The Biblical Teachings About Mary

 

Brother Felmar Serreno: There’s no arguing that Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, was a special woman. The Bible records her being called “blessed among women.” But does the Bible also call Mary ‘sinless,’ a ‘mediatrix’ or ‘the mother of God?’ Hello listener, and welcome back to this podcast version of God’s Message magazine. Our topic today is, “The Biblical Teachings About Mary.”

 

Mary, the mother of Jesus, holds a special place in the hearts of most Catholics. Over the course of the Catholic Church’s history, she has gotten increasing attention. Mary’s role in the faith of her devotees is evident. For them, prayers to her are said especially before statues that are supposed representations of Mary, which are common in their cathedrals and chapels, and even in their homes. The teachings of the Marian devotion, long been preached and practiced by Catholics, is considered by them as “authentic doctrinal teaching.”

 

But are they biblical? What does Catholic tradition teach about the Mary whom they worship? Are those beliefs in accordance with the teachings of the Bible about Mary, the mother of Jesus? 

 

Before we continue, we reiterate that in conducting these discussions, it’s never the intention of the Church Of Christ to hurt anyone’s feelings or to attack anybody. Rather, these studies are motivated by our interest for the truth. And in the interest of truth, on this episode we will be comparing teachings from several Catholic books to what is written in the Bible. Here on the podcast, I’ll be mentioning the title and author of each Catholic book. For further details on each book’s publication date, imprimatur, nihil obstat and other details, we have provided that information at the end of the transcript of this episode on our website incmedia.org.

 

Sinless, mediatrix, co-redeemer?

 

Brother Felmar: Catholic authorities teach that Mary did not sin in her lifetime. Here’s a quote from “Glories and Virtues of Mary,” a book by a priest named James Alberione:

 

“The Virgin Mary was immune from every sin. It is a dogma of faith that she was free from original sin. During her life she never fell into either mortal or venial sin. As for actual sin, the Council of Trent says that without special privileges, no one can avoid all venial sins during a lifetime; notwithstanding this, the [Catholic] Church maintains that the Blessed Virgin was exempt from any such sins.”2

 

This teaching contradicts what the Bible says that all people committed sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12) and that the only One Who did not is our Lord Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:21-22). There is no biblical basis to the Catholic dogma that Mary was free and immune from sin. 

 

This is also the case with Catholic authorities’ calling Mary the “mediatrix”. From this book entitled “What The Church Teaches” which was written by J.D. Conway, a Monsignor in the Catholic Church, he wrote: “We do call Mary the Mediatrix of all Graces. It is a title which stresses the intimacy of her association with her Son in that work which she brought Him into the world to accomplish: the redemption and sanctification of our souls. Some Pope someday may declare it a doctrine of the church that Mary is mediatrix, in this sense.”3

 

While this may be the teaching in the Catholic Church, however, nowhere in the Bible is Mary given such a title or responsibility. Catholics also believe that devotion to Mary is necessary for salvation. Here’s another quote from “Glories and Virtues of Mary”: “The intercession of saints is most helpful; devotion to t...