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Refuting the Attack on Mary: A Defense of Marian Doctrines
Have you been grilled for answers about why Catholics believe that Mary remained a virgin, or that she was immaculately conceived, or assumed into heaven? How about why she is called "Mother of God" or "Queen of Heaven"? Have you wanted to provide clear and full answers to questions like this but found yourself unable to do so? Are you tired of Fundamentalists and door-to-door missionaries telling you that Catholic teachings on Mary are "unbiblical"? This book is just what you need. Father Mateo explains the basis for these and other teachings on Mary. He points out the basis for them in Scripture and the writings of the early Church Fathers. Just as important, he points out the errors of logic and fact committed by anti-Catholics as they mount an attack on the Blessed Mother. A one-of-a-kind work, this book is both remarkably concise and remarkably powerful in its explanations of how to defend the truth of Catholic teaching whenever you are called upon to refute the attack on Mary.
101 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
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September 28, 2014
Father Mateo’s Refuting The Attack On Mary is a scholarly and Scriptural defense of traditional Marian doctrines. Specifically it is the author’s intent to answer the polemic “The Mary of Roman Catholicism” written by Elliot Miller and published by Christian Research Institute (CRI) in 1990.¹ As a general rule I shy away from words like ‘attack’, ‘refute’ and ‘polemic’ knowing full well the power such words have to do more harm than good. Seldom do we heal with our words. And yet, Chapter 15 of Proverbs is replete with good advice on the importance of ‘the well-timed word’, ‘the soothing tongue’ and the ‘mild answer’. May I proceed in that spirit...
In bygone days (don't know about today) one sure way to provoke an incident among little boys was to insult the other’s mother. A fisticuffs reminiscent of Little Rascals would ensue.
Another example. “Your mother wears Army boots,” was common expression in the military back when I was in. Although said in jest, the joke being, it was almost that easy to provoke a fight or make an enemy, so don’t insult anyone’s mom. Was this phrase chosen because most men didn’t need an excuse to brawl or because motherhood is venerated? Probably a little of both. And yet apparently World War II soldiers started the saying ‘moms and apple pie’ in answer to the journalistic question about what they missed most. In the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” I cannot forget all those dying young men on the beaches of Normandy crying for their mothers.
We recognize the importance—even the sacredness—of motherhood in general and our own human mothers specifically. What is it about mothers? Is it because we come from them? Is it that nine month physical connection? The close proximity which usually follows? Their uncanny intuitive way of knowing us better than we do ourselves? We could speculate on this subject endlessly and not begin to exhaust it. Modern society tries to downplay the connection and yet even so, we all know the impossibility of trying to dine out on Mother’s Day or find a decent card on the Saturday before. In our increasingly secular world, ‘mom’ is still revered.
Christians worship God, the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Although we do not understand the great mystery of the Trinity we know God made us, saved us through his life, death and resurrection and loves us into existence at every moment.
That same God loved us so much he became one of us. God became man and we call this amazing phenomenon, the Incarnation. It was made possible through the humble ‘yes’ of one of us. Throughout the Old Testament we read of countless examples and times when the Chosen People said ‘no’ to God. Again in the New Testament, Jesus’s own disciples were tested and failed repeatedly. Of course God forgave them, they went on to do great things and we call them great saints today. But all the while, quietly, unobtrusively there was one of his disciples—the very first of his disciples—who never said ‘no’, never disappointed him, and was there for and with him at the most important points of his mission: his birth, meeting the Magi, presentation in the Temple, finding in the Temple, first miracle (or ‘Sign’ as John calls it) his crucifixion and death and even after when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. She was there, with and for him, ‘treasuring up all these things and pondering them in her heart.’ Luke 2:19. She didn’t let him down, deny or desert him. She was everything I want to be, even if I know I’m not there yet.²
While all the controversies about Mary rage, I come back to the words in Sacred Scripture said by and about her and ponder these. Then my heart is filled with peace.
Refuting The Attack On Mary is theologically sound and to someone genuinely searching for the truth about Marian doctrine it is a wellspring. Father Mateo follows CRI’s order in responding to the various issues raised. Interestingly enough, many of the best defenses for honoring the Mother of God come from the Protestant Reformers who were most unwilling to dispense with homage due to Our LORD’s mother. Their familiarity with Scripture had taught them that as Mary alone among all of God’s creatures was selected by the Father, descended upon by the Holy Spirit in order to bear the only Son of God, she was indeed ‘most blessed among women’. Far from being Catholic invention or piety, Mary’s unique role is biblical, and is even more pronounced in the Eastern and Russian Orthodox traditions.
However, given the nature of the CRI article as reported³, Father Mateo’s writing doesn’t back down from the challenge. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone as a first book on Mary. Better to start with something milder like, Devotion to Our Lady, or Mary: God's Yes to Man. My prayer is (I hope) what Mary’s would be, that the focus be less on her than on her intense devotion to her Divine Son. That is what Mary is about. She is the first and best disciple of Jesus. As his mother she knew and loved him from the beginning of his earthly life. Let us honor her as he did and let her show us the way to HIM.
¹Unfortunately this document is not available for purchase and I couldn't find it anywhere on-line to read, except in reference.
²Sometimes I think that may be why people shy away from Mary—her very perfection is offensive. We prefer Peter and Thomas. We can more readily identify with their mistakes and failures. Mary’s lack of sin is frightening. Knowing our own weak nature we think, ‘How can a mere human be without sin?’ I think Mary must have wondered that herself. If you ever want to ponder something truly beautiful spend time with the ‘Canticle of Mary’. It is prayer we can all say. Although the words come from the Blessed Virgin anyone of us could pray them. They are universally applicable and so sublime. We are all blessed as His children and the Mighty One has indeed done great things for all of us! Holy IS his name!*
³I would have preferred to have read the CRI article myself but as it was not available I am basing my assessment on Fr. Mateo's comments as well as other information which CRI does have posted concerning Mary here.
*“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” ~Luke 1:46-55
In bygone days (don't know about today) one sure way to provoke an incident among little boys was to insult the other’s mother. A fisticuffs reminiscent of Little Rascals would ensue.
Another example. “Your mother wears Army boots,” was common expression in the military back when I was in. Although said in jest, the joke being, it was almost that easy to provoke a fight or make an enemy, so don’t insult anyone’s mom. Was this phrase chosen because most men didn’t need an excuse to brawl or because motherhood is venerated? Probably a little of both. And yet apparently World War II soldiers started the saying ‘moms and apple pie’ in answer to the journalistic question about what they missed most. In the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” I cannot forget all those dying young men on the beaches of Normandy crying for their mothers.
We recognize the importance—even the sacredness—of motherhood in general and our own human mothers specifically. What is it about mothers? Is it because we come from them? Is it that nine month physical connection? The close proximity which usually follows? Their uncanny intuitive way of knowing us better than we do ourselves? We could speculate on this subject endlessly and not begin to exhaust it. Modern society tries to downplay the connection and yet even so, we all know the impossibility of trying to dine out on Mother’s Day or find a decent card on the Saturday before. In our increasingly secular world, ‘mom’ is still revered.
Christians worship God, the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Although we do not understand the great mystery of the Trinity we know God made us, saved us through his life, death and resurrection and loves us into existence at every moment.
That same God loved us so much he became one of us. God became man and we call this amazing phenomenon, the Incarnation. It was made possible through the humble ‘yes’ of one of us. Throughout the Old Testament we read of countless examples and times when the Chosen People said ‘no’ to God. Again in the New Testament, Jesus’s own disciples were tested and failed repeatedly. Of course God forgave them, they went on to do great things and we call them great saints today. But all the while, quietly, unobtrusively there was one of his disciples—the very first of his disciples—who never said ‘no’, never disappointed him, and was there for and with him at the most important points of his mission: his birth, meeting the Magi, presentation in the Temple, finding in the Temple, first miracle (or ‘Sign’ as John calls it) his crucifixion and death and even after when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. She was there, with and for him, ‘treasuring up all these things and pondering them in her heart.’ Luke 2:19. She didn’t let him down, deny or desert him. She was everything I want to be, even if I know I’m not there yet.²
While all the controversies about Mary rage, I come back to the words in Sacred Scripture said by and about her and ponder these. Then my heart is filled with peace.
Refuting The Attack On Mary is theologically sound and to someone genuinely searching for the truth about Marian doctrine it is a wellspring. Father Mateo follows CRI’s order in responding to the various issues raised. Interestingly enough, many of the best defenses for honoring the Mother of God come from the Protestant Reformers who were most unwilling to dispense with homage due to Our LORD’s mother. Their familiarity with Scripture had taught them that as Mary alone among all of God’s creatures was selected by the Father, descended upon by the Holy Spirit in order to bear the only Son of God, she was indeed ‘most blessed among women’. Far from being Catholic invention or piety, Mary’s unique role is biblical, and is even more pronounced in the Eastern and Russian Orthodox traditions.
However, given the nature of the CRI article as reported³, Father Mateo’s writing doesn’t back down from the challenge. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone as a first book on Mary. Better to start with something milder like, Devotion to Our Lady, or Mary: God's Yes to Man. My prayer is (I hope) what Mary’s would be, that the focus be less on her than on her intense devotion to her Divine Son. That is what Mary is about. She is the first and best disciple of Jesus. As his mother she knew and loved him from the beginning of his earthly life. Let us honor her as he did and let her show us the way to HIM.
¹Unfortunately this document is not available for purchase and I couldn't find it anywhere on-line to read, except in reference.
²Sometimes I think that may be why people shy away from Mary—her very perfection is offensive. We prefer Peter and Thomas. We can more readily identify with their mistakes and failures. Mary’s lack of sin is frightening. Knowing our own weak nature we think, ‘How can a mere human be without sin?’ I think Mary must have wondered that herself. If you ever want to ponder something truly beautiful spend time with the ‘Canticle of Mary’. It is prayer we can all say. Although the words come from the Blessed Virgin anyone of us could pray them. They are universally applicable and so sublime. We are all blessed as His children and the Mighty One has indeed done great things for all of us! Holy IS his name!*
³I would have preferred to have read the CRI article myself but as it was not available I am basing my assessment on Fr. Mateo's comments as well as other information which CRI does have posted concerning Mary here.
*“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” ~Luke 1:46-55
September 13, 2024
A PRIEST DEFENDS MARIAN DOCTRINES FROM SEVERAL EVANGELICAL ATTACKS
"'Father Mateo' was the pen name of a Catholic priest (d. 1996) who was an emeritus professor of New Testament Greek at a prominent university. He spent nearly fifty years of his priesthood promoting the faith, especially among young people... Father Mateo hosted the 'Ask Father' forum on the Catholic Information Network."
The Introduction to this 1993 book critically cites an article by Elliott Miller, which was published in the journal of the late Walter Martin's Christian Research institute (CRI), stating that "CRI insults and defames the one who is full of grace and blessed among women by applying to her a verse [Prov 6:27] which the sacred writer uses of an adulteress and a prostitute... Few Protestants will want this article to be their voice. There is abundant evidence today of a growing interest in Mary among Protestants... This new Protestant interest in Mary is more and more in harmony with our Catholic devotion... she does seem to be drawing us closer together."
He observes, "I wonder about CRI's consistent failure throughout to mention PROTESTANT sources in praise of Mary." (Pg. 4) He adds, "Yet Mary's lifelong virginity is well attested in Protestant sources too---something CRI does not mention. Martin Luther... [and] John Calvin also defended Mary's perpetual virginity... [as did] Ulrich Zwingli." (Pg. 16-17)
About the Immaculate Conception, he states, "In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel calls Mary 'kecharitomene,' 'graced,' 'endowed with grace.'" (Pg. 19) He adds, "Because Luke 1:28 uses the perfect participle 'kecharitomene' to describe Mary, CRI is wrong to say there is NOTHING in this verse to establish the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. One word of one Bible verse does not PROVE the doctrine, but 'kecharitomene' proves the HARMONY of the doctrine with Scripture." (Pg. 22)
He says, "The world's salvation certainly was determined in God's eternal decree, but Mary's freedom was budgeted for in that same eternal decree. If Mary had backed down, God would have found some other way to accomplish his designs. But since she did freely assent, Mary participates in our redemption at its very source. Therefore, in an entirely subordinate, creaturely way, empowered entirely by God's redeeming grace, she is a 'coredeemer.'" (Pg. 50)
He points out, "CRI says, 'The title "Queen" was first used in association with Mary by Pope Martin in the seventh century.' This blunder is typical of CRI's level of scholarship. Ephrem the Syrian used the title 'Queen' about Mary several times in his FOURTH-CENTURY prayers and poems." (Pg. 68)
He asks, "CRI complains of our 'excessive devotion... I should like to know what is wrong with sentiment and the sentimental? Surely, the feelings are an important part of the equipment God gives us to live with, to love with, and to pray with. Is not one nation's 'sentimentality' another's robust sentiment?" (Pg. 76-77)
This book will be of interest to those studying Catholic apologetics, or Marian doctrine.
"'Father Mateo' was the pen name of a Catholic priest (d. 1996) who was an emeritus professor of New Testament Greek at a prominent university. He spent nearly fifty years of his priesthood promoting the faith, especially among young people... Father Mateo hosted the 'Ask Father' forum on the Catholic Information Network."
The Introduction to this 1993 book critically cites an article by Elliott Miller, which was published in the journal of the late Walter Martin's Christian Research institute (CRI), stating that "CRI insults and defames the one who is full of grace and blessed among women by applying to her a verse [Prov 6:27] which the sacred writer uses of an adulteress and a prostitute... Few Protestants will want this article to be their voice. There is abundant evidence today of a growing interest in Mary among Protestants... This new Protestant interest in Mary is more and more in harmony with our Catholic devotion... she does seem to be drawing us closer together."
He observes, "I wonder about CRI's consistent failure throughout to mention PROTESTANT sources in praise of Mary." (Pg. 4) He adds, "Yet Mary's lifelong virginity is well attested in Protestant sources too---something CRI does not mention. Martin Luther... [and] John Calvin also defended Mary's perpetual virginity... [as did] Ulrich Zwingli." (Pg. 16-17)
About the Immaculate Conception, he states, "In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel calls Mary 'kecharitomene,' 'graced,' 'endowed with grace.'" (Pg. 19) He adds, "Because Luke 1:28 uses the perfect participle 'kecharitomene' to describe Mary, CRI is wrong to say there is NOTHING in this verse to establish the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. One word of one Bible verse does not PROVE the doctrine, but 'kecharitomene' proves the HARMONY of the doctrine with Scripture." (Pg. 22)
He says, "The world's salvation certainly was determined in God's eternal decree, but Mary's freedom was budgeted for in that same eternal decree. If Mary had backed down, God would have found some other way to accomplish his designs. But since she did freely assent, Mary participates in our redemption at its very source. Therefore, in an entirely subordinate, creaturely way, empowered entirely by God's redeeming grace, she is a 'coredeemer.'" (Pg. 50)
He points out, "CRI says, 'The title "Queen" was first used in association with Mary by Pope Martin in the seventh century.' This blunder is typical of CRI's level of scholarship. Ephrem the Syrian used the title 'Queen' about Mary several times in his FOURTH-CENTURY prayers and poems." (Pg. 68)
He asks, "CRI complains of our 'excessive devotion... I should like to know what is wrong with sentiment and the sentimental? Surely, the feelings are an important part of the equipment God gives us to live with, to love with, and to pray with. Is not one nation's 'sentimentality' another's robust sentiment?" (Pg. 76-77)
This book will be of interest to those studying Catholic apologetics, or Marian doctrine.
September 15, 2024
For a book nearly 100 pages, it covers a dense topic extremely well with plenty of depth and consideration. Father Mateo was specifically refuting attacks made by the Protestant run Christian Research Institute (CRI), and so he did not answer every single little issue on the subject with every single little counter-argument, but he did utilize tons of Scripture, opinions from theologians both Catholic and Protestant, and a lot of common sense.
For a Protestant like me, this book was easy, understandable, and credible: all of which I hope and pray for when I crack open a theology book to read and study. I am glad I found this book.
For a Protestant like me, this book was easy, understandable, and credible: all of which I hope and pray for when I crack open a theology book to read and study. I am glad I found this book.
August 20, 2013
Do you struggle to understand Catholic Church teaching on Mary? Then, this is the book for you! In very short time, this book explains biblicaly Mary as ever Virgin, her motherhood of us all, her status as Mediatrix, Co-Redemptrix, Queen of Heaven, and much more! All the while destroying protestant objections against her. This is quite possibly the best Marian book out there today.
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