My 101 Reasons for Leaving the Catholic Church:
Hail, Holy Queen
What is it ?
One of the most beloved of Catholic prayers is the "Salve Regina" or "Hail, Holy Queen." It is traditionally recited at the conclusion of the ROSARY. Here is the prayer: Hail, holy queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Mary, after her ASSUMPTION into heaven, now sits as QUEEN OF HEAVEN. The Catholic Church has given her the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix. Through her reign, she offers intercession (mother of mercy) for her subjects on earth, bringing the gifts of eternal salvation (our life) to them. She (our hope) placates the wrath of her Son. She is invoked as an advocate. She receives our sighs as helper and benefactress, and Mediatrix (showing us to Jesus, the "fruit of her womb").
How did it come about ? The authorship of the Salve Regina has been attributed to several sources. Adhemar, who was the first to ask permission to go on the CRUSADE, in 1096, was thought to have composed the war anthem of the crusade, in which he asked for the intercession of the Queen of Heaven. Others trace its origin to Herman Contractus, and a later date. By 1135, the anthem was sung on certain feasts. The prayer was offered mainly by the monks, until Pope Gregory IX (1227-41) prescribed its univeral use. Pope Leo XIII on January 6, 1884 prescribed its recitation after every low Mass, together with other prayers. Why it is wrong:
1) ...because it elevates Mary, and grants her the roles of the Holy Spirit. He is our advocate, He applies eternal life to us, and He is the comforter; 2) ...because it elevates Mary, and grants her the roles of Jesus. He is our life. He is the one mediator, and He is our hope. 3) ...because it elevates Mary, and grants her the roles of the Father. He is omniscient and omnipresent, and He alone receives our prayers. 4) ...because Mary, as a symbol of the Catholic Church, is made necessary for salvation; she, and thus the Roman Church, must mediate grace.
Warnings from Scripture: When the Helper [comforter, advocate, intercessor] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me...But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 15:26, 16:7 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9; and: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." And He said to them, "When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’" Luke 11:1-4 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:29-31
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