Question:  Mr. Albrecht,

            My wife was raised as a Catholic and I as a Lutheran.  My wife does not practice the Catholic faith.  I am with you on all your responses about the Catholic faith, but would like a clearer picture of Maryology.  Could you please explain this in a fuller definition?

            Thank you,

            Jack

Answer:  Dear Jack,

            Big question, tall order.  Maryology includes:

1.      The Assumption of Mary.  This was the edict given by Pius XII in 1950 that made acceptance of the idea that Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven and crowned Queen of heaven necessary for salvation.  There is no biblical support of this teaching.

2.      The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, which dates from 1854, declaring Mary free from original sin.  Because she was the mother of God in the flesh, Catholics reasoned she had to be free from sin and full of grace—having special status from God because of her role as the mother of Jesus.  Once again, there is nothing in the Bible that would remotely support such an idea.

            As a result of these two major teachings, many believe that they can and should pray directly to Mary and that she should be deified and worshipped.  But God alone—God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, is worthy of worship, according to the Bible.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht