FRIDAY MORNING MANNA
June 5, 2015
Nathaniel Fajardo
Biblical Numerology: NUMBER THREE – Part XI
THE THREE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD (Continued)
Divine Attributes Claimed by the Papacy
To be God on Earth: “We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” – Pope Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter, June 20, 1894.
To be Jesus Christ Himself” “The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but He is Jesus Christ Himself hidden under the veil of flesh.” – The Catholic National, July 1895. “The Priests are the Parents of God,” St. Bernard.
“Hence the pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and on earth and of the lower regions [infernorum; the fiery place].’ – Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, “Papa,” [the pope], art. 2, 1772-1777 ed. Vol. 6, p. 29.
See 2 Samuel 12: 29, 30. The papal triple-crown also represents a specific prophecy already fulfilled. “In the former days crowns of conquered kings were placed on the head of the conquerors. It is symbolically fitting therefore, that the Pope wears a triple crown. Bishop Thomas Newton, speaking of the power that destroyed the three horns (the three Arian kingdoms of Daniel 7: 8, 24–Heruli, Vandals, Ostrogoths in the years 493 A.D; 534, and 538 A.D., respectively, says, “And the pope hath in a manner pointed to himself out for the person by wearing the triple crown.” – “Dissertation on the Prophecies”, p. 220, quoted in Facts of Faith, Christians Edwardson, p. 36: 1943.
The Roman Channel of Grace. Below are official statements compiled by Vance Ferrell clearly revealing that the Roman Church’s channel and source of grace is not Christ, but Mary; that she is even greater than God where answering prayers is concerned! Source: The Great Controversy, Harvestime Books, p. 186, Box 300 Altamont , TN 37301 :
“[Mary is] the first steward in the dispensing all graces.” – Pius X, quoted in F.J. Sheed, Theology for Beginners, p. 132.
“We have no greater help, no greater hope than you, O Most Pure Virgin; help us, then. For we hope in you, we glory in you. We are your servants, do not disappoint us.” – Novena Prayers in Honor of our Mother of Perpetual Help (published by Sisters of St. Basil, with imprimatur).
“Christ has taken His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. . . . and Mary as Queen stands as His right hand.” – Pius X, Mary Mediatrix, in Encyclical: Ad Diem Illum.
“Mary is Our Lady and Queen because, she, the new Eve, has shared intimately in the redemptive work of Christ, the new Adam, by suffering with Him, and offering Him up to the Eternal Father.” – Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 211 (1974).
“Alphonsus de Liguori wrote two books in lavish praise of Mary (The Glories of Mary; 1750) and Catholic priests (The Duties and Dignities of the Priest). He was rewarded with sainthood. Because he was canonized, his statements are [alleged to be] infallible:
‘With reason does an ancient writer call her ‘the only hope of sinners;’ for by her help alone can we hope for the remission of sins.’ – De Liguori, The Glories of Mary (ed. Eugene Grimm: Redemptorist Fathers) p. 83.
“ ‘Many things,’ says Nicephorus, ‘are asked from God, and are not granted; they are asked from Mary, and are obtained.’ “- Ibid, p. 137.
“If God is angry with a sinner, and Mary takes him under her protection, she withholds the avenging arm of her Son, and saves him.” – Ibid, p. 124.
‘[Prayer of St. Ephraim:] ‘O Immaculate Virgin, we are under thy protection . . . We beseech thee to prevent thy beloved Son who is irritated by our sins, from abandoning us to the powers of the devil.’ ” – Ibid, p. 273.
“ ‘At the command of Mary all obey—even God.’ St. Bernardine fears not to utter this sentence; meaning indeed, to say that God grants the prayers of Mary as if they were commands. . . Since the Mother, then, should have the same power as the Son, rightly has Jesus, who is omnipotent, made Mary also omnipotent.” –Ibid, p. 82.
“Because men acknowledge and fear the divine Majesty which is Him [Christ] as God, for this reason it was necessary to assign us another advocate, to whom we might have recourse with less fear and more than confidence; and this advocate is Mary, whom we cannot find one more powerful with His divine Majesty, or one more merciful towards ourselves . . .A mediator, then, was needed with the mediator Himself.” – Ibid, pp. 180-182.
“Nothing whatever of that immense treasure of all graces, which the Lord brought us . . . is granted to us save through Mary; so that, just as no one can come to the Father on high except through the Son, so almost in the same manner, no one can come to Christ except through His Mother.” – Leo XIII, Magnae Dei Matris.
“She [Mary] remains forever associated to Him [Christ], with an almost unlimited power in the distribution of the graces which flow from the Redemption. Jesus is King throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest; through Him, with Him and subordinate to Him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest and by singular election. And her kingdom is as vast as that of her Son and God, since nothing is excluded from her dominion.” – Pius XII, quoted in E.R.Carrol (ed.), Mariology, Vol. 1, p. 49 (1955).
The Bible says our divine link to our ascended Savior is the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in our prayers, not Mary nor any other creature, not even angels. Notice:
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered of. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8: 26, 27, N.K.J.V.
The plan of redemption devised before the foundations of the earth were laid specified that priests—intercessors between God and sinners—are chosen men, from the patriarchs, prophets, and priests. Jesus Christ the Man, (Son of God, Son of man, Son of David), then the Holy Spirit, who, Apostle John quotes Jesus as referring to as “He, the Comforter,” (John 14: 26); “Him” (16: 7); “He” twice (verse 8); “He, the Spirit of truth,” “He,”4 times; “Himself” (verse 13): “He” twice (verse 14). No one then was agitated or confused like today’s demands for “gender neutrality,” “equality of sexes,” etc. “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord” ruled the childlike faith of the faithful of all ages.
Paul says it isn’t through any church neither through Mary nor any self-proclaimed intercessor that divine grace and apostleship are dispensed but from the Son of God. (Rom. 1: 1). Now hear what Peter declares to “all who have ears that are willing to hear”:
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that the pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1: 2-8, K.J.V. These verses are often referred to as “Peter’s Ladder.”
“These words are full of instruction, and strike the key-note of victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Fait, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the height of Christ’s ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. [1 Cor. 1: 30].” – Acts of the Apostles, E.G. White, Pacific Press publishing Asso., p. 530 (1911).
“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them; but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. [But] the office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: [John 16: 8 quoted]. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance, and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements.” –Ibid, p. 52.
Under the unction and power of the promised Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost (Acts 1, 2), Peter boldly proclaimed to all the churches and to the world in language simple, accurate, and pure that in Jesus Christ alone is eternal salvation secured:
“There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12. Treasure this truth in your heart and apply it to your daily life. (To be continued next week)