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As a former catholic I can confirm this truth.
If you have any catholic friends you might want to copy this and show it to
them[witness]
Salvation Through The Scapular.
Should a Catholic pray the Rosary?
Roman Catholicism teach that wearing a scapular at death,will save you:
Written and Posted in Christian Love
Why Do Catholics Wear The Brown Scapular?
Before a direct answer is given to this important question,a brief description
and some basic information about the scapular would be most appropriate for
some people.
The brown scapular measures 1-1/8" by 1-1/2",is made of cloth and has a picture
of Mary holding the baby Jesus in her arms.
Under this picture are these surprising words:"Whosoever dies wearing
this(brown)scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.Mary's promise."
This small rectangular patch of cloth is attached to another similar sized
patch of cloth by way of two flat cords which enables them to be draped over
one's chest and back.
The other piece of cloth also has a message on it underneath a picture of
Jesus'face:"Cease! The Holy face of Christ protects me."
Along with this brown scapular comes a small information sheet about it which
carries the Imprimatur from Thomas M.O'Leary,D.D.,July 16,1941,Bishop of
Springfield.
In it we read that the aforementioned promise of escaping eternal fire,because
one is wearing the brown scapular,was made by Mary to Saint Simon Stock on July
16,1251.
Afterwards,the Catholic saint Alphonsus stated:"Just as men take pride in
having others wear their livery,so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her
servants wear Her Scapular as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to Her
service,and are members of the Family of the Mother of God."
Also we read:"Pope Benedict XV granted an indulgence of 500 days[from
Purgatory]each time the Scapular is kissed."
Furthermore,it is alleged that:"This Devotion and Garment can be traced back to
The Old Testament,to the great prophet Elias and the remaining faithful living
in the caves of Mount Carmel,and is recommended to sincere people of all
faiths."
A summarizing comment is then presented and followed by a prayer to
Mary:"Attach then,great importance to your brown Scapular,it is an assurance of
your salvation,just as to reject Mary's grace is to invite perdition." "'O
Queen,who art the beauty of Carmel and the mediatrix of all graces,pray for
us'(prayer from The Raccolta may be said on your Rosary Beads)."
After all of these authoritative Catholic claims and promises,now the original
question which was stated in the title of this article can be more
appropriately addressed--Why do Catholics wear the brown scapular?
(1)First and foremost,Catholics wear the brown scapular because they think they
will escape eternal fire by doing so!
This misguided trust,as sincere as it may be,is only possible because
Catholicism does not teach the only way to escape Hell fire is complete faith
in Jesus(Jn.14:6;Acts 20:21;Gal.3:26).
If they only knew JESUS is the only mediator to the Father(1 Tim.2:5),
has the only name in which salvation is found(Acts 4:12),
is the gate(Jn.10:9),
our life(Col.3:4)and hope(1 Tim.1:1),
then they would never trust in wearing a scapular again,even if the message
allegedly originated through a vision from Mary and has a pope's endorsement!
(2)Among other reasons,the Bible was written to inform us about salvation(2
Tim.3:15).
Since it clearly does not mention salvation through the wearing of a
scapular(or anything else)we should not think the message about the scapular
can deliver us from eternal fire!
Since this Catholic message originated from a vision in 1251,we should also
immediately be skeptical about it,for now there would be a way of escaping
eternal fire that did not exist before July 16,1251.
Further,since Mormons,Seven-Day Adventists and other similar religious groups
also claim authoritative visions which likewise contradict the Bible,we can
only conclude that it is impossible for God to be the source of all these
visions,since they all contradict each other and even more importantly,the Holy
Bible!
Logically,there must be another source of visions,since God wouldn't(even
couldn't)give out all these conflicting messages!
The Bible confirms this and reveals who the source is that tries to deceive us
through visions.
Paul wrote:"...Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light"(2 Cor.11:14).
This is a key verse in evaluating visions.The devil wants to deceive us,and
attempts to do so under the appearance of a friend(as with Eve in the garden of
Eden)or a holy messenger from God through a vision,as apparently was the case
in 1251!
(3)Please note that wearing the scapular is supposed to be "an assurance of
your salvation."
Again,in contrast to this,the eternal,written Word of God declares the
following about assurance of salvation:"He who is having the Son,hath the
life;he who is not having the Son of God--the life he hath not.These things I
did write to you who are believing in the name of the Son of God,that ye may
know the life ye have age-during,and that ye may believe in the name of the Son
of God"(1 Jn.5:12,13,Young's Literal Translation).
Please note the present-tense in that passage.The only true assurance of
salvation,that is offered by God,comes from "having"(present-tense)the Lord
Jesus.
Verse 13 is also explicit as it reveals that only those who "are believing" in
the name of the Son of God have true assurance of salvation!
Please note the exclusive object of our faith must be Jesus.No such salvation
assurance can be found anywhere in God's Word by trusting anyone or anything
else,including wearing the scapular!
In fact,for one to trust in wearing the scapular to escape eternal fire shows
that he is not trusting in Jesus,which reveals his lost spiritual condition.
(4)Though it is alleged that the scapular can be traced back to the Old
Testament to the days of the prophet Elias,it is impossible to Scripturally
substantiate this claim!
There is no Biblical evidence for this claim!
Furthermore,kissing an object can only be associated with idolatry,and never
true worship of God,which has never included the use of a graven image of
man,woman,etc.in any form(Deut.5:8-10 cf.Jn.4:23,24).
Therefore,according to Scripture,we have another solid reason to reject wearing
of the scapular and devotion to it.
(5)Please note the way Catholicism views Mary,as expressed in the
aforementioned prayer--"Queen" and "mediatrix of all graces."
There is nothing in Scripture to back up either of these ultra-exalting
descriptions of Mary.
Many Scriptural objections could be cited to counter the teaching that Mary is
Queen of Heaven or mediatrix of all graces.
Regarding this latter description of Mary,perhaps no refutation can excel the
clarity associated with the conversion of the repentant,dying thief.
If one would check the gospel accounts of the Lord's infinite,redemptive death
for every single person,he would notice that Mary was at the foot of the cross
when Jesus was dying.
In spite of this,the dying thief did NOT go to Mary to get to Jesus,but went
directly to Jesus(Lk.23:42,43)!
Please note that Jesus did NOT tell this repentant sinner in need of
forgiveness to first go to Mary,"the mediatrix of all graces," so that he could
afterwards come to Him!
The Scriptural record shows Mary had absolutely NO ROLE at all in this man's
salvation.
Dear reader,be assured that the Lord Jesus will likewise receive us as He did
the repentant thief,that is,if we,too,go directly to Jesus in a repentant state
as this conversion example reveals.
Furthermore,other Scriptures command us to follow this
procedure(Matt.11:28;Jn.5:40;6:35;7:37;etc.)!
Finally,if you try to get to Jesus by first going through Mary,you are in
disobedience to His directives and you'll NEVER find Him or the salvation He
offers!
Roman Catholicism teach the praying of the Rosary:
"Born Again" Catholics And The Rosary
Oftentimes the issue will arise over a particular person who attends a local
Catholic church and professes to be "born again." These people staying in such
a religious system have thrown some evangelical Protestants into confusion
regarding Catholicism itself,especially since we hear of alleged changes within
that system.
Hopefully,this article will remove confusion regarding this serious problem
with "born again" Catholics and also dispel misconceptions regarding
present-day Catholicism through their open and widespread practice of praying
the Rosary.
Regarding "born again" Catholics,the core question is NOT "Do they exist?" for
certainly there are few scattered about who have been truly saved and for a
short time still gather with their past,religious acquaintances,as they did
before their salvation and before their final exit!
The real issue regarding such people,however,is:HOW DID THEY GET SAVED TO BEGIN
WITH?
As with the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses,if a Catholic gets saved,it is
because he/she heard the true plan of salvation from some outside source,since
these religious systems all proclaim a gospel(plan of salvation),which as Paul
put it is,"really no gospel at all"(Gal.]
In other words,the one true plan of salvation which brings eternal life will
NEVER be taught in their circles,though certain terminology might suggest
otherwise!
Furthermore,getting "born again" in the minds of many Catholics occurred at the
point of their infant baptism!
In light of their present-day definition of being "born again" through infant
baptism(Vatican II,Vol.2,p.561),all Catholics informed about this
teaching,without exception,can confidently call themselves "born again" and
with a clear conscience!
So just as with the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses,we must define terms with
the Catholics as well!
Regarding the Rosary,since ALL local Catholic churches pray it,several
important points can be made regarding those who claim to be "born again"
Catholics and desire to remain in such a religious atmosphere.
Before we address these point by point,we must first establish present-day
Catholicism's official stand regarding the Rosary and what in the Rosary we
should Scripturally take issue with,that is,if we are truly "born again."
The Following Is The Position Of Vatican Council II On The Rosary:
"'The contemplative life of religious would be incomplete if it were not
directed in filial love towards her who is the Mother of the Church and of
consecrated souls.This love for the Virgin will be manifested with the
celebration of her feasts and,in particular,with daily prayer in her
honour,especially the Rosary.The daily recitation of the Rosary is a
centuries-old tradition for religious,and so it is not out of place to recall
the suitability,beauty and efficacy of this prayer,which proposes for our
meditation the mysteries of the Lord's life'"(Vatican Council II,Vol.2,p.251.)
"While respecting the freedom of the children of God,the Church has always
proposed certain practices of piety to the faithful with particular solicitude
and insistence.Among these should be mentioned the recitation of the Rosary:'We
now desire,as a continuation of the thought of our predecessors,to recommend
strongly the recitation of the family Rosary...
There is no doubt that...the Rosary should be considered as one of the best and
most efficacious prayers in common that the Christian family is invited to
recite.We like to think,and sincerely hope,that when the family gathering
becomes a time of prayer the Rosary is a frequent and favoured manner of
praying'.
In this way,authentic devotion to Mary,which finds expression in sincere love
and generous imitation of the Blessed Virgin's interior spiritual
attitude,constitutes a special instrument for nourishing loving communion in
the family and for developing conjugal and family spirituality.
For she who is the Mother of Christ and of the Church is in a special way the
Mother of Christian families,of domestic Churches"(ibid.,pp.865,866).
To reiterate and capsulize what you just read,Vatican Council II says:Your
contemplative religious life is incomplete without a love for Mary.This love
for Mary is especially manifested by praying the Rosary.The Rosary is
suitable,beautiful and efficacious,according to present-day Catholicism(p.251)!
An example of a "practice of piety" is the Rosary.This means all Catholics show
their "authentic devotion to Mary" by reciting the Rosary.Also,the Rosary is
supposed to be "one of the best and most efficacious prayers"(pp.865,866).
THESE STATEMENTS ARE THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF PRESENT-DAY CATHOLICISM.
To believe otherwise is to show yourself uninformed regarding this Catholic
prayer and how it is officially viewed from their perspective.
If someone tells you something in contradiction to these things,they are
misrepresenting,intentionally or unintentionally,the importance of the Rosary
and present-day Catholicism.
Let's now focus in upon how the Rosary prayer is ended by quoting the New
Catholic Encyclopedia,Vol.12,1967,p.667."The Rosary is begun and terminated in
various ways.
In the U.S.,it commences with the recitation of an Our Father,three Hail
Marys,and a Glory Be to the Father,and ends with the recitation of the Hail
Holy Queen and the prayer from the Feast of the Rosary."
The following is the Hail Holy Queen prayer,that is,the ending of the
Rosary:"Hail,Holy Queen,Mother of Mercy,hail,our life,our sweetness,and our
hope! To thee do we cry,poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up
our sighs,mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.Turn then,most gracious
advocate,thine eyes of mercy toward us;and after this,our exile,show us the
blessed fruit of thy womb,Jesus.O clement,O loving,O sweet Virgin Mary!"
The Hail Holy Queen prayer--which proclaims Mary as "our" LIFE,SWEETNESS,HOPE
and MOST GRACIOUS ADVOCATE--has an official endorsement from Vatican II.
By calling Mary "our life," present-day Catholicism is saying
indirectly,through the Rosary,that she has a role in our salvation!
According to the Bible,this is "another gospel"(Gal.1:8,9)and if anyone
believes statements like these regarding Mary,they will not get saved or stay
saved!
This issue of staying saved,though entirely overlooked by the "once
saved,always saved" evangelicals,is a very important and relevant issue that
needs to be addressed concerning "born again" Catholics.
Since we must endure to the end to be saved(Matt.10:22)
and hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first to share in
Christ(Heb.3:14),
it is crucial for a Catholic who gets saved to exit from the type of spiritual
environment where doctrine,such as this,prevails and where other forms of
idolatry are rampant,and to seek out a Bible-preaching church which centers on
Christ alone for salvation.
Also regarding the issues of staying saved and doctrine,the Apostle John wrote
in 2 John 9:"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of
Christ does not have God;whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father
and the Son."
Hence,it is clear that continuing in the teaching of Christ--that which we were
in when we were initially saved--is essential to continue to have God!
Therefore,to exchange Christ for Mary as our "life," as taught in the
Rosary,and thereby proclaimed by present-day Catholicism,is spiritually lethal.
Besides the Hail Holy Queen prayer,there are other reasons why the Rosary
should be rejected and with it,present-day Catholicism!
After all,how could any true,Christian system which also endorses and promotes
the Rosary claim of itself the following? "The Church is catholic:she promotes
the fullness of the faith.She bears in herself and administers the totality of
the means of salvation....The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we
profess to be one,holy,catholic,and apostolic,...subsists in the Catholic
Church,which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in
communion with him.Nevertheless,many elements of sanctification and truth are
found outside its visible confines"(Catechism of the Catholic Church,Liguori
Publications,p.230.)
To quote again the same page of the New Catholic Encyclopedia as cited earlier
regarding the Rosary,we read the following about its "mysteries":"The mysteries
are divided into three sets of five,namely,the Joyful Mysteries--the
Annunciation of Christ's Incarnation to Mary,her visit to Elizabeth,the birth
of Christ,His presentation in the temple,His being found in the temple;the
Sorrowful Mysteries--the agony of Christ in the garden,His scourging,His
crowning with thorns,the carrying of the cross,the crucifixion and death of
Christ;the Glorious Mysteries--the Resurrection of Christ,His Ascension into
heaven,the sending of the Holy Spirit,the Assumption of Mary into heaven,her
coronation as Queen of Heaven."
Please note:"the Assumption of Mary into heaven" and "her coronation as Queen
of Heaven" are complete fabrications without any Scriptural backing at all!
Yet,these together with "the crucifixion and death of Christ" and "the
resurrection of Christ" comprise the "epitome of the whole Gospel," according
to present-day Catholicism!
This is adding to the already perfect Gospel and thereby making it into
something else that no longer has its ability to produce salvation.
This is just like adding water to gasoline and trying to run your car engine on
that admixture.(Of these 15 "mysteries," over half involve Mary!)
The following Catholic quote verifies their view of the Rosary(and the
aforementioned mysteries)as being the "epitome of the whole Gospel":"The
liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer,such as the
rosary,an'epitome of the whole Gospel,'express this devotion to the Virgin
Mary"(Catechism of the Catholic Church,Liguori Publications,p.253.)
In stark contrast to the Rosary(with its "mysteries")being the "epitome of the
whole Gospel" as Rome put it,the Apostle Paul clearly outlined an entirely
different Gospel,which he preached--the one that brings true salvation.
Please note that Paul never mentioned Mary directly or indirectly! Similarly,
Peter,who was supposedly the first pope,NEVER mentioned Mary at all in either
of his two books of the New Testament.The following was their
gospel:"Now,brothers,I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you,which
you received and on which you have taken your stand.By this gospel you are
saved,if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.Otherwise,you have
believed in vain.For what I received I passed on to you as of first
importance;that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,that he
was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and
that he appeared to Peter,and then to the Twelve.After that,he appeared to more
than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,most of whom are still
living,though some have fallen asleep.Then he appeared to James,then to all the
apostles,and last of all he appeared to me also,as to one abnormally born"(1
Cor.15:1-8).
In view of all this,Rome is clearly disseminating "another
gospel"(Gal.1:8,9),which has Mary as its "life" and people allegedly getting
"born again" at infant baptism!
Yet all along many are saying Catholicism has changed and is a religious system
that we can embrace and have Christian unity with.
Finally,what should we think about "born again" Catholics who personally desire
to remain under such teachings as these?
First,we should view him/her in the same way we would view a person who is
coming from a Mormon background and claims to be Scripturally "born again" and
desires to remain a Mormon--that is,their salvation is non-existent!
We should ask "born again" Catholics what Bible verse(s)they base their
salvation upon.
Ask him/her if they think they were "born again" at infant baptism.
We should also specifically mention that the sacraments,good works,church
membership and Mary have absolutely NO role in our salvation.
If a "born again" Catholic disagrees,we should show them from Scripture what
true salvation is.
If they reject the clear teaching of Scripture,their testimony should be
considered as not genuine.
Remember,not everyone who says,"Lord,Lord" will enter the kingdom!
If truly saved,the Holy Spirit,who is the "Spirit of truth" and who is resident
within one who is "born again," will draw us to truth as found in the Bible.
If an experience,vision,testimony and/or miracle contradicts the written word
of God on any subject,especially salvation,it should immediately be disregarded.
For a Catholic who is truly saved to support by their attendance and money,a
religious system that holds people in spiritual darkness and that points people
to Mary and the baby Jesus instead of Jesus alone,without his mother,is for
him/her to share in that "wicked work"(2 John 11)!
The same can be said of Protestants who tell Catholics to go back to
Catholicism or treat modern-day Catholicism as just another Christian sect!
Tears might even be shed by one's family when he announces he won't be going
back to the Catholic church.
(The same can be said for a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness who gets saved and
changes over truth.)
This means families might become divided,but Jesus clearly said this would
occur and He went on to say our love for Him must exceed our love for our
families or we are "not worthy" of Him:"Do you think I came to bring peace on
earth? No,I tell you,but division.From now on there will be five in one family
divided against each other,three against two and two against three.They will be
divided,father against son and son against father,mother against daughter and
daughter against mother,mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law"(Luke 12:51-53).
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.I did not come to
bring peace,but a sword.For I have come to turn a man against his father,a
daughter against her mother,a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a
man's enemies will be the members of his own household.Anyone who loves his
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;anyone who loves his son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me;and anyone who does not take his
cross and follow me is not worthy of me"(Matt.10:34-38).
In review,you just read:
How present-day Catholicism places the highest kinds of endorsements on the
Rosary prayer.
The Rosary prayer is not "the epitome of the Gospel" as claimed by present-day
Catholicism,but in fact,a prayer that exchanges Jesus for Mary by calling her
our life,sweetness,hope and most gracious advocate,and exalting her to an
idolatrous position as "Queen of Heaven"!
These facts make this prayer a spiritual contaminant and hindrance to the
extension of the kingdom and the truth of the Gospel.
For a person claiming to be "born again" and yet praying this prayer stating
Mary is their "life" would also be suggesting their current need of salvation
which is found in Jesus Christ,who alone suffered and shed His blood on the
cross to obtain full redemption for us and to save us from the Hell that we
deserve.
It is to Him we should look.
It is to Him we should go.
Since this is what brought results in Bible days,it will still work for us
today.
Paul's message was " repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ"(Acts
20:21).This should also be our message.
Let me now end with my personal version of the real "epitome of the Gospel" in
prayer form which I have entitled,The Hail Holy King prayer:
Hail,Holy King and Lord Jesus,hail,our life(Col.3:4),our sweetness(Mt.11:29)and
our hope(1 Tim.1:1)! To thee do we cry,poor enslaved to sin(Jn.8:34)children of
the devil(1 Jn.3:10)! Turn then,most gracious advocate(1 Jn.2:1,KJV),thine eyes
of mercy towards us and forgive us all our sins.We trust in you alone--who died
on the cross and was buried but rose again the third day(1 Cor.15:1-8).You
alone are the only way to the Father(Jn.14:6),you alone have the only name in
which salvation is found(Acts 4:12)and you alone are the ONLY mediator between
God and man(1 Tim.2:5).Our eyes are on you alone to save us.O clement,O
loving,O precious Lord Jesus!
Go to:Can the Scapular save You?
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