08.08.2015 Views

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Fur<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> text reads:‘…<strong>the</strong> Blessed Virgin is invoked in <strong>the</strong> Church under <strong>the</strong> titles of Advocate,Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. This, however, is so understood thatit nei<strong>the</strong>r takes away anything from nor adds anything to <strong>the</strong> dignity andefficacy of Christ <strong>the</strong> one Mediator.<strong>The</strong> Church does not hesitate to profess <strong>the</strong> subordinate role of Mary.’It must be said here that it would be unwise to pretend that <strong>the</strong>re is nodisagreement among <strong>Christian</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> question of <strong>the</strong> role of Mary insalvation. A recent ARCIC document (May 2005) might give <strong>the</strong> impressionthat Protestants are coming round to accepting a Catholic view of Mary, butthis is only to a very limited extent. Certainly a reappraisal of how Protestantsview Mary is going on and <strong>the</strong>re is a new awareness of <strong>the</strong> greatness of herrole in bringing Christ into <strong>the</strong> world. <strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Unity</strong> has not to do with saying<strong>the</strong>re are no differences of beliefs but of learning how to relate to people whoare in Christ yet who differ from us on many points of belief.e) Prayers to <strong>the</strong> SaintsFor Catholic and Orthodox <strong>Christian</strong>s <strong>the</strong> intercession of <strong>the</strong> saints, particularlythat of <strong>the</strong> Virgin Mary, is important in <strong>the</strong>ir religious lives. But it is usuallyalien to <strong>the</strong> Protestant spirit, on <strong>the</strong> grounds that <strong>the</strong>re is one mediatorbetween God and men and that is Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2.5).<strong>The</strong> Roman Catholic claim is that prayer to <strong>the</strong> saints ‘in no way diminishes <strong>the</strong>worship or adoration given to God <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r, through Christ, in <strong>the</strong> Spirit; on<strong>the</strong> contrary, it greatly enriches it.’ 172 In any case, <strong>the</strong>re is no suggestion that<strong>the</strong> saints save people, for Jesus is <strong>the</strong> only Saviour.172Ed Flannery, Austin, OP, Vatican Collection Vol 2, Vatican Council II, <strong>The</strong> Conciliar andPost-Conciliar Documents, New Revised Edition 1992, (ninth printing) DominicanPublications, pp 412-413.Page 183

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!