Jesus and the Catholics

Foreword

Below, we examine the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, so that its members might find the grace of God. The fact is that there are many Roman Catholics who do not yet know Christ. Many of them may, indeed, be quite religious, but they have not yet received Christ into their lives. These people may also regard the Roman Catholic Church as being, "the only right church", or may think that there is no salvation except that inside the Roman Catholic Church, but they still do not understand how they can be saved.
   The problem with the Catholic Church is that its rituals and doctrines do not lead people toward knowing the grace and salvation in Christ. Instead, they lead to something else. Over the centuries, this church has been more and more affected by heresies, and nowadays many people are led rather badly astray. Among other examples of errant teachings are Mary, the merits of the saints, satisfaction acts, sacraments, and purgatory. You, who are reading the following lines, may not agree with everything or think about everything the same way, but the most important thing is that you receive the eternal life given to us by God. 

1. The position of Mary in the Catholic Church

When we begin to study the doctrines of the Catholic Church, it is good to start with the saints and Mary, who play a significant role in this Church. Mary, in particular, has received such a position that she is more important than other saints, often even equal to Christ or, in practice, even more important. Over time, apparitions have also been seen in which "Mary" has sought to strengthen her own peculiar position in the minds of people.

   Mary's position is well illustrated in the Catholic prayer book, which talks about her sinlessness, how she is an eternal virgin and the Queen of Heaven, how she was taken to heaven, and how people must rely on her at the time of their death. We find that if these things are really true, she must have been a really significant person, equal to Jesus:

"To the Mother of our Savior, the Virgin Mary, God has allowed a larger amount of holiness than to anybody else created. That was required by the high task to which Mary was called: to be the mother of mankind’s Redeemer. God preserved her from the original sin, equipped her with the grace of sanctification from the first moment of her life. (...) There is not even the smallest sin in her, her will was always in harmony with the will of God, (…) She is the most perfect Virgin and at the same time the real Mother of the Son of God, Virgin before and after, perpetual Virgin. (...) She is the Queen of Heaven, taken to the residence of the brightness with her soul and body already before the general resurrection (…) Therefore let us seek safety, humble and trustful, in the recommendation prayer of Mary, especially at our hour of death, so that we will be able, purified from sin, to move from time to blessed eternity.”

The next description also refers to the special status of Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. It is from a Catholic leaflet in which a medallion capable of miracles is advertised. In it we can see how Mary is believed, for example, to have crushed the head of the serpent (actually, this was written about Jesus; Col 2:15. Hebr 2:14, 1 John 3:8) and to have even participated in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Roman Catholic dogma gives to Mary the role that belongs only to Jesus:

Mary has opened her hands to help. The rays coming from her hands describe her good acts. She stands on the globe; she wants to help all people. She crushes with her foot the head of the serpent, which means that she defeats the devil as was prophesized in the Fall. ("…it shall bruise your head," Gen 3:15.) There is a short prayer around her picture: "Oh Mary, born without original sin, pray for us, who put our trust in you." Mary promised to holy Catharina Labourél in Paris in 1830 that she would help anyone who carries this medallion and by trusting her utters this prayer.

   On the other side of the medallion there is the cross of Jesus rising from the letter M. Jesus was born of Mary; and Mary stood by the cross. She suffered and prayed with Jesus, thereby assisting with His redemptive works. Below, there are two hearts. One is the heart of Jesus. (But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately came there out blood and water. John 19:34.) The thorns surrounding the heart are caused by our sins that pain her. The heart of Mary is beside the heart of Jesus. It is pierced by a sword, as Simon prophesied (Luke 2:35). Mary greatly suffered for us. The images are surrounded by twelve stars – the twelve apostles -- the foundation of the Church. The Church takes this good news to everyone around the world.

How does the Mary of the Catholic Church differ from the Mary of the Bible?

For the Catholic Church, Mary is important; you can't get anywhere with it. However, it is a different matter whether the picture of her created by the church is correct. It is interesting to notice that when you compare the picture of Mary created by the Catholic Church with what the Bible says about her, they are completely different people. For the Bible does not mention that Mary was in any way different from other people and there are only a few brief references to her. But the Catholic Church's Mary is a great queen figure who acts as an intercessor, a mediator and even an intermediary for salvation. Likewise, her life on earth is believed to have been different from others in that she is believed to have been an "immaculate virgin", meaning someone who never sinned.

    When it comes to the differences between the Mary of the Catholic Church and the Mary of the Bible, it is good to study them a little. Differences can be seen e.g. in the following matters:

1. Mary, the way to salvation

The significance of Mary as a medium of salvation in the Catholic Church appears perhaps best in a book by Alfonso Mary Liquori (1697–1787), Le glorie di Mary (1784, The Glory of Mary). In the book, a person who after his death was promoted to the position of teacher and saint of the church describes the status of Mary as a savior. Mary has been made a mediator between God and people, savior, intercessor, the only hope of sinners and the only way to salvation. This kind of a viewpoint is nowadays quite ordinary both in the teachings of Popes and elsewhere:

When Mary receives this grace for sinners, she will arouse them back to life by her intercessions (p.54).

   She has really been made a mediator of peace (p.56) between sinners and God.

   Only Mary has been given the gift of salvation by her powerful intercession (p.101).

 She is the hope of the wrongdoers (...) the only hope for sinners (p.102).

   The Holy Church teaches us, her children that we must attentively and confidentially keep putting our trust in this loving protector. Because of that, the church determines Mary her own special worship (p.106).

   Mary is called the gate of heaven, because nobody can step into the blessed kingdom without passing her (p.134).

   Were we to doubt to ask her to save us, when the way of salvation is not open otherwise than through Mary (p.143).

   How could she be anything else than full of grace, when she has been made for the ladder of paradise, the gate of heaven, the very realest mediator between God and people, (p.128).

   A person whom Mary protects, will be saved; who does not have this protection, goes to damnation (p.144)

 Often we get what we peg for faster by calling the name of Mary than calling the name of Jesus (p.228).

   Mary is our life, because she gets us pardon for our sins (p.54).

   For she (...) is our salvation, our life, our hope, our advice, our protection and our assistance (p.230). (1)

The doctrine that salvation is available only in Mary appears, in addition to the previous statements, also in a statement of Pope Pius  lX, who was the pope in the 1800s (1846–1878). This Pope also defined the doctrine about the Immaculate Conception of Mary. According to him, by Mary it is possible to get hope, grace and salvation:

God has entrusted to Mary the treasury of good things, so that everyone would know that by way of her all hope, all grace and all salvation is available. (2) 

So, Mary has been presented as a way to salvation and it has been said that she would be the "mediator" and "defender" for us and the "fellow-Redeemer”, who, together with Jesus, suffered in His death on the cross. It may also be directly presented that Mary is "the mother of atonement" and that the way to heaven is possible only through her.

   What is remarkable is that when we study some references to Mary in the Bible, we do not find anything about her task as a mediator or her being a fellow-Redeemer together with Jesus or the only hope of the sinners. Instead, it is indicated that these many issues are connected with Jesus alone, who is the only hope of people in salvation and also the only way to heaven. This can be seen, for example, in the next passages of the Bible. We can understand that the statements of Jesus and His disciples are certainly more important than these statements, which now, hundreds of years later, may be presented:

 - (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

- (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

- (Acts 4:11,12) This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

- (1 Cor 3:11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Being a mediator

Secondly, it has been attempted to raise the status of Mary so that she would be the mediator between God and people. This viewpoint appears, for example, in a revelation that occurred in Medjugore, and in which a person called "Mary" appeared and spoke. (Of course, it was not “the real Mary” but only an evil spirit appearing as Mary, for example, Isa 8:19). Millions of sincere Roman Catholics have made a pilgrimage to this place. In the revelation it is said:

Today I called you, so that you would get an answer to your question as to why I am with you for so long. I am the mediator between you and God. (Marija, Medjugore, Croatia, 17 July 1986)

If we think about the status of Mary as mediator, however, we might ask ”Can a sinner act as a mediator for sinners?” In the Gospel of Luke (16:24), when a rich man prayed to Abraham, Abraham was not able to help him, even though Abraham was called God’s friend. (James 2:23). If Abraham was not able to help, how can Mary help us? 

   The only possibility is that we are provided with a perfect mediator -- such as Jesus Christ alone was and is -- because He was sinless when He lived on the Earth (John 8:46: "Which of you convinces me of sin?...”). The Bible also tells that there is only one mediator between God and people. If there is only one mediator, then there cannot be two. It is, therefore, impossible for Mary to be the mediator in our relationship with God:

- (1 Tim 2:5,6) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

- (Hebr 9:15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Being an advocate and intercessor

Mary's task as mediator also includes that she is believed to be an advocate and an intercessor.

   When Jesus is seen in the Roman Catholic Church as a harsh judge and difficult to approach, Mary is seen as an advocate and an intercessor full of understanding and pity as a mother, who then – high in the heaven – prays for her Son to forgive and to pity those Roman Catholics who turn to Mary. It has also been suggested that Mary does not need to do anything more than show to her Son the "breasts which he has sucked", for His anger to immediately abate (This was taught, for example, by Alfonso Mary Liquori, [1696–1787], who was called the teacher of the Roman Catholic Church.).

   Another problem with this teaching is that we cannot find in the Bible a single reference to Mary or any other "saints" acting as our advocate and intercessor in heaven. Instead, Biblical references identify Jesus as defender, intercessor and merciful high priest, and advise all those who are weary and heavily burdened to turn to Him. If Jesus is the perfect Advocate and Intercessor, why would we turn to others who cannot help us before God? Consider:

- (1 John 2:1,2) My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

- (Rom 8:34) Who is he that comdemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

- (Hebr 7:25) Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

 - (Hebr 2:17,18) Why in all things it behooved him to be made like to his brothers, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

- (Matt 11:28) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Receiving grace

How Mary has darkened Jesus' role as savior in the Catholic Church is also evident from how she has been made the "sharer of all graces." She has been made the sharer of all graces, not only in the sense that she conveyed her grace by giving birth to Jesus in this world, but also in the sense that all the time, through her intercessions, she distributes grace to people. Indeed, many Catholics believe that all of God's grace and favor comes to mankind solely and exclusively through Mary. A good example of this belief is Pope Leo Xlll (1878 - 1903), who once said:

It can be confirmed as the truth that of God’s will from that enormous treasury of all grace that God has reserved, nothing comes to us except through Mary (...) how huge is the wisdom and grace that has been informed in this plan of God (...) Mary is our excellent mediator, she is the powerful Mother of the Almighty God… (3)

This pope, too, had not read his Bible very carefully. If we look at the Bible, it shows very clearly that grace has come and will come through Jesus, not Mary. Placing Mary into this subject is futile, and only confuses matters. The importance role of Jesus as the mediator of grace is reflected in many passages, such as the following words, written by the apostle John in his Gospel, and Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.  They have written that grace is given to people through Jesus, and not through Mary. We should believe in this and not try to bring in other grace-givers who are not that:

- (John 1:14,16,17) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

- (1 Cor 1:4) I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Discussion on the position of Jesus and Mary

To understand that salvation comes solely and exclusively through Jesus, it is good to read the following dialogue. It gives us a good picture of Jesus' position as an instrument of salvation, a role for which Mary is not in the least bit suited. This dialogue is from the book Fifty Years in the Church of Rome (Charles Chiniquy). In it, the main character of the book, who acted as a Catholic priest, has conversations with his superior, the bishop, at a time when the many distortions of the Catholic Church had begun to bother him. The conversation talked about:

- Esteemed bishop, who has saved you and me on the cross?

- Jesus Christ.

- Who has paid by his blood for our sins, Jesus or Mary?

- Jesus Christ.

- When Jesus was on earth, who loved sinners more: Jesus or Mary?

- Jesus.

- Did any sinner ever come to Mary asking for salvation?

- No, they all came to Jesus.

- Did Jesus ever command those sinners who came to Him to go to His mother, for example?

- No. Jesus received them all.

- Do you remember from the Bible that Jesus has ever said, "Go to Mary and she will save you?"

- No, I don’t.

- Do you remember that Jesus has said to miserable sinners, "Come to me and I will never drive you away?”

- Yes, I remember.

- Has Jesus ever – as far as the teachings of the Bible are concerned – said to us that His above-mentioned words would no longer be valid?

- The words of Jesus are valid.

- Who then is the most powerful and marvelous Redeemer of the sinners, Jesus or Mary?

- Jesus, of course.

- Esteemed bishop, why would we then not go to Jesus and to Him alone for salvation of our soul? Why do we priests call miserable sinners to Mary, when – in accordance with our own confession – Mary is nothing like the Savior?

   No answer.

- Jesus and Mary are both in heaven. According to the doctrine of the Church, Mary has even been bodily taken to heaven. Where is the word, that came from heaven, and by which the way to Jesus goes by Mary. (...) Can we find any biblical truth to confirm even a little the Roman Catholic dogma about the status of Mary?

   The bishop wasn’t able to answer. (4)

2. "Immaculate virgin"

The fact that Mary is dear to Roman Catholics can be seen from the numerous names she has been given. She may be called, for instance,  “the Queen of Heaven,” “the Empress of the Angels,” “the Gate of Paradise,” "the Mother of God," "the Ark of the Covenant," and countless other names. Whether or not there is any biblical foundation for these names is a different issue altogether.

    One of the titles given to Mary is also "Immaculate Virgin", which means that Mary is believed to have walked this earth completely without sin. She is also believed to have experienced an "immaculate conception" before that, so that original sin did not affect her at all at the beginning of her life.

   This viewpoint, which became a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1854 under the leadership of Pope Pius lX, is very clearly expressed in publications, such as a book published by the Catholic Information Centre of Finland (Katolisen uskon perusteet or The Fundamentals of Catholic Faith, Helsinki 1992, p. 115) (Above, we mentioned the Roman Catholic prayer book, in which was written that "not even the smallest sin can access her," and that God preserved her completely from the original sin.) In The Fundamentals of Catholic Faith is written:

"... the Church believes that God also preserved her [Mary] from sin until the end of her life and took her after her death, with her body and her soul to heaven." 

The Finnish Catholic Catechism (1953, p. 25) refers to the same matter. It, too, very clearly shows how deeply Catholics have been rooted in the doctrine of the sinless life of Mary. It is said there that Mary was preserved from the stains of original sin for the sake of the merits of Jesus:

Who alone has been spared original sin? The most blessed virgin Mary has, by special grace, because of Jesus' merits, been spared from all the stain of original sin. (The celebration of Mary's Immaculate Conception).

However, if we look at the Bible, we have no grounds to believe that Mary was sinless. The Bible does not support this idea in any way, and neither does it support other Roman Catholic beliefs regarding Mary. Paul, who wrote to Romans, said, for example, that "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) and "…for that all have sinned" (Rom 5:12).

   In the same way, when we read the Gospels, we can read how Mary rejoiced in God, her Savior. If Mary rejoiced in her Savior, this implies that she had also sinned – she was not sinless – and she needed to be freed from her sins as did everyone else:

- (Luke1:46,47) And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

3. The Assumption of Mary

One of the beliefs connected with Mary is that she ascended to heaven in a bodily form, so that her body was not permitted to disappear. This is another experience that the Bible attributes to Jesus alone. It is described in the first chapter of the Acts, for example. Some effort has been made to equate Mary with Jesus in this regard.  

   This doctrine can be seen very well in the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church (published in English in 1994), passage 966. It describes the status of Mary as " the Queen of Heaven," which is one belief concerning her. The same passage also refers to how Mary lived without sin.

The Lord took the Immaculate Virgin, who had been preserved free from the stains of original sin, when her earthly life came to an end, up to the heavenly brightness with her body and soul, and raised her as the Queen of All, so that she would be just like her Son, who is the Lord of Lords and the winner of sin and death. The Blessed Virgin’s ascension means that she has a special part in the resurrection of her Son and it heralds the resurrection of other Christians.

However, we must note again that in the same way it was difficult to find proof for Mary being sinless, it is difficult to find evidence in the Bible that Mary ascended to heaven. The last reference to Mary is when she was praying together with others, (Act 1:14).  After that nothing is said about her. We can assume that if she really did ascend to heaven, it would certainly have been mentioned in the Bible. Why is this not mentioned anywhere in the Bible? Is that not a clear indication that Mary's ascension to heaven never really took place?

   Instead, it is mentioned as the words of Jesus that no-one has ever gone to heaven except Him – this excludes Mary's ascension to heaven. Certainly, the words of Jesus are more important than people’s opinions about this issue.

 - (John 3:13) And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

4. "Ever and perpetual virgin"

As we study more beliefs about Mary, we must not forget one of the most common among them: that Mary is a "ever-virgin." It has been said that when Mary gave birth, she remained a virgin, and that she did not have more children after Jesus. One example of this special doctrine is, for instance, a position that Pope Martinus I confirmed in 649: Mary is an everlasting virgin:

"Blessed forever virginal and immaculate Mary is the mother of God, because without losing her virginity, she gave birth to Him (Jesus) and after His birth preserved her virginity as holy."

It is actually no wonder that no evidence for ever-virginity of Mary can be found in the Bible. Even though many sincere Roman Catholics would gladly believe in this, it is difficult to find confirmation for it in the Bible. Instead, several verses of the Bible refer to the fact that Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl and later on quite an ordinary mother. Her privileged status was restricted only to the fact that she was virgin when the Holy Spirit came on her, and that she got to bring Jesus into this world; otherwise, she experienced the ordinary life of a mother. The following issues, for example, reflect the family life of Mary:

Joseph, Mary's husband

The Gospel of Matthew, for example, very clearly states that Mary had a husband by the name of Joseph. The Gospel says that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, and that she was called his wife. Also, they had sexual intercourse after the birth of Jesus, because Joseph is said to have had no union with Mary until after Jesus’ birth. How can Mary be the "ever-virgin", if she also had normal sexual intercourse with her husband after Jesus’ birth?

- (Matt 1:18-20) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

- (Matt 1:24,25) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took to him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The brothers of Jesus

The second good example of the ordinary family life and marriage of Mary and her connection with her husband are the brothers and sisters of Jesus. They are mentioned several times in the Bible and some of their names are provided. Mary and Joseph had other children, so Mary cannot be the ever-virgin. What is special is that these siblings did not believe in Jesus at first, but already in the Acts of the Apostles they are mentioned praying together with other believers:

- (Luke 8:19-21) Then came to him his mother and his brothers, and could not come at him for the press.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to see you.

21 And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

 - (Mark 6:3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

- (John 7:3-5) His brothers therefore said to him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that your disciples also may see the works that you do.

4 For there is no man that does any thing in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.

5 For neither did his brothers believe in him.

- (Acts 1:14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

- (1 Cor 9:5) Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

- (Gal 1:19) But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

5. Praying to and venerating Mary

Prayer to and venerating Mary is one of the main points of Catholic belief. In the Roman Catholic Church, people really pray to Mary and turn to her like they would to God. They can pray to and worship Mary just like God, and this is not deemed strange. People are even advised to give their life to Mary — to dedicate themselves to her as they would to Jesus (Jesus said, for example: “Follow me…” - Matt 4:19). Mary may also be regarded as “the Queen of Heaven," "the Mother of God," who from heaven regulates the events of the world; the change from an ordinary Jewish mother to her current status in the minds of people is dramatic.

   In order to get a good view of the current interest in Mary, let’s consider some examples. The familiar "Hail Mary", which apparently dates back to the 1200s, describes this well. It says:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.”

Also, the Roman Catholic catechism (Finnish catechism,1953) brings out the same issue. It includes, for instance, the following passages about turning to Mary and other saints:

Which saint must we especially respect and ask for help?

We must especially respect and ask for help from the most blessed Virgin and the Mother of God, Mary. (p. 71)

Why must we especially honor Mary and ask for help from her?

We must especially honor and ask for help from Mary,

 1) Because she is the Mother of God;

 2) Because she in grace and holiness defeats all angels and saints;

 3) Because her prayers most benefits us with God. (p. 71,72)

As far as the Bible is concerned, nothing is said about this area. Nothing is written about praying to Mary (or other saints) or worshipping her. Neither is it mentioned that Mary in heaven would in some way conveys people's prayers and requests to Jesus or God.

   The only reference that could at least in some way refer to the worship of Mary is the case mentioned in the Gospel of Luke - that too in a negative sense. In this case, a woman referred to Mary's bliss because she had been allowed to be the mother of Jesus. However, Jesus immediately turned his attention to God's word and its observance, which of course should also be true for us:

- (Luke 11:27,28) And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which you have sucked.

28 But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Further, as regards to praying, Jesus clearly told us what to do in order for our prayers to be heard. According to Him, people must either pray directly to Him or to turn to the Father in the name of Jesus – Jesus said nothing about Mary and the saints. If Jesus Himself, the Son of God, has given us instructions on how we must act, why would we disobey?

- (John 14:13,14) And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

- (John 16:23,24) And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Till now have you asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

- (John 16:26) At that day you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you, that I will pray the Father for you:

The next conversation also refers to how we must pray. If we pray to saints God does not hear us, because He answers only those prayers that have been presented in the name of Jesus:

- Is it very bad, Raul? Probably it is better to pray something than not to pray at all!

- No, mother, this is not true. If you do not pray to God by Jesus, you don't, as a matter of fact, pray at all. Those "saints" are not in any way more important than you to God!

- Raul! Do not say that! Mother frowned and seemed doubtful. - The saints of the church are significant people – not ordinary people like me!

- Mother, the Bible says that we all are holy! Mother held already her forehead, terrified. I had to laugh at her shock. She could not imagine herself as a saint. And she certainly couldn't imagine me that way!

   I snatched the Bible from the shelf and searched the letter to the Ephesians from the New Testament. - Listen, mother. ”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus" Do you know, what the word "saint" means? It means "set apart, devout, blameless, sanctified." And we will all be that when Jesus forgives our sins and saves us.

- But the church has chosen the saints, because they have performed miracles... Mother looked at me with suspicion. – Shouldn’t we honor them for that reason?

- We are all able to do miracles, mother. Even you could raise people from the dead, if God wanted you to do that. I could too. We could all see visions. We could all heal the sick. We could all change the history of the mankind – with the help of the power of God that lives inside us.

   Mother sipped her tea and looked out the window. She had difficulties digesting my words. I annulled everything she had ever learned, but she still had a feeling that there was a hidden truth in my words. Finally, she said:

- Now I see what you mean. Now I won’t pray the saints any longer. - That is most important! The Bible says that there is only one person who can speak to God for us – and that person is Jesus. He is said to be our "Mediator." If we pray someone else, we displace Jesus from the place which belongs to Him. (...) (5)

Spiritism – turning to Mary is a form of spiritism

Worshipping Mary and the saints has one danger for the Roman Catholics: when they turn to worshipping saints, they are actually practicing an ancient form of spiritualism; they are turning to the worship of deceased humans and familiar spirits, and the Bible absolutely forbids such activities. Thus, even though they sincerely think so, people are not connecting with saints, but are actually turning to worship spirits of the deceased -- to evil spirits. The Bible teaches us to avoid turning to such spirits. Consider the following example:

- (Lev 19:31) Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

- (Lev 20:6) And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

- (18:10-12 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you.

Author and evangelist Nicky Cruz described how people can even do healing work with help from these "saints." The event he described occurred in his home; these “saints”, or spirits of the deceased, were what the Bible describes as familiar spirits, or demons who seek to bind our lives. If you are bound by these spirits you can be freed through faith in Jesus Christ, who defeated them once and for all Col 2:15.

Everybody believed that mother and father didn’t only speak to the dead, but also did healing work with the help of the deceased – especially with the help of the very holiest saints of the Bible.

   Now I know that the word of God says that we live only once. Then He will condemn us before we continue into heaven or into everlasting punishment – and from both places there is not return. Well, what supernatural power then pretended to be my grandfather that evening? A demon. Some evil spirit, a fellow-worker of Satan.

   I believe that our beautiful jungle home was full of such devilish beings. When mother went into a trance, she allowed these evil, lying spirits to come into her and to speak through her – demons who have an ability to pretend that they are our loved ones sending messages from beyond the grave. (6)

Another point to be mentioned here are the numerous revelations of “Mary and the saints", experienced for instance in Fatima of Portugal, (1917; these revelations "of Mary" are significant in that at least six Popes have given their support to them), in Medjugore of Croatia and in numerous other places around the world, to which places millions of devoted Catholics also have made pilgrimages.

   We can understand that these revelations did not originate from these deceased saints – Mary, or holy Teresa, for example – but that they were caused by misleading spirits pretending to be these persons (2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.) They – the lying spirits – can imitate our dear deceased, because they know very much about our love ones’ lives on earth (for example, Acts 19:15). Many who see these apparitions, like ordinary mediums, are thus lost because they do not know what they are connected to and from whom they received their revelations.

   So that this matter does not remain unclear, we need only look at the content of these revelations. If Mary of the Bible is really speaking in them, wouldn't it be appropriate to expect that she would at least not exalt herself as the way of salvation or something else that is not mentioned in the Bible? Shouldn't he rather exalt Jesus alone as the way of salvation, since this was the clear teaching of the early church? However, we see a very different teaching in these many revelations. It is certainly not the Mary of the Bible. Instead, we can well conclude that these revelations are the doctrines of demons and the false doctrines that Paul warned against:

- (1 Tim 4:1) Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 - (Gal 1:8,9) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel to you than that you have received, let him be accursed.

Examples of these revelations are mentioned in the cases below. These revelations clearly show how "the Mary of revelations" raises doctrines that were quite unfamiliar to the early church: 

Jesus wants you to serve Him, so that people would know and love me. He wants to start everywhere in the world a belief in my Immaculate Heart. To all those who want to join in this belief, I promise salvation. Their souls are dear to God as the flowers that I set to decorate His throne. (Lucia Santos, Fatima, 13 June 1917)

I promise to be with everybody at the time of their death and bring to them the grace they need to be saved, if they confess their sins on the first Saturday of five months, receive my holy Eucharist, pray the prayers of the rosary and will be with me for 15 minutes thinking about the miracles of the rosary and thus easing my condition. (Lucia Santos, Portugal, 10 December 1925)

I love you with maternal love and ask you to open perfectly to me, so that I by each of you could convert and save the world, in which there is much sin and immorality. (Marjana, Medjugore, Croatia, 25 August 1992)

Today I called you, so that you would get an answer to your question as to why I am with you for so long. I am the mediator between you and God. (Marija, Medjugore, Croatia, 17 July 1986) 

All the children in the world will soon know that I am the mediator of all grace. (Julia Kim, Naju, South Korea, 26 November 1991) 

I want to blow my spirit into those children of mine who do not know me, and to allow (my) light (to) shine from them as a flow. But how can they understand my words, if they keep their heart closed? (Julia Kim, Naju, South Korea, 21 October 1986)

Those who do not acknowledge me as the Queen of Heaven and the Earth, will see God’s greatness and their pride and stubbornness will be broken. They will see the truth and know that God has not become smaller, even though He has given honor to a humble creature. On the contrary, He has been glorified through my virtues and obedience. (Cyndi Cain, Bella Vista, Arkansas, USA, 8 January 1992)

Mary as the Queen of Heaven and mother goddess

It is significant that when in Roman Catholicism, Mary is elevated to the position of Queen of Heaven and Mother Goddess, this is completely consistent with the pagan customs that existed before. The cult of the queen of heaven and the mother goddess is by no means a Christian origin, but it is a paganism that existed in the surrounding Mediterranean countries already in the time of Jesus and several centuries after this - the last temples of the goddesses were destroyed in the 5th century.

    Even then, pagans prayed and worshiped their mother goddess and turned to her. The only difference was that in those days the name of the mother goddess was not Maria, but more famous were e.g. Semiramis, Astarte, Isis and Artemis. Similarly, these "queens of heaven" of that time were usually depicted as mother figures full of pity and mercy - like Mary - who then promised her help and mercy to people. The similarities with the current Maria cult are quite obvious.

    Paavo Hiltunen has described the similarity of the worship of Isis to the current worship of Mary. This cult was the most widespread of the mother cults in 3rd-4th century Rome:

When we compare this message of Isis to her faithful supporter and what "Mary" says to her successors in the so-called revelations of Mary in different parts of the globe, the expressions are surprisingly similar. Did the same spirit speak through Isis that now appears as Mary?

   Isis was to her believers what Mary was to her followers: savior, lover, donor of gifts, protector, helper. Her power reached even the kingdom of death. Such as Mary, Isis had an ability to help hopeless cases. She healed the blinds, paralyzed and those who were rejected by doctors. The writings and paintings on which those, who believe in her, have drawn their thanks are similar to those in Lourdes.

   Even the titles of Isis are strikingly reminiscent of the titles of the Christian mother of God: dear mistress, loving mother, Queen of Heaven, goddess ascended to the throne, queen of the sea, sharer of grace, savior, immaculate, holy queen (Sancta Regina). (7)

The following quotes illustrates how, in the Mediterranean region of that time, worship of goddesses later was transferred to worship of Mary. The second quote clearly highlights the fact that Mary, whom Catholics now pray to and worship, is in fact in the form of the goddess Isis Mary. Thus, paganism has not been destroyed, but Isis has taken on a new form in Mary:

""There were several popular mystery cults with a mother goddess as the main figure in Rome during the time when Jesus was born. These included the cults of Caereen, Cybele (Magna Mater), Artemis, Astarte and Isis, whose evidence can be found up to the beginning of the fifth century. All the properties and epithets connected with these divinities can be found later connected to Mary, such as the Morning Star, the star of the sea, the mother of believers and the Queen of Heaven." (8)

“Mary became an instrument to fill the need of the semi-pagan people who joined the church for their goddesses. In fact, the mother of Jesus did not become the Queen of Heaven, but that status was taken by the goddess of antiquity who was worshipped in all countries around the Mediterranean. It was a disastrous legacy." (9)

In order to gain yet another perspective, we are going to study Mary worship in the light of several other examples and in the light of Biblical instruction. We are going to look at Asia, for example, where similar worship of the goddess mother is seen nowadays. These examples well illustrate that current worship of the "Queen of Heaven" is nothing new, and that it appears similarly in other countries. God was, and is, angered by this idol worship:

Biblical references to the queen of heaven

 - (Jer 7:17-19) See you not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

19 Do they provoke me to anger? said the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

- (Acts 19:27,28) So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nothing; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.

28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Veneration of the Queen of heaven in present-day Asia

"The third month of the moon calendar is the month of Matsu. The goddess of the Sea, the Queen of Heaven, the Holy Mother of Heaven, the Concubine of the Emperor of Heaven is the object of worship in hundreds of thousands of homes and approximately in four hundreds temples. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims go to the fishing center of the western coast, to the town of Peikang, where the largest pai-pai of Matsu’s birthday is concentrated.

   (... ) Over time, the Goddess of the Sea has become a mild, immortal helper who is present everywhere. The fishermen pray for protection at sea, the farmers rain on theirs fields, the young mothers boy babies, the sick healing. An amulet from the temple of Matsu may be suspended on the neck of a young man going to the army. (...) Everybody accepts the assistance of the Holy Mother of Heaven."  (Matleena Pinola, Pai-pai, p. 58-60)

"However, Buddhism had to go through a powerful process of change before it was ready as a religion of the Chinese. The doctrines that came from the outside had to be adapted to the Chinese way of thinking. (...) The goddess of grace, Kwum Yum, who is very popular among the Buddhist, got a competitor, the Taoist Queen of Heaven or Tin Hau. These competing divinities can be found nowadays in many temples side by side on the same altar, in perfect harmony."  (Olavi Vuori, Hyvät henget ja pahat, p. 35)

What about images of Mary and saints?

When Mary is exalted in the Catholic Church, one form of this is her images and statues, which can be found in almost every Catholic church. They each usually have some sort of collection of pictures and statues of her, and people can pray and worship in front of them. These pictures can also include Jesus, but usually only as a small child. In the still lifes, the dominant and adult Mary and the little Jesus, whom Mary carries in her arms, are usually highlighted. Mary, whom Catholics consider the queen of heaven, has gained an advantage over Jesus in this area as well.

  What is special is that to support the worship of Mary and the saints, the Church has even removed the second Commandment from the Ten Commandments: the second Commandment forbids making and worshipping of idols. Instead, this Commandment has been replaced by dividing the tenth one into two parts – like this, the number of the Commandments has remained the same.

   The next comparison of the Finnish Catholic catechism (1953, p. 4) and the Bible also show this matter. We can see how the Commandments have changed:

CATHOLIC CATECHISM:

1. “I am the LORD your God. (…) You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. (…)

3. Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (…)

4. Honor your father and your mother

5. You shall not murder.

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

10. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s things.”

The Bible (Deut 5:6-21):

1. I am the LORD your God...  You shall have none other gods before me.

2. You shall not make you any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them…

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…

4. Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it …

5. Honor your father and your mother

6. You shall not kill

7. Neither shall you commit adultery

8. Neither shall you steal

9. Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor

10. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s wife, neither shall you covet your neighbor’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is your neighbor’s

The support of the Roman Catholic Church to worshipping idols can also be seen in a decision made in the Synod of Trento (session 25), for example. This decision strongly supports respecting and worshipping of idols. It is said:

“The pictures of Christ and the Virgin Mary, mother of God, such as other pictures of saints must be kept in the Church, and people shall respect and worship them."

Even though the Catholic Church accepts worshipping of pictures, the Bible teaches that this is not God’s will by any means. Several verses of the Bible indicate that God does not want people to make any idols, pictures of neither a man nor a woman. It is also said that he does not want people to make any statues, which he hates. The following list also includes a passage of how apostle Paul was angry, when he saw how the city of Athens was full of idols:

 - (Lev 26:1) You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God.

- (Deut 4:15,16) Take you therefore good heed to yourselves; for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire:

16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

- (Deut 27:15) Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

- (Deut 16:22) Neither shall you set you up any image; which the LORD your God hates.

- (Isa 44:15-19) Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread; yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down thereto.

16 He burns part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied: yes, he warms himself, and said, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image: he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and said, Deliver me; for you are my god.

18 They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

- (Acts 17:16) Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Sometimes, Roman Catholics may, in spite of all, justify their idols by saying that they are only reminiscing about these people and establishing a contact through them with God.

   To this, one can respond that God certainly does not need to make a connection with us through images that He has forbidden. He certainly does not need images in order to communicate with His people, because He has provided us with the one and only direct connection: His Son (John 14:6). Why would we not use the connection that is already there?

   The second good question is,  “Why should anyone remember others – the deceased – when wishing to speak to God?” Would not the worship of other people and things only remove us from the worship of God, and distract our thoughts from Him? Why do we need to rely on props, whose use is futile and from which we cannot benefit? The next conversation illustrates the futility of using such props:

When mother told me about her disappointment with the church, it started to trouble me. I thought about how she displayed statues in her home. She tried so hard to do what is right. But she did not have a real relationship. One afternoon, I drove to her home just for fun. I walked in through the front door and said, “These idols must be taken down, mother!” She was horrified. “But Raul, they are not idols. I do not pray to them.”… Her voice became faint when she tried to explain powerlessly that the images “were only a reminder.”

“What do you mean you don’t pray to them? Why are there candles, then?  You can’t keep all these things around you. It prevents you from knowing Jesus.” Then I started to tell her what the Bible says about idols and about who Jesus really is. (10)

2. The Mass and the Lord's Supper

When Jesus was at the final phase of his earthly life, He wanted once more to have a meal together with His disciples. When He ate with them, He also taught His disciples about the meaning of the bread and the wine and how they represented His crucifixion and His death. We call this the Lord’s Supper (the Holy Communion). He started this custom a little before His death – or perhaps earlier – and the custom was handed down to the early Christian church.

   To Roman Catholics, the Holy Communion and Mass are also important. They are symbols in the Catholic Church. But like many other things that have changed since the time of the early church, the concept of Communion has also taken on new forms and meanings in the Catholic Church. It has acquired meanings that did not originally belong to it and that make it completely different. We look at some of the most common changes:

The doctrine of transubstantiation, or the change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ

The doctrine of changing bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood is one issue that has changed. According to this doctrine, when the priests during the Mass read a blessing, bread and wine are no longer bread and wine, but they literally change into Christ, into His body and blood; in other words, into God. The Roman Catholic Church also teaches that only priests are authorized to read the blessing that can bring about this change. This was put into the form of a regulation some centuries ago during the Synod of Trento (2^nd canon of Trento):

 "Who says that bread and wine remain in the Holy Communion as bread and wine (...) will be cursed."

The doctrine of change has been confirmed in the Catholic Catechism as well (Finnish Catechism 1953). It is stated how bread and wine really should change into Christ’s body and blood:

What happened to the bread and wine, when Jesus pronounced over them the words: "This is my body – this is my blood?”

The bread and wine changed into Jesus Christ’s actual body and blood; only the forms were left over. (p. 123)

So what is on the altar after this change?

After the change, there are on the altar, in the form of bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, surely, really and essentially present. (p. 124)

However, there are problems with this doctrine of change (transubstantiation) that need to be raised. Among them, the following can be noted:

Symbolism

When the Catholic Church tried to justify the changing of bread and wine, it used as its support mainly the words of Jesus in connection with the Holy Communion: "This is my body (...) this is my blood..." (Matt 26:26-28).

   However, to this we can say that Jesus certainly did not mean this literally, but symbolically. For He did not say "touto gignetal" ("this has changed"), but "touto esti" ("this describes"). This means that the Holy Communion was only a metaphor of how Jesus later on the cross gave His life for us. Then He shed His blood and truly gave His body  for us. These kinds of symbols that Jesus used to describe Himself also appear elsewhere in the Bible. We must see that these matters must be just symbols, because otherwise Jesus would also be a door, a wine tree, a way, a rock, a morning star, etc.:

- (John 10:9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

- (John 6:35) And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.

- (John 15:5) I am the vine, you are the branches: He that stays in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

- (John 8:12) Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 - (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

- (Matt 21:42-45) Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.

- (Rev 1:17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last

- (Rev 22:16) I Jesus have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Jesus Himself ate bread and drank wine

One fact that makes the doctrine of transubstantiation impossible is that Jesus Himself was there enjoying bread and wine. He certainly did not eat Himself and did not change into some kind of liquid and bread, but He was bone and flesh all the time and blood flowed in His body. The physical presence of Jesus should be the clearest evidence against transubstantiation.

Why is no change seen every time?

If bread and wine have really literally been changed by the words of a priest into the body and blood of Christ, should this not be seen at every single Mass? Why can we not see this? Why can no change be seen in any mass, even though communions are carried out in every Catholic Church and have been carried out thousands of times? Is this not a clear piece of evidence against the whole doctrine of transubstantiation?

A literal sacrifice that is repeated

Another special feature of the Roman Catholic Mass is that during each mass, there should be a new offering of Christ, and the priests have the authority to repeat it for the sins of people. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is really taught that priests have the authority to fetch Christ down from the Heaven and perform the same offering for the sins of people as Jesus made 2,000 years ago. In other words, they are taught that the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross was not perfect and sufficient, but that it must be continuously repeated at Mass for the sins of people. The only difference from what Jesus did on the cross 2,000 years ago is considered only that the current sacrifice is bloodless, while the previous one was not.

   This is revealed in the Catholic Catechism (Finnish Catechism 1953), which refers to this subject several times. There it is explained:

"When Christ died, did all the offering have to stop? No; that offering that Christ once carried out on the cross, had to repeat everywhere and all the time." (p. 126)

"What is the offering in the Holy Mass? The Holy Mass offering is a continuous offering of the New Covenant, in which our Lord Jesus Christ, in the form of bread and wine, by the hands of a priest, in a bloodless way, sacrifices himself to His heavenly Father." (p. 126)

"The offering at the Holy Mass is the same offering that happened on the cross. Because in both, our Lord Christ sacrifices and is sacrificed." (p. 127)

Why is the offering of the Holy Mass the highest? The Holy Mass offering is the highest offering, because it is

1) The most valuable offering.

2) To God, the most pleasing thank-offering.

3) The most effective prayer offering.

4) The most powerful atonement offering. (p. 129).

But does the Bible teach that in the Holy Communion or at Mass, Christ again sacrifices Himself because of the words of a priest? Does the Bible teach that his offering was not at all sufficient, but it must continually be repeated at Mass for the sins of people?

   The answer to this is that we cannot find such teachings from the Bible. The Bible indicates very clearly that Christ’s atonement was a once-in-a-lifetime event and took place only once in history. The Bible also indicates that His atonement was perfect, so that other offerings are not needed; they are no longer needed, neither can they help people seeking salvation.

   There are several references to this important matter and to the sufficiency of Jesus’ atonement, and we are going to study some. These verses indicate very well how His work was a one-time thing and perfect, so that there is no need to repeat it any more:

 - (John 19:30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 - (Hebr 7:27) Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

- (Hebr 9:12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

- (Hebr 9:25-28) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.

- (Hebr 10:12,14) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

- (Hebr 10:17,18) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

The Lord's Supper is a memorial meal, not a new sacrifice of Christ

Another thing that testifies against the Mass repeating Christ's sacrifice over and over again is the simple fact that the Bible shows communion to be a memorial meal and to proclaim the lord's death, an already fulfilled work. That is, if it is a matter of remembrance, it can never encompass the very essence of the event. The essence of the matter itself, Christ's atoning work took place as early as 2000 years ago:’

 - (1 Cor 11:23-25) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

- (1 Cor 11:26) For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death till he come.

Veneration of the Eucharistic elements

has also been a part of the Roman Catholic tradition. This tradition got its beginning when it was believed that the materials of the Holy Communion change into Christ and God, so the natural consequence was that these elements were worshipped. The Holy Communion’s bread may really have been regarded literally as God in the Roman Catholic Church, because "Christ is in it physically present", and to show respect and praise for it. For example, in the Synod of Trento this was regulated (6^th canon):

"If someone says that Christ, the only Son of God, should not be worshipped in the sacrament of the Holy Communion (...) and be respected by special ceremonies and the Holy Communion bread be carried in a ceremonious procession, according to the global and praised customs and ceremonies of our Holy Church, and that He should not be set for public worshipping in front of people, and that His worshippers are idolaters, he will be accursed!"

The same thing also appears in the next newspaper article describing the life of a convent. This article (newspaper Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 1 November 2003, p. 22) indicates very well that similar worship appears also nowadays, and it was not left in the dark of the Middle Ages:

"At 11:30 a.m. there is the prayer of the middle of the day, but before that there is a half an hour of adoration in front of the Holy Communion bread. The Holy Communion bread is preserved in a tabernacle, a decorative cupboard. The Holy Communion bread is an object of the worship, because Jesus is believed to be present in this bread."

But what does the Bible say about considering communion bread as God and worshipping it? The answer to this, too, is that we cannot find any direct reference to it. Jesus did not exhort it and there is no reference to it in the New Testament epistles. On the other hand, to begin to regard a piece of bread as divine is certainly idolatry, even though the Council of Trento decreed otherwise. When you do that, you bow before the work of people, in other words bow in front of a piece of bread someone has made, as, for example, the Book of Isaiah says:

- (Isa 2:8) Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

If we use the same argument, we could worship any believer or thing, because Christ can be present in some substance, or can live in a believer because he is the temple of the Spirit of God. However, we understand that this does not make any sense.  The fact that Christ lives in someone through His Spirit does not make anybody divine. He continues to be the same person:

 - (Col 1:27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

- (1 Cor 3:16) Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

The Lord's Supper and salvation

Attempts have also been made to use Lord's Supper to gain God’s salvation. Instead, its purpose is mainly to affirm faith in the forgiveness of sins, and recall the redemptive work of Christ (1 Cor 11:23-25), and to proclaim His completed work of redemption (1 Cor 11:26). Salvation can always be received through faith and through the Word, as we have noted in the previous chapters. During the early church, when people enjoyed the Lord's Supper, they always first received the Word and were saved. The Lord's Supper was a consequence of this:

- (Acts 2:41,42) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

3. The Papacy and priesthood in the Catholic Church

A part of the special heritage of the Roman Catholic Church is the papacy and priesthood that gained an important role in this church. The Pope has even been called the vicar of Christ on the Earth, which proves his great status among Catholics. It is thought that the papacy began in the first century after Peter’s death, and that since then there has been an unbroken chain of popes until today.

   But what should we think of the pope and his position in the Catholic Church, in general? Does the Bible teach anything about this? Can it be justified by text found in the Bible? We will consider these questions and also take a look at the priesthood in the Catholic Church in light of the following considerations:

1. Was Peter in a special position vompared to the other disciples?

2. The origin and succession of the papacy dates back to the 5th century