"In Mary"...."In Mary?!?!?"

friendlymomma · #1 Apr 15, '12, 11:28 am

Ya'll have got to help me out. I love

the Catholic Church and look forward to joining next Easter! I have wrestled with many issues and gotten over so many of my hang ups,

but I just heard another thing yesterday that was very disturbing to me.
I was listening to the Mass on the radio. During the celebration of the Eucharist, I was excited to focus on the prayer for those who "cannot now partake" of the Eucharist. But then the prayer seemed to be mostly about Mary, and the prayer was even concluded in Mary's name.
I just don't understand why the Blessed Sacrament of our Lord Jesus Christ would be subtituted with a prayer mostly regarding Mary.
And I get the beauty of being able to ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us, but it would seem to me that praying "In Mary" makes it sound like she is our mediator, when we should all know that Christ is our Mediator.

johnnyc176 · #2 Apr 15, '12, 11:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlymomma

Ya'll have got to help me out. I love

the Catholic Church and look forward to joining next Easter! I have wrestled with many issues and gotten over so many of my hang ups,

but I just heard another thing yesterday that was very disturbing to me.
I was listening to the Mass on the radio. During the celebration of the Eucharist, I was excited to focus on the prayer for those who "cannot now partake" of the Eucharist. But then the prayer seemed to be mostly about Mary, and the prayer was even concluded in Mary's name.
I just don't understand why the Blessed Sacrament of our Lord Jesus Christ would be subtituted with a prayer mostly regarding Mary.
And I get the beauty of being able to ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us, but it would seem to me that praying "In Mary" makes it sound like she is our mediator, when we should all know that Christ is our Mediator.

Intercession part of the Eucharistic Prayer where the priest asks the Father to bless the whole Christian family (living and dead) to give us his mercy?

friendlymomma · #3 Apr 15, '12, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyc176

Intercession part of the Eucharistic Prayer where the priest asks the Father to bless the whole Christian family (living and dead) to give us his mercy?

No, I would not have a problem with that. It was only heard on the radio for those who were not there and could not receive. I don't think I will be able to, but I will see if I can find the prayer online somewhere.

johnnyc176 · #4 Apr 15, '12, 12:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlymomma

No, I would not have a problem with that. It was only heard on the radio for those who were not there and could not receive. I don't think I will be able to, but I will see if I can find the prayer online somewhere.

Ok...the reason I mentioned it is because that is a part of the Mass where Mary is mentioned. So this was a prayer said in the studio....not in the Mass itself?

Blacksword · #5 Apr 15, '12, 12:07 pm

As a convert this seems very strange to me...I would be interested to know exactly what was said, perhaps you misheard something? No priest would consecrate the Eucharist in the "name of Mary", and they're not supposed to change any of the words during the consecration one little bit anyway.

friendlymomma · #6 Apr 15, '12, 12:11 pm

It may have been this prayer, ended with the words, "In Mary" or "In Mary, Amen."

O Immaculate Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of God and Mediatrix of every grace: I believe that Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is truly, really, and substantially contained in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Him above all things and I long to receive Him into my heart. Since I cannot now receive Him sacramentally, be so good as to place Him spiritually in my soul.

O my Jesus, I embrace Thee as One who has already come, and I unite myself entirely to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

friendlymomma · #7 Apr 15, '12, 12:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacksword

As a convert this seems very strange to me...I would be interested to know exactly what was said, perhaps you misheard something? No priest would consecrate the Eucharist in the "name of Mary", and they're not supposed to change any of the words during the consecration one little bit anyway.

The priest did not consecrate the Eucharist "in Mary." It was not said by the priest.

edward_george · #8 Apr 15, '12, 12:26 pm

First, Mary is a mediator to us, just as we are mediators to one another when we pray for one another. There is nothing wrong with this; our mediatorship and Mary's both are secondary to that of Christ--it is only through Christ as mediator with the Father that we can intercede on each others' behalf.

Second, that prayer is a private devotion, and is not required to be said by anyone. It is not a part of the Mass. This doesn't mean that it can't be said during Mass, nor that it's a bad prayer--indeed it is a beautiful sentiment, to intercede with Mary on behalf of those who cannot receive the Eucharist (or to make any act of spiritual communion for that matter--that is a very good practice). But it is not a requirement, and so you should not let the wording of this prayer trouble you.

-ACEGC

Jim Dandy · #9 Apr 15, '12, 12:36 pm

The OP is, apparently, referring to the prayer that is offered on EWTN during Holy Communion for those who can't receive Jesus sacramentally. It is said by one of Mother Angelica's nuns, the one with a British accent. Many different prayers are offered -- a different one each day -- but I don't know the specific prayer the OP finds objectionable.

friendlymomma · #10 Apr 15, '12, 12:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward_george

First, Mary is a mediator to us, just as we are mediators to one another when we pray for one another. There is nothing wrong with this; our mediatorship and Mary's both are secondary to that of Christ--it is only through Christ as mediator with the Father that we can intercede on each others' behalf.

Second, that prayer is a private devotion, and is not required to be said by anyone. It is not a part of the Mass. This doesn't mean that it can't be said during Mass, nor that it's a bad prayer--indeed it is a beautiful sentiment, to intercede with Mary on behalf of those who cannot receive the Eucharist (or to make any act of spiritual communion for that matter--that is a very good practice). But it is not a requirement, and so you should not let the wording of this prayer trouble you.

-ACEGC

I guess I don't really understand this "secondary mediatorship" concept.
I do understand that it wasn't a part of the Mass and is not a requirement, but still the wording of the prayer troubles me because it does not seem theologically correct.

friendlymomma · #11 Apr 15, '12, 12:47 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Dandy

The OP is, apparently, referring to the prayer that is offered on EWTN during Holy Communion for those who can't receive Jesus sacramentally. It is said by one of Mother Angelica's nuns, the one with a British accent. Many different prayers are offered -- a different one each day -- but I don't know the specific prayer the OP finds objectionable.

Yes, it was the familiar voice of the lady (nun, I guess; on the radio of course I have no idea what she looks like) with the British accent.

It is mostly the idea of praying THROUGH Mary rather than WITH Mary that makes me uncertain of the validity of such a prayer.

Jim Dandy · #12 Apr 15, '12, 12:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlymomma

It may have been this prayer, ended with the words, "In Mary" or "In Mary, Amen."

O Immaculate Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of God and Mediatrix of every grace: I believe that Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is truly, really, and substantially contained in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Him above all things and I long to receive Him into my heart. Since I cannot now receive Him sacramentally, be so good as to place Him spiritually in my soul.

O my Jesus, I embrace Thee as One who has already come, and I unite myself entirely to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

Why don't you write to EWTN and ask them about the prayer? Let us know the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlymomma

Yes, it was the familiar voice of the lady (nun, I guess; on the radio of course I have no idea what she looks like) with the British accent.

It is mostly the idea of praying THROUGH Mary rather than WITH Mary that makes me uncertain of the validity of such a prayer.

These prayers are recorded and inserted into the Mass. The nun isn't seen on TV either. There is no question about the validity of any prayer.

edward_george · #13 Apr 15, '12, 1:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlymomma

I guess I don't really understand this "secondary mediatorship" concept.
I do understand that it wasn't a part of the Mass and is not a requirement, but still the wording of the prayer troubles me because it does not seem theologically correct.

Christ is our mediator with the Father. All those in union with Christ can thus be mediators with Christ to the Father and for one another. So Christ is the first--the primary--mediator, and when the saints in heaven intercede with Christ for us or we intercede with Christ for one another here on earth, that is the secondary mediation. Hope this helps, sorry if I wasn't clear before.

-ACEGC

friendlymomma · #14 Apr 15, '12, 1:45 pm

There is no question about the validity of any prayer.[/quote]

If there is a doctrine behind the idea of praying through Mary, I would like to know and understand it. If there is a secondary mediatorship, I would like to know more about that.

I am sure I am not the only one who would be concerned about the wording of that prayer. My husband is on this journey with me and he seemed rather confused as well.

friendlymomma · #15 Apr 15, '12, 2:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by edward_george

Christ is our mediator with the Father. All those in union with Christ can thus be mediators with Christ to the Father and for one another. So Christ is the first--the primary--mediator, and when the saints in heaven intercede with Christ for us or we intercede with Christ for one another here on earth, that is the secondary mediation. Hope this helps, sorry if I wasn't clear before.

-ACEGC

I guess that makes sense.

I am so used to hearing the idea that Christ is our sole mediator. I would not like for people to think that they need to go through Mary to Christ.
Also, that Mary would be in a position "to place Him (Jesus) spiritually in my soul" is a foreign concept to me. Again, it is the wording I think. If it comes from an idea that Mary leads us or points us to her Son, I would have no problem with that. But this seems to take it a step further. Any insights there?