew 15:4). One of Jesus’ last words as he hung on the cross were his words to Mary and to the apostle John. To Mary Jesus said, “Woman, here is your son,” and to John he said, “Here is your mother.” (John 19:26-27) 13. Mary is the one who, in the Lord's words, "heard the word of God and kept it." (Luke 11:28) Through her personal sinlessness she fulfilled all the hopes and prophecies of Israel. (Isaiah 7:14) 14. Mary is not a pagan earth goddess because she is the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was qualified to give birth to the sinless Son of God because God chose her and miraculously caused her to conceive by the "overshadowing" of the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:42 says she is blessed among women and has a favor from God. All generations will call her blessed (Luke 1:48).So definitely she is not a pagan Goddess. By praying to saints and angels, the Catholic Church can not be accused as pagan worshippers. The Bible shows us the importance of the witness of angels and saints and the Bible teaches the communion of saints (Luke 12:8-9). Saints in heaven are as the angels of God, they are intimately involved in man's salvation under Jesus Christ. When one prays to them, they in turn pray to God who commonly grants His graces on their behalf and because of their close relationship with Him. The Bible also teaches that angels are present in the assemblies of the faithful.(Ref verses 1 corinthians 11:10,Hebrews 12:22-23,2 Thesslonains 1:10,Daniel 7:10,Matthew 25:31,1 corinthains 6:2,Romans 8:38-39,Psalms 90:11,Revelation 8:2-4). 15. 1 Timothy 2:1 says “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men. “So asking for intercessory prayer is a very biblical thing to do, especially from a holy person like Mary (James 5:16) because she is a Saint.

Blessed Mother Mary is the Ark of New covenant!

By shaila Touchton Mother Mary is the biggest obstacle and denial for most of Protestants. Protestants have distorted the doctrine, mislead, misinterpreted the scriptures and misunderstood Mother Mary. Protestantism denominations are Bible Twisting cults. They often ignore to understand simple truth that Jesus is God, Mary is the Mother of Jesus and hence Mary is the Mother of God.We know that within the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fullness of God dwells. (Colossians 2:9).Hence Mother Mary is a God bearer or Mother of God. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by the Spirit of God which was the instrument through which God came to dwell among men and in the New Testament, Mary, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and was the instrument through which God came to dwell among men. Hence Mother Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant. We also know from Genesis 3:15 that God promises to defeat Satan through a woman” and “her seed.” And the woman is no one but Mother Mary and the seed was our Lord Jesus Christ. The woman of Genesis 3:15 is same as the women of Revelation 12. Many Protestants will accuse Catholic Church and label as an exaggeration to exalt Mary. But they are false. 1. In Old Testament we know that David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?" (2 Samuel 6:9)can be compared in the New testament when Elizabeth says to Mary: And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43) 2. The Old Ark was the dwelling place of God in the Old Covenant ((Exodus 40:34), so the New Ark, the Virgin Mary, is the dwelling place of God in the New Covenant(Luke 1:35). 3. In the Old Testament the Ark of the Old Covenant was “overshadowed” by the power and presence of God (Exodus 40:34 -35) and in the New testament, the Virgin Mary was “overshadowed” by the power and presence of the Most High (Luke 1:35). 3.In the old testament when the Ark of the Covenant is brought before David, he danced when he saw the Ark of the Covenant in (2 Samuel 6:14) and he was wearing linen ephod which is a priestly vestment . So does in the New Testament we know John the Baptist belongs to priestly line of Aaron. John Baptist(Baby) leaped in her womb hearing the Ark of the Covenant(Luke 1:41) . 4.In the Old Testament After David dances before the Ark of the Covenant, the ark remains three months(2 Samuel 6:11) and likewise in New Testament Baby John the Baptist leaped in his mothers womb at hearing Mary, she remains three months(Luke 1:56). 5. In the Old Testament the ark traveled to the house of Obed-edom in the Hill country of Judea(2 Sam.6:1-11) and in the New testament we know that Mary traveled to the house of Elisabeth and Zechariah in the Hill country of Judea( Luke 1:39). 6. In the Old Testament David shouts in the presence of the ark(2 Sam.6:15) and in the New Testament Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry in the presence of Mary(Luke 1:42). 7. In the Old Testament, the house of Obed-edom was blessed by the presence of the ark.(2 Sam 6:11) and in the New testament the word is used 3 times and the house is surely blessed by God( Luke 1:39-45). 8. In the Old Testament, the ark returns to its home and ends up in Jerusalem, where Gods presence and glory is revealed in the temple.( 2 sam6:12,1kings8:9-11) and in the New Testament ,Mary returns home and eventually ends up in Jerusalem, where she presents God ,the incarnate in the temple( Luke 1:56,Luke2:21-22). 9. In the Old Testament, The Word was written by God on Tablets of Stone (Ex 25:10) placed inside the Ark (Deut 10:1-4) and In the New Testament the Word of God became Flesh (John 1) conceived inside Mary (Luke 2:38) which means Mary carried the Word of God. 10. In the Old Testament, The Ark of the Old Covenant contained the written word of God (Deut. 10:5) and In the New Testament the Virgin Mary contained the Word of God made flesh, Jesus (John. 1:1). 11. In the Old Testament, The Ark contained the manna from the desert( Hebrews 9:4) and in The New Testament Mary contained the manna from Heaven which is our Lord Jesus( John 6:48-51). Woman in Revelation 12 is not Israel But Virgin Mary: 1. In New Testament Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. Here The woman ‘clothed’ with the Sun, moon and stars represents Mother Mary, and her child is Christ. There is no indication in Scripture anywhere that the Nation Israel gives birth to the Son who is the messiah. Everything here is individual and reality nothing symbolic. But For Protestants everything is symbols and symbolic meanings and personal opinions. And In Old Testament, in Isaiah 7:14 which says” Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel”. Here too clearly says the only person who gives birth to Jesus is Mary not Israel. When we look at the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament we will not find a single reference to Israel either being a ‘woman’. In New Testament, Rev 12:2: And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered is same as Isaiah 66:7 “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. 3.Rev 12:3-9. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. We see here this "red dragon" Is Satan which is individual. those who are fighting against the dragon are Michael and the angels they are too individuals and real. John speaks also of a dragon who is seeks to destroy the child, and goes to war against the angels of God (Rev 3-4 and Rev 7-9). Again clearly here the child is Jesus, and the Woman is Mother Mary and Michael is real angel and the angels and as the Devil is real Satan. There are no symbols. Still Its reality. 4. Gen. 3is parallel to Rev. 12. The devil is at war both with the woman of Genesis 3:15, and the woman in Revelation 12 who bore a Son. The seed of the ‘woman’ in Genesis 3:15 as Jesus. And the woman is Mother Mary who will be at war with the Devil. This fits perfectly again the Revelation 12 where the woman is at war with the devil. The Woman of Genesis 3 is not Israel but Mother Mary. Paul spoke of the seed born of a woman (Gal. 4:4), and John told of the woman clothed with the sun who brought forth the manchild (Rev 12:1). Both depict the birth of Christ not Israel. The woman is battling with the dragon, or Satan, she has some offspring who are at war with the devil. Revelation 12 indicates that those Christians, who bear testimony to Jesus, also are Mary’s offspring. Those who bear testimony to Jesus are christians who have Mary as their Mother. That is clear Biblical truth.

Mother Mary Mother of All believers and Mary in Revelation.

By Shaila Touchton The Church Fathers found many foreshadowing or prefigurements of Blessed Mary in the Old Testament. She is the woman who was said in Genesis 3: 15 about the enmity with the serpent and New Eve who will be the mother of all Living in Genesis 3:20.She is also referred as the daughter of Zion in (Psalm 9:14, Isaiah 54:1-10, Zephaniah 3:14, Zechariah 2:10) and the Ark of Covenant in Exodus 40 and Rev 11:9. Mary, the young Jewish virgin becomes a symbol for Israel herself who bore Jesus, the Messiah. By the grace of God, Mary was preserved from the stain of personal sin. She was Chosen by God the Father and the Holy Spirit descended on her. She is the woman described in Revelation 11:19-12:6. She’s is the prime example of a woman of faith where she allowed God to use her and submitted to His will. She is exalted above all the holy angels. And we can see this when Angel Gabriel came to her and said “Hail” in Luke 1:28. (The Greek used for "hail" here is "chairō", which is a title used for a superior). And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail, (chairō) Master!" And he kissed him. (Mattthew 26:49). It is a salutation reserved for royalty such as, "Hail Caesar", or "Hail King of the Jews". Here we have the Archangel Gabriel, sent by GOD, with instructions to greet her as royalty. How many women who were ever born were given such an enthusiastic royal greeting by no less than an Archangel sent by GOD? "If GOD is for us, who is against us?" which says in Romans 8:31. So God was with Mother Mary. we also can see Mary was present with the apostles in the upper room praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). After recalling the presence of Mary and the other women at the Lord's cross, St John relates: "When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!'. Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!’" (Jn 19:26-27). This establishes a new relationship of love between Blessed Mary and Christians. Jesus entrusted his Mother to John and by extension to all Christians. John 19:25-27, is used as proof that Mary is the Mother of Christians, and see in John as one who takes Mary into his home, as representing all Christians who take Mary as their mother. Thereby Mary is the mother of all Christians. Jesus commits the care of the Virgin Mary to the Apostle John. This would have been unacceptable if she had other children. If the oldest child dies, the care of the mother falls to the next oldest child. If the oldest child is the only child, it is his responsibility to appoint someone to care for his mother in the case that he dies. We can see that Jesus acts as if He is the only child of Mary. As we can see, there is no indication from the Bible that Mary had other children than Jesus.Compare Mt 10:2-4, Mk 15:40, Jn 19:25, and Acts 1:13 and you will find that James, Joseph, and Jude were sons of Cleophas (Alphaeus) and 'the other Mary', not Mary the Mother of GOD. Simon was the 'Canaanite' of Mk 3:18, and the 'Zealot'. Jesus called her 'woman ' to show us the connection between His mother and the 'woman’ foretold in Genesis 3: 15 and later the 'woman' that He would address from the cross (John 19:26-27), and to the 'woman' with the crown of twelve stars in Revelation 12:1. Jesus does refer to Mary by the word women twice. It is not considered as disrespectful. Adoration is due to God alone. Jesus, the Son of God, gave this as one of His principal commandments: "Honor your father and your mother." Do you think that Jesus, who is God, will contradict Himself and not practice what He taught? That is, do you think that He Himself, who gave the command to honor father and mother, will NOT Himself honor His own mother? It was Jesus’ normal, polite way of addressing women. Calling women during Jesus times was most Honorable word. Mary is also foreshadowed as the king’s mother in 1 Kings 2:19; as the “closed Gate” of perpetual virginity in Ezekiel 44:1-2, and as the Virgin Mother of Emmanuel in Isaiah 7:14 in Mt 1:23. In Revelation 12, Mary is the woman clothed with the sun, about to give birth. She is opposed by the dragon who wishes to devour her son. Now at the end of the passage in Rev 12 we see that the devil makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. These are all the Christians who bear testimony to Jesus and keep God’s commandments (1 John 2:3-4, Jn. 14:15, 15:10, 1 Cor. 7:19). However, the Christians are the offspring of the woman of Revelation 12. Thus, whoever is the ‘woman’ is the Mother of Christians. Some protestants may say that the women in Revelation 12 is not Mother Mary but Israel. Both New and Old Testament will not find a single reference to Israel either being a ‘woman’, or giving birth to the Messiah. Genesis 37 says absolutely nothing about Israel giving birth to a Messiah. Stephano Manelli gives us some insight of her wearing the Sun, moon and stars as alluded to by the apostle John: Of great importance is the description of the exterior feature of the ‘woman’, rich in a symbolism quite unusual. “Clothed with the sun”, Mary was really flooded by divine grace that consecrated her immaculate from conception and transformed her into the Mother of God. “The moon under her feet” signifies that all things created and passing - symbolized by the moon, which appears and disappears - are under the feet of the Queen of the universe. “on her head a crown of twelve stars” is the symbol of Mary’s reign over the angels (stars), the Chosen People (the “twelve” tribes), over the Church (the “twelve” apostles). Within the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fullness of God dwells. (Colossians 2:9) says For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. what comes out of her womb is also God, because God indwells the body of Christ. Thus, it is proper to refer to her as the “God-bearer” or Theotokos, and, as a “Mother of God.” Luke 1:28 says Mary is the woman of Grace and Lord was with her. She had the favour of God in her life which preserved her from sin. As we know God cannot exist with sin. She is the only women who was Holy and chosen by God among all the women of this world to give birth to Messiah as shown in Revelation 12, Isaiah 7, Matthew and Luke. She is exalted in a magnificent way by Angels, God which is no way detracts from the son who rules the nation and who is King of Kings. She was the most faithful of all. She was there with Him at His beginning all the way and at the foot of the cross at His death. She is the role model of Godly Motherhood and humility.

The Scriptural Rosary

Most of God's people in America are starving spiritually. Although the spiritual nourishment of God's word and Holy Communion are more available than ever, we starve ourselves because we have become anorexic. We have indulged our carnal desires and lost our appetite for the things of God (see Prv 13:19; Gal 5:17). The Scriptural rosary will feed us spiritually. Those who have benefited from other Scriptural rosaries and are looking for a new experience of God's word will especially appreciate the unique approach of this Scriptural rosary.
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1st — The Annunciation
(before the "Our Father")
"All ages to come shall call me blessed." —Lk 1:48
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "Blessed are you among women." —Lk 1:28
2. "How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs." —Mt 5:3
3. "Blest too are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled." —Mt 5:4
4. "Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land." —Mt 5:5
5. "Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill." —Mt 5:6
6. "Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs." —Mt 5:7
7. "Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God." —Mt 5:8
8. "Blest too the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God." —Mt 5:9
9. "Blest are those persecuted for holiness' sake; the reign of God is theirs." —Mt 5:10
10. "Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled." —Lk 1:45

2nd — The Visitation
(before the "Our Father")
"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." —Lk 1:41
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord." —Lk 1:46
2. "My spirit finds joy in God my Savior." —Lk 1:47
3. "For He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed." —Lk 1:48
4. "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name." —Lk 1:49
5. "His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him." —Lk 1:50
6. "He has shown might with His arm; He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts." —Lk 1:51
7. "He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places." —Lk 1: 52
8. "The hungry He has given every good thing, while the rich He has sent empty away." —Lk 1:53
9. "He has upheld Israel His servant, ever mindful of His mercy." —Lk 1:54
10. "Even as He promised our Fathers, promised Abraham and His descendants forever." —Lk 1:55

3rd — The Birth of Jesus
(before the "Our Father")
"Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up!" — Is 45:8
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God's presence, and the Word was God." —Jn 1:1
2. "The virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name Him Immanuel." —Is 7:14
3. "He has pitched a tent there for the sun, which comes forth like the groom from his bridal chamber and, like a giant, joyfully runs its course." —Ps 19:5-6
4. "Then was I beside Him as His craftsman, and I was His delight day by day, playing before Him all the while, playing on the surface of His earth; and I found delight in the sons of men." —Prv 8:30-31
5. "For when peaceful stillness compassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, Your all-powerful word from heaven's royal throne bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land." —Wis 18:14-15
6. "But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One Who is to be Ruler in Israel." —Mi 5:1
7. "When the designated time had come, God sent forth His Son born of a woman." —Gal 4:4
8. "He emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men." —Phil 2:7
9. "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us; not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy." —Ti 3:4-5
10. "She gave birth to a Son — a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to His throne." —Rv 12:5

4th — The Presentation of Jesus
(before the "Our Father")
"I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God." —Rm 12:1
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life." —Dt 30:19
2. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." —Jos 24:15
3. "How long will you straddle the issue? If the Lord is God, follow Him." —1 Kgs 18:21
4. " 'And you,' He said to them, 'who do you say that I am?' " —Mt 16:15
5. "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind." —Mt 22:37
6. "Someone asked Him, 'Lord, are they few in number who are to be saved?' He replied: 'Try to come in through the narrow door.' " —Lk 13:23-24
7. "Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life." —Jn 3:16
8. "For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." —Rm 10:9
9. "At Jesus' name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" —Phil 2:10-11
10. "Here I stand, knocking at the door." —Rv 3:20

5th — The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
(before the "Our Father")
"The Child grew in size and strength, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him." —Lk 2:40
(before the "Hail Marys")
The Ten Commandments
1. "I, the Lord, am your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides Me." —Ex 20:2
2. "You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain." —Ex 20:7
3. "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day." —Ex 20:8
4. "Honor your father and your mother." —Ex 20:12
5. "You shall not kill." —Ex 20:13
6. "You shall not commit adultery." —Ex 20:14
7. "You shall not steal." —Ex 20:15
8. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." —Ex 20:16
9. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house." —Ex 20:17
10. "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife." —Ex 20:17

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
1st — Jesus' Agony in the Garden
(before the "Our Father")
"Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and He placed there the man whom He had formed." —Gn 2:8
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "When they heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden." —Gn 3:8
2. "When He expelled the man, He settled him east of the garden of Eden; and He stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life." —Gn 3:24
3. "For He was deeply grieved that they had closed their minds against Him." —Mk 3:5
4. "Coming within sight of the city, He wept over it." —Lk 19:41
5. "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had accompanied her also weeping, He was troubled in spirit, moved by the deepest emotions." —Jn 11:33
6. "Jesus grew deeply troubled. He went on to give this testimony: 'I tell you solemnly, one of you will betray Me.' " —Jn 13:21
7. "My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with Me." —Mt 26:38
8. "At that time Jesus cried in a loud voice, ... 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' " —Mk 15:34
9. "They are crucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding Him up to contempt." —Heb 6:6
10. " 'Woman,' He asked her, 'why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?' She supposed He was the gardener." —Jn 20:15

2nd — Jesus' Scourging at the Pillar
(before the "Our Father")
"He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed." —Is 53:5
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "I will strike the water of the river with the staff I hold, and it shall be changed into blood." —Ex 7:17
2. "The frogs will swarm all over you and your subjects and your servants." —Ex 7:29
3. "The dust of the earth was turned into gnats throughout the land of Egypt." —Ex 8:13
4. "I warn you, I will loose swarms of flies upon you and ... your houses." —Ex 8:17
5. "I warn you, the Lord will afflict all your livestock in the field ... with a very severe pestilence." —Ex 9:3
6. "Take a double handful of soot from a furnace...scatter it toward the sky. It will then turn into fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and cause festering boils." —Ex 9:8-9
7. "Tomorrow at this hour I will rain down such fierce hail." —Ex 9:18
8. "I will bring locusts into your country. They shall cover the ground, so that the ground itself will not be visible." —Ex 10:4-5
9. There was "such intense darkness that one can feel it." —Ex 10:21
10. "At midnight the Lord slew every first-born in the land." —Ex 12:29

3rd — Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
(before the "Our Father")
"They throw down their crowns before the throne and sing." —Rv 4:10
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "My loins are filled with burning pains; there is no health in My flesh." —Ps 38:8
2. "I am numbed and severely crushed; I roar with anguish of heart." —Ps 38:9
3. "They who sit at the gate gossip about Me, and drunkards make Me the butt of their songs." —Ps 69:13
4. "Insult has broken My heart, and I am weak, I looked for sympathy, but there was none." —Ps 69:21
5. "The Lord is King, in splendor robed; robed is the Lord and girt about with strength." —Ps 93:1
6. "He shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at Him — so marred was His look beyond that of man." —Is 52:13-14
7. "I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven...He received dominion, glory, and kingship." —Dn 7:13-14
8. "We do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death." —Heb 2:9
9. "But Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins and took His seat forever at the right hand of God; now He waits until His enemies are placed beneath His feet. —Heb 10:12-13
10. "A name was written on the part of the cloak that covered His thigh: 'King of kings and Lord of lords.' " —Rv 19:16

4th — Jesus Carries the Cross
(before the "Our Father")
"The message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed for ruin, but to us who are experiencing salvation, it is the power of God." —1 Cor 1:18
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "We preach Christ crucified — a stumbling block to Jews, and an absurdity to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." —1 Cor 1:23-24
2. "The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it." —Gn 3:6
3. "They took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb." —Acts 13:29
4. "Christ has delivered us from the power of the law's curse by Himself becoming a curse for us, as it is written: 'Accursed is anyone who is hanged on a tree.' " —Gal 3:13
5. "Blest is the wood through which justice comes about." —Wis 14:7
6. "Abraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac's shoulders." —Gn 22:6
7. "Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter." —Is 53:7
8. "Jesus said to all: 'Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in My steps.' " —Lk 9:23
9. "It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in Him and, by means of Him, to reconcile everything in His person, both on earth and in the heavens, making peace through the blood of His cross." —Col 1:19-20
10. "May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it, the world has been crucified to me and I to the world." —Gal 6:14

5th — Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
(before the "Our Father")
"They shall look on Him Whom they have pierced." —Jn 19:37
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" —Mk 15:34
2. "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." —Lk 23:34
3. "I assure you: this day you will be with Me in paradise." —Lk 23:43
4. "Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." —Lk 23:46
5. "Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, there is your son.' In turn He said to the disciple, 'There is your mother.' " —Jn 19:26-27
6. "I am thirsty." —Jn 19:28
7. "Now it is finished." —Jn 19:30
8. "Suddenly the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom." —Mt 27:51
9. "The earth quaked, boulders split, tombs opened." —Mt 27:52
10. "The centurion who stood guard over Him, on seeing the manner of His death, declared, 'Clearly this Man was the Son of God!' " —Mk 15:39

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1st — The Resurrection of Jesus
(before the "Our Father")
"He was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. After that He was seen by five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have fallen asleep. Next He was seen by James; then by all the apostles. Last of all He was seen by me." —1 Cor 15: 5-8
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "Jesus rose from the dead early on the first day of the week. He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons." —Mk 16:9
2. "They hurried away from the tomb half-overjoyed, half-fearful, and ran to carry the good news to His disciples. Suddenly, without warning, Jesus stood before them and said: 'Peace!' The women came up and embraced His feet and did Him homage." —Mt 28:8
3. "The Lord has been raised! It is true! He has appeared to Simon." —Lk 24:34
4. "With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; whereupon He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, 'Were not our hearts burning inside us as He talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?' " —Lk 24:31-32
5. "On the evening of that first day of the week, even though the disciples had locked the doors of the place where they were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood before them. 'Peace be with you,' He said. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side." —Jn 20:19-20
6. "A week later, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors, Jesus came and stood before them. 'Peace be with you,' He said." —Jn 20:26
7. "The eleven disciples made their way to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had summoned them. At the sight of Him, those who had entertained doubts fell down in homage." —Mt 28:16-17
8. "Later, at the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus showed Himself to the disciples (once again). This is how the appearance took place." —Jn 21:1
9. "Finally, as they were at table, Jesus was revealed to the Eleven. He took them to task for their disbelief and their stubbornness, since they had put no faith in those who had seen Him after He had been raised." —Mk 16:14
10. "Then He led them out near Bethany, and with hands upraised, blessed them. As He blessed, He left them, and was taken up to heaven. They fell down to do Him reverence, then returned to Jerusalem filled with joy. There they were to be found in the temple constantly, speaking the praises of God." —Lk 24:50-53

2nd — The Ascension of Jesus
(before the "Our Father")
"Yet I tell you the sober truth: It is much better for you that I go." —Jn 16:7
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts." —Ps 47:6
2. "You have ascended on high, taken captives, received men as gifts — even rebels; the Lord God enters His dwelling." —Ps 68:19
3. "What, then, if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before...?" —Jn 6:62
4. "I solemnly assure you, the man who has faith in Me will do the works I do, and greater far than these. Why? Because I go to the Father." —Jn 14:12
5. "Go to My brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God!' " —Jn 20:17
6. "It is like the strength He showed in raising Christ from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in heaven." —Eph 1:19-20
7. He "ascended high above the heavens, that He might fill all men with His gifts." —Eph 4:10
8. "God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name above every other name." —Phil 2:9
9. "He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit; seen by the angels; preached among the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up into glory." —1 Tm 3:16
10. "Her child was caught up to God and to His throne." —Rv 12:5

3rd — The Descent of the Holy Spirit
(before the "Our Father")
"Together they devoted themselves to constant prayer. There were some women in their company, and Mary the mother of Jesus." —Acts 1:14
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "The angel answered her: 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." —Lk 1:35
2. "If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." —Lk 11:13
3. "Scripture has it: 'From within Him rivers of living water shall flow.' (Here He was referring to the Spirit, Whom those that came to believe in Him were to receive.)" —Jn 7:38-39
4. "Then He bowed His head, and delivered over His Spirit." —Jn 19:30
5. "He breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' " —Jn 20:22
6. "All were filled with the Holy Spirit." —Acts 2:4
7. "The pair upon arriving imposed hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit." —Acts 8:17
8. "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus Who appeared to you on the way here, to help you recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." —Acts 9:17
9. "Peter had not finished these words when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter's message." —Acts 10:44
10. "The Holy Spirit came down on them and they began to speak in tongues and to utter prophecies. There were in the company about twelve men in all." —Acts 19:6-7

4th — The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
(before the "Our Father")
"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." —Mt 23:12
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "Then Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him." —Gn 5:24
2. "A flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." —2 Kgs 2:11
3. "The queen takes her place at your right hand." —Ps 45:10
4. "He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places." —Lk 1:52
5. "Jesus replied, 'I assure you: this day you will be with Me in paradise.' " —Lk 23:43
6. "I know that this man — whether in or outside his body I do not know, God knows — was snatched up to Paradise." —2 Cor 12:3
7. "I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with Me, that where I am you also may be." —Jn 14:3
8. "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him." —1 Cor 2:9
9. "Both with and in Christ Jesus He raised us up and gave us a place in the heavens." —Eph 2:6
10. "The woman was given the wings of a gigantic eagle so that she could fly off to her place in the desert." —Rv 12:14

5th — The Queenship of Mary
(before the "Our Father")
"You who have followed Me shall likewise take your places on twelve thrones.' " —Mt 19:28
(before the "Hail Marys")
1. "How can this be since I do not know man?" —Lk 1:34
2. "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say." —Lk 1:38
3. "Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother." —Jn 19:25
4. "He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed." —Lk 1:48
5. "God Who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name." —Lk 1:49
6. "I will give the victor the right to sit with Me on My throne." —Rv 3:21
7. "Then I saw some thrones. Those who were sitting on them were empowered to pass judgment." —Rv 20:4
8. "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." —Rv 12:1
9. "Do whatever He tells you." —Jn 2:5
10. "There are still many other things that Jesus did, yet if they were written about in detail, I doubt there would be room enough in the entire world to hold the books to record them." —Jn 21:25

What did the angels tell Mary?

Matt 28:6-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:5-7; John 20:13
(Matthew 28:6-7) - "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7"And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
(Mark 16:6-7) - "And he *said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.’"
(Luke 24:5-7) - "and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6"He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
(John 20:13) - "And they *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She *said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
The different gospel writers recalled, or were told, that which was said. Just like real witnesses who all view the same event, each says a slightly different version of the same thing. If each sentence were identical, then the charge of collusion would be raised. But the fact that each writer records the words of the angels in a slightly different manner suggests that they really did witness these events, or heard of them, and recorded them. The slight differences are proof that there were different people seeing the event. In other words, it really happened and each person recalled a slightly, but non contradictory, account of the angel's words.
The following is a suggested arrangement of words that might help to harmonize the words of the angels.
Matthew 28:6-7
Mark 16:6-7
Luke 24:5-7
John 20:13
women were afraid "and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them,
Two angels spoke "And they *said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She *said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
Two or one angel spoke "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
One angel spoke "And he *said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen;
"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. He is not here; 6"He is not here, but He has risen.
Come, see the place where He was lying. behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
7"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.’"
7"And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

The Bibe teaches us to pray and venerate saints!

Protestants, who claim to be obedient to Scripture, are the first ones to level these accusations against Catholics, not without a Bible quote or two, which seem to back them up, but little do they realize that the Bible actually teaches that we should pray to and venerate saints.

God uses His angels as messengers
1 Chronicles 21:18: “And the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David…”
4 Kings 1:3: “And an angel of the Lord spoke to Elias the Thesbite, saying…”
Acts 8:26: “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying…”
Throughout the Bible God uses His angels to deliver messages, to give instructions, to deliver justice and to answer prayers.
Numbers 20:16: “And how we cried to the Lord, and he heard us, and sent an angel, who hath brought us out of Egypt…”
Isaias 37:36: “And the angel of the Lord went out, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand…”
God answers prayers by sending angels, and this is so frequent and natural that not only are they sent by God, but they are also besought and entreated by men.
Judges 6:12-13: “The angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said: The Lord is with thee, O most valiant of men. And Gedeon said to him: I beseech thee, my lord, if the Lord be with us, why have these evils fallen upon us?”
Angles can be prayed to
Osee 12:3-4: “In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had success with an angel. And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us.”
Not because they are God, of course, but because they are powerful supernatural servants of God.
St. Luke 1:10-13: “And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense. And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”
The angel heard the prayer and responded.
How does this relate to saints?
Matthew 22:29-32: "And Jesus answering, said to them: You err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they shall neither marry nor be married; but shall be as the angels of God in heaven. And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken by God, saying to you: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
St. Luke 20:34-36: “And Jesus said to them: The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they that shall be accounted worthy of that world, and of the resurrection from the dead, shall neither be married, nor take wives. Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels, and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”
Saints in heaven are as the angels. Do angels mete out God’s justice? Yes. Answer prayers on behalf of God? Yes. Receive supplication and prayer? Yes. Therefore the saints of Jesus do all of those things. Now that we have made the link between angels and saints, we need to consider a few more things in this regard. The intercession angels, on behalf of God, is extraordinarily powerful and effective. They transmit the message of the Almighty so frequently that in many passages it is not clear if the angel is speaking or if God is speaking.
Zacharias 12:8: “In that day shall the Lord protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and he that hath offended among them in that day shall be as David: and the house of David, as that of God, as an angel of the Lord in their sight.”
St. Luke 2:9: “And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear.”
The Bible shows us the importance of the witness of angels and saints.
St. Luke 12:8-9: “And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that shall deny me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.”
Jesus considers His confession before angels to be very significant, much like His confession to His Father (Matthew 10:32).
St. Luke 15:10: “So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.”
Angles have a connection with and influence over the salvation of men. They rejoice when a man converts because their intercession assits his conversion. They cheer him, they help him and intercede for him. That’s why Catholics understand the intercession of saints to be so important. Saints in heaven are as the angels of God, they are intimately involved in man’s salvation under Jesus Christ. When one prays to them, they in turn pray to God who commonly grants His graces on their behalf and because of their close relationship with Him. The Bible also teaches that angels are present in the assemblies of the faithful.
1 Corinthians 11:10: Therefore ought the woman to have a power (head covering) over her head, because of the angels.
This verse tells us that because of the angels, not God, the woman should cover her head. Veneration is also due to angels, since they are the worthy servants of God almighty.
Jesus described St. John the Baptist as an angel.
St Matthew 11:9-10: “But what went you out to see? a prophet? yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.”
In Hebrews we find a description of the Church of Jesus Christ and its heavenly majesty. Notice that the Christian coming before the heavenly description of the Church, comes before the spirits of the just men made perfect, the saints in heaven. The Christian is warned before about coming before all of the following:
Hebrews 12:22-23: "But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect"
Prayers to them are Biblical and of tremendous value, since God is glorified and not detracted by His saints.
2 Thessalonians 1:10: “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made wonderful in all them who have believed; because our testimony was believed upon you in that day.”
As we see, Saints do not diminish God’s glory, they augment it. Those who are closest to the king can gain favours that are not always given to those who are further away from him. Just like in any other hierarchy, family, company team, etc.
The communion of saints
This is the true and Catholic view of heaven. To use an analogy, it’s like the magnificent palace of the king where there are dozens of levels of servants, assistants and attendants. Each level is full of them, they wait on the king and they have dedicated everything to him. They are his true friends in addition to being his servants. Their lives of service, their extraordinary examples strike each visitor with awe. All of the king’s servants possess their own splendor, which is given to them as a result of their place of honour in the palace.
The king has bestowed some of his own glory on everyone with him, even though theirs is infinitely less than his own. Their personal glory contributes to the glory of the entire place. The thought of the profound glory of the kings servants and friends strikes one with awe at the thought of the unique glory of the king himself whom all of these magnificent creatures serve. As you see more of the palace and move closer to the king, the glory of his friends and servants increases. In creation itself, the brilliant diversity of God’s masterpiece, with differences in snow capped mountains, flowing rivers, serene lakes, green jungles, beautiful woods and rolling hills, strike one with wonder. In heaven there is a countless variety of people, each with a different story, a different trial, a different sacrifice, a different gift, all of which were dedicated and used for God to the fullest and which culminated in perfect happiness in heaven. This stunning variety stirs one to even greater love and awe of the Almighty.
This is the true and Catholic view of heaven and the heavenly hierarchy. It is easy to see in this description how the glory of the saints does not detract from the glory of God, but magnifies it.
St. Luke 1:46: “And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.”
The Protestant view on the other hand is much different. It’s comparable to a palace that is filled only with the king. In this palace there is nothing and no one that can move your attention away from him. Which king is the more glorious? Which image of the heavenly kingdom is the true one? Which is the Biblical one? The answer is that the Bible teaches the Catholic view, the communion of the saints.
Daniel 7:10: “A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened.”
The mind-boggling number of servants who minister to God only enhances the majesty of the appearance of God.
St. Matthew 25:31: “And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty.”
God comes with and is glorified by his ministers and his angels and his saints. The Catholic view is the correct and Biblical view of heaven and the heavenly hierarchy. Next we will talk about how the Bible teaches that men can intercede with God.
Jeremias 15:1: “And the Lord said to me: If Moses and Samuel shall stand before me, my soul is not towards this people: cast them out from my sight, and let them go forth.”
Intercession of saintly men helps influence what God does for people and what God does to them, as this last verse shows, even if it wouldn’t have helped in this particular case.0
Exodus 32:9-15: “And again the Lord said to Moses: See that this people is stiffnecked: Let me alone, that my wrath may be kindled against them, and that I may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation. But Moses besought the Lord his God, saying: Why, O Lord, is thy indignation kindled against thy people, whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand? Let not the Egyptians say, I beseech thee: He craftily brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains, and destroy them from the earth: let thy anger cease, and be appeased upon the wickedness of thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou sworest by thy own self, saying: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven: and this whole land that I have spoken of, I will give to you seed, and you shall possess it for ever. And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil which he had spoken against his people. And Moses returned from the mount, carrying the two tables of the testimony in his hand, written on both sides.”
Moses influence with God was so great that God even asked Moses to let Him alone that he might destroy them, but ultimately He relented because of Moses. Not all men are equal before God or have the same intercessory power before with Him. Moses is an exceptional case as is Abraham.
Genesis 18:26-33: “And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.”
God at times accepts the sacrifices and prayers of saintly men on behalf of sinners, as in the case of Job.
Job 42:7-10: “And after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Themanite: My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends, because you have not spoken the thing that is right before my, as my servant Job hath. Take unto you therefore seven oxen, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer for yourselves a holocaust: and my servant Job shall pray for you: his face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you: for you have not spoken right things before me, as my servant Job hath. So Eliphaz the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite went, and did as the Lord had spoken to them, and the Lord accepted the face of Job. The Lord also was turned at the penance of Job, when he prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Another example involving Moses, where his intercession played a key role in obtaining the help of God:
Exodus 17:11-13: “And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel overcame: but if he let them down a little, Amalec overcame. And Moses' hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on both sides. And it came to pass that his hands were not weary until sunset. And Josue put Amalec and his people to flight, by the edge of the sword.”
It is clear that God grants certain things through the intercession of holy men.
Protestants like to argue that praying to saints is against Scripture, and one of the few passages they use to try and prove this is as follows:
1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
As we will see, this objection is false for many reasons.
In John 10:16: “And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”
Jesus calls Himself the one shepherd but, in John 21:15-17, he appoints St. Peter over his flock. “Feed my lambs… feed my lambs… feed my sheep”.
Another example is that Jesus says that He is the supreme judge, in John 9:39 and many other passages. Certain Christians will also act on His behalf as judges in heaven, even of angels.
1 Corinthians 6:2: "Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things of this world?”
St. Matthew 19:28: “And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus is the unique mediator, since He united man to God. Jesus alone did this by His passion and death for those who cooperate with it. That does not mean that in the one mediation of Christ there are not others who participate in His mediation. In fact the Bible clearly teaches that there are.
If Jesus’ unique mediation excluded praying to saints then it would also exclude asking a fellow man to pray for you. There is no way around this. When you ask a fellow man to pray for you, you are asking another person to act as a mediator with Jesus for you. Therefore if prayers to saints are excluded by the unique mediation of Jesus, then asking another to pray for you is excluded as well.
St. Paul himself repeatedly asks others for prayers.
Romans 15:30: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God.”
He also tells others that he is praying for them.
Colossians 1:3: “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…”
The Bible also says this about the suffering of St. Paul:
Colossians 1:24: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church.”
This verse might be a shock to some non-Catholics that are not familiar with it. St. Paul says that he fills up for the Church those things that are wanting or lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Christ’s suffering was perfect and of infinite value, so what does this mean? What St. Paul means is that many sufferings are still wanting and needed for the members of the Church to work out their salvation, which was made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. This verse is teaching that in addition to his prayers, his sacrifices and sufferings can intercede with God so that God gives others graces to convert or to remain faithful. Those people must still cooperate with the grace, but the efforts, sacrifices and prayers of members of the Church can help grant the graces. All of this proves the Catholic teaching on the communion of saints. It refutes Protestant objections in this area. The fact that man can go to other men for prayers and that the saints in heaven can answer prayers and intercede, is all rooted in the Biblical teaching on the unity of the body f Christ. There is a union among the true members of the Church of Jesus. This union does not cease when members die.
Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
And while true members of the Church can assist each other by prayers, the prayers and intercession of saintly men is particularly powerful. That is exactly what we saw in the cases of Moses, Abraham and Job. These saintly men, even after death, are interested in earthy affairs.
St. Matthew 17:2-3: “And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.”
Hebrew 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation? ”
Psalms 90:11: “For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Samuel, some time after he had died (1 Kings 25:1), appeared to Saul to rebuke him.
1 Kings 28:18: “Because thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord, neither didst thou execute the wrath of his indignation upon Amalec. Therefore hath the Lord done to thee what thou sufferest this day.”
Apocalypse (Revelation) 8:2-4: “And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets. And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.”
In truth, a real Christian does not follow any man, rather this verse means that he venerates the saints and tries to imitate them in their tremendous spiritual lives and fidelity to the Gospel. This is because saints, like the great Saint Paul, literally can help save lives and souls, as seen in the following example. During a voyage by sea of St. Paul, there came a terrible storm that threatened to destroy the ship.
Acts of the Apostles 27:21-25: “And after they had fasted a long time, Paul standing forth in the midst of them, said: You should indeed, O ye men, have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer. For there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but only of the ship. For an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, stood by me this night. Saying: Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar; and behold, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall so be, as it hath been told me.”
Undeniably, angels and saints are very active and interested in the affairs and events taking place on earth.
Canonizing Saints
Saints, because of their fidelity to Jesus Christ, are models worthy of imitation, as taught by the Bible.
1 Corinthians 4:16: “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.”
Philippians 3:17: “Be ye followers of me, brethren, and observe them who walk so as you have our model.”
That’s why the Catholic Church canonizes saints for us to imitate. The Bible also teaches exactly the same thing:
James 5:10: “Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.”
Hebrews 11 even goes through a whole list of heroes of faith, the Old Testament saints, including Abel, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Esau, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David and Samuel. The first verse of the next chapter exhorts us to have confidence, knowing that all these saints are in heaven praying for us.
Hebrew 12:1: “And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us.”
Relics of Saints
The Bible teaches that even relics of the saints are to be used and venerated and can be miraculous.
St. Matthew 9:20-22: “And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.”
The garment of Jesus is one thing, since Jesus is God. But does God allow miracles to be worked through the relics of his saints, or is this superstition and idolatry? Those who believe it is superstitious or idolatrous are unaware that the Bible teaches otherwise.
Acts 19:11-12: “And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles. So that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the wicked spirits went out of them.”
In this verse we see that St. Paul was not only given miraculous powers, but the handkerchiefs and aprons he touched were given miraculous power. Similar miracles are worked through the shadow of St. Peter:
Acts 5:15: “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that when Peter came, his shadow at the least, might overshadow any of them, and they might be delivered from their infirmities.”
The same is seen regarding relics of saints in the Old Testament.
4 Kings 2:14: “And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.”
4 Kings 13:21: “And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet.”
This is particularly interesting, because the bones of saints are a common relic used by Catholics, far from being idolatrous or superstitious.
Statues and images
Protestants like to use the following verse as an objection to the Catholic practice of venerating images and statues of saints.
Deuteronomy 5:8: “Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any things, that are in heaven above, or that are in the earth beneath, or that abide in the waters under the earth.”
This argument fails for many reasons. If we take this verse on its own and literally, then that means we can make no likeness of anything at all, such as a picture of an animal or another person. Protestants reject that understanding and even carry pictures of family, coins upon which are the images of men, etc.
To get the full context of the passage all we need to do is read the verse that comes right after it.
Deuteronomy 5:8-9: “Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any things, that are in heaven above, or that are in the earth beneath, or that abide in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not adore them, and thou shalt not serve them. For I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children unto the third and fourth generation, to them that hate me.”
Thou shalt not adore them and serve them. The idolatrous worship of creatures, that is what God forbids. Catholics do not worship statues or images and to say otherwise is a lie. In fact, God commands the use of statues and images for religious purposes.
Exodus 25:18-19: “Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two sides of the oracle.”
Other passages where we see references to images and statues being sanctioned, even commanded by God for use in religion.
Exodus 26:1: “And thou shalt make the tabernacle in this manner: Thou shalt make ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and violet and purple, and scarlet twice dyed, diversified with embroidery.”
There are many more examples of this, for example in 3 Kings 6 and 3 Kings 7:25-36.
Numbers 21:8: “And the Lord said to him: Make brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live.”
God commanded Moses to make an image of a serpent for the people to look upon and be healed. It should also be noted that non-Catholics who consider use of religious statues or images to be idolatrous not only condemn the Bible passages we just covered, but they also share their belief with Muslims.

Another false idea that must be addressed is the idea that Catholics worship statues because they sometimes kneel or bow before them in prayer. This objection is false and is clearly refuted by the Bible. The posture of kneeling and even of lying prostrate on the ground does not necessarily mean worship or adoration. It does signify that in certain religious contexts and in some false religions. But bowing, kneeling or even going completely prostrate can be merely a sign of respect, a humble posture. Anyone who has taken the time to read the Old Testament knows this is true. Throughout the Old Testament we see holy figures bowing down prostrate before other men, not as a sign of worship, but of respect and humility.
Genesis 33:3: “And he [Jacob] went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground seven times until his brother came near.”
This is the same Jacob who Jesus says in Luke 13:28 will be in the kingdom of heaven. He was not an idolater of course.
We read a similar thing of Abraham in Genesis 23:12. There are many other examples like this in the books of Kings. Other passages which show that men bow before other men, not idolatrously, but merely out of respect are Genesis 19:1 Ruth 8:10.
These passages are sufficient to refute the false assertion that Catholics worship statues when they kneel or bow to assume a humble and respectful posture while invoking the heavenly figure whom the statue represents.
Conclusion
We have seen in much detail that the Bible teaches the communion of saints, that praying to saints is Biblical and efficacious. We’ve seen that Jesus teaches that the saints in heaven are as the angels. We’ve seen that saints who have died and gone to heaven pray and intercede for men. We’ve seen that relics and statues are not idolatrous, but Biblically based. None of this is to suggest that one cannot pray directly to Jesus. True Catholics pray directly to Jesus every day, but praying to saints and invoking their intercession is extremely effective and powerful and often obtains from Jesus graces that He is otherwise not inclined to give. It is particularly important and necessary in the case of the greatest of all the saints, the Mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the vessel He chose to come to earth.
The example, the devotion, the miracles and the lives of Catholic saints have been among the most important things in the spread of the Gospel throughout the earth. And the necessity to venerate and invoke the saints was recognized from the very beginning of the Christian Church by the Fathers of the Church. All of what the Catholic saints are and have done is by the grace of Jesus Christ. By cooperating with it they spiritually conquered the world for Christ, a world which is sadly falling into apostasy from that Catholic heritage that defined it.

John 14:12: “Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do.”
The Bible teaches the communion of saints. Praying to and venerating saints does not detract from God’s glory, on the contrary, it inspires us to center our whole lives more zealously around Christ and doing His will, as they did. Throughout her history, the Catholic Church has remained faithful to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible on angels and saints. This is because the Catholic Church is the one true Church of Jesus Christ. You need to learn the true Catholic Faith, and convert to it, or you cannot attain salvation.