In The Name (Red)

In the Name of the Mother
(The Basic Marian Truth)
by Allan “Way Labad” Laniba
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With love, this book is dedicated to Mama Mary,
to God who chose Mary to be the Mother of His Begotten Son,
and to the Mother Church
whose love and guidance
have been the foundation of our faith
to live life in truth.
I also dedicate this book to all the mothers,

to my friend Rev. Fr. Jimmy Ozoa,
to my mentor, late Dr. Fortunato Dayot,
my parents, my five sisters,
my wife Rudelyn and
my children Allynne Leudjy and Allan Rudjz,
whose loving hands and hearts
have touched and inspired me
to complete this work.
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Table of Contents
Foreword i
Preface ii
Introduction iii
Acknowledgment iv
Chapter 1. Mary, Mother of God

The Arguments Against the Dogma 1
The Scrutiny of the Argument 2
The Counter Arguments 3
Is it not Mary’s motherhood limited only to the
human nature of Jesus? 3
Why not change the title of Mary to “Mother of Jesus”
rather than “Mother of God”? 5
Does the Bible clearly state that Mary is the Mother
of God? 6
The title Mother of God was only instituted in 431 A.D.
It is only the declaration of the Catholic Church
not of the early Christian Church? 6
Does Jesus deny Mary as His mother? 7
Why did Jesus address Mary as Woman and not
Mother in the Wedding at Cana? 8
Chapter 2. Mary, Perpetual Virgin

Is it true that Jesus has brothers? 15
Does it mean that there is contradiction when the
Bible says Jesus has brothers but Mary has
one and only son? 17
Other Cultural Meaning of Virgin 19
Chapter 3. Mary, Immaculate Conception

The Scrutiny of the Arguments 21
Chapter 4. Assumption of Mary

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The Answer to the Arguments 28
The Argument from Possibility 30
The Argument from Preference 30
The Argument from the Ark of the Covenant 30
The Argument from Bones and Relics 31
The Argument from Immaculate Body 31
Chapter 5. Mary, Co-redemptrix and Co-Mediatrix

The Arguments of the Oppositions 32
The Counter Arguments to the Objections 33
Chapter 6. The Holy Rosary

The Arguments Against the Rosary 37
The Scrutiny of the Arguments 37
The Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary
and Glory Be 39
The Four Mysteries of the Holy Rosary 40
The Argument from the Whole and the Parts 41
Is Rosary more Mary-centered than Christ-centered? 42
Why do we need a Rosary Object in Praying the Rosary?
Chapter 7. The Veneration of Mary

The Arguments Against the Teaching 44
Will God be jealous when we venerate Mary? 46
The Descendants of the Lady 47
Chapter 8. Mary and the Plan of Salvation

The Fall of Humanity 48
The Woman and the Promised Savior 48
The Fulfillment of the Prophecy and
the name of the Virgin 49
The Old Adam and the New Adam 50
The Old Eve and the New Eve 51
Chapter 9. Reflection and Challenge

The Apparitions, the Lady and the Dragon 53
The Short Story 55
Bibliography
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Preface
During the time of Jesus, the women were helpless. They were not
counted in the society. They were not included in significant discussions and
events. They were only properties of men. In one word, they were defenseless.
Mary is among these women, who experienced unjust and discriminatory

treatment. However, modern times have already recognized the significant
contributions of women in various developments. They are now greatly
empowered, but sad to note, on Mary’s irrefutable deeds in the history of
salvation, the world remained blindfolded from her role.
While all the Christians have accepted Jesus as their brother, they missed
to treat Mary as their mother. They believed that Jesus is the Church but never
acknowledged Mary as mother of the Church. They propagated that Jesus is a
true God but denied Mary as the Mother of God. They wanted to be always near
to Jesus but distanced themselves from Mary.
The Gospel signifies the closeness of Jesus and Mary. Both are
inseparable. From Christ’s birth to His shameful death in Calvary, Mary shared
with Jesus’ passion. But why do some Christians tend to separate Mary from
Jesus in their religious services?
In Luke 1:48, Mary shouted, “from henceforth, all generations shall call me
blessed.” But try to look at the more than 22,000 Christian denominations around
the world. Majority of these sects refuse to call Mary as BLESSED. Instead, they
attack her furiously. While the world extended its arms open-wide to appreciate
and recognize the role of women in the society, Mary, in the heart of some
Christians remained unrecognized and unappreciated. She stands
DEFENSELESS.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER of Jesus, this book is designed to probe

into, decipher, and fathom the true and undisputable role of Mary in the History of
Salvation.
Revelation 12:17, clearly describes that “the dragon was furious with the
woman and went off to fight against the rest of her descendants, all those who
obey God’s commandments and are faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus.”
This battle is not yet over. It still continues. Want to join? Just choose. Are
you in the woman’s flock or at the dragon’s corner?
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IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER of my Lord Jesus Christ, I am against
the Dragon, the Prince of Darkness.
This book is a defense to conquer the legions of the Dragon. With the flag
of truth, sword of justice, and shield of life with Jesus and Mary on our side, I am
confident, that we will emerge triumphant.
By WAY LABAD
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Introduction
The lady who is blessed and worthy of praises and veneration for the
Catholic is Mary. But the one who is the favorite subject of furious religious
attacks by non-Catholic is also Mary.
Who is right between the two? The two cannot be both correct. One then
can be wrong. One can be true. In philosophy two contradicting statements
cannot be true at the same time. We can only test the litmus paper of this subject
by reading this book.
This author has been a lecturer of Mariology in various local parish

seminars in the Diocese of Tagum since the age of 14.
For more than 19 years of teaching this subject, this writer has
encountered many thought-provoking questions challenging the dogmas and
doctrines of Mary. The author cannot remain silent and hide the truth to his fellow
Marian believers. This book was inspired by this thought.
This is written to defend the truth about Mama Mary. “Not to inflict the
shame of defeat, but to share the glory of victory and bring the inestimable
treasure of the truth that makes men free,” as Paul Glenn said.
Saint Paul also stressed, “we can do nothing against the truth but only to
submit ourselves to the truth.”
This book discusses Mary’s Role in the Salvation of Humanity including

the four Marian Dogmas and other fundamental doctrines and teachings about
Mary and its foundation of truths. It is presented apologetically using syllogism
and other forms of arguments. The arguments of the antagonist and protagonist
on Mary’s teaching are discussed in this book. The arguments of the non-
Marians are used to test the litmus truth of Marian teachings. Truth is like a gold,
the more it is challenged by fire the more it shines.
The writer used a simple style of reasoning for layman and common
parishioners to easily understand.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER of Jesus of Nazareth, may we find the
truth that will surely set us free.
ALLAN “Way Labad” LANIBA
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
To those people who helped in one way or another in the completion of

this book,
To Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, S.T.D., D.D. and Rev. Fr. Arnold

Timplaca for their careful scrutiny, recommendations of the early manuscripts,
good suggestions and encouragement to finish this book,
To my friends; Ma. Clarissa Balabag, who shared her precious time in

editing this work and Fr. Jimmy Osoa who helped me in facilitating the
publication of this book,
To my parents Felicisimo and Leonideza Laniba, my sisters: Josephine,

Juliet, Ana Leah, Adelia and Anjelyn who always give their moral support,
To my wife together with my children who is always there to inspire me

with her daily prayers to Virgin Mary to finish this book,
To my father and mother-in-laws; Rodrigo and Judy Baclaan, and to my

sister-in-law Ellaine Claire Baclaan,
To my comrades in the Catholic Faith Defenders, Catholic Charismatic

Renewal, Lectors, Mass Media Apostolate, Kaabag and other religious
organizations who nurtured my knowledge and wisdom in the Holy Scriptures,
And to others whom I may have failed to mention, my sincere thanks,

gratitude and appreciation.
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Chapter 1
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
“God has a mother? That’s unthinkable! If He has a mother, how can you
explain His pre-existence? If God has a mother, then, there was one existed
before Him!”
These were the questions of my friend which caused confusion to his faith
about the first Marian dogma.
Mary as the Mother of God was defined and affirmed by the Catholic
Church in 431 A.D. at the Council of Ephesus. However, up to the present times,
it remained under discussions among Christians whether Mary is the Mother of
God or just a Mother of Jesus as a man.
The third ecumenical council of the Church was convoked by the Eastern
Emperor Theodosius who reigned in 409-450 A.D. The council was convened to
settle the debate provoked by Nestorius, patriarch of Constatinople, who
expressed reservations about the popular title for Mary as the Mother of God. He
contested the title insisting that Mary was the mother of the man-Jesus, not of
God-Jesus.
On June 22, 431 A.D., the council was opened by John, the patriarch of
Antioch and St. Cyril of Alexandria. The council condemned Nestorius teachings
against the title.
In Greek, this title of Mary is “Theotokos” which means “God-bearer”. This

is to express that she gave birth to Jesus who is not just a mere man but the Son
of God, who is God himself. She conceived and delivered Jesus’ whole nature as
God-man. In Latin, the title usually appear as “Deigenetrix” but according to most
of the theologians, the more accurate equivalent is “Deipara”.
Catholics defended the dogma ever since while non-Catholic

denominations defy the definition. Since 16th century when Protestantism gained
ground in history, the non-Catholics incessantly opposed the dogma and
accused the teaching as false and unscriptural. Their contention lies on these
arguments:
Argument No. 1
1. The principle of nature dictates that mother comes first ahead of the child.
2. Who comes first, Mary or God?
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3. It is God who comes first. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end.
4. Mary existed only in last decade of the year B.C.
5. Therefore, Mary cannot be the Mother of God.
Argument No. 2
1. God is pre-existent.
2. He has no beginning and end.
3. If Mary begets God. Then, God existed after Mary.
4. He begins after Mary.
5. Then, He is no longer God.
Argument No. 3
1. God is the Supreme Creator of all creatures.
2. The Creator existed ahead of the creature.
3. God is the Creator, Mary as human is a creature.
4. How can the creature beget the Creator?
5. Therefore, Mary does not beget God.
6. Therefore, she is not the mother of God.
These arguments will compel us to favor only one: between Mary’s

motherhood of God or the Godness of God. It has a dual effect like a coin that
could not be at its both sides at the same time. The arguments try to convince us
to concede that if Mary is the Mother of God, God will no longer be God. In the
same way, if we will maintain that God is God, then the Mary’s motherhood of
God will be defeated.
Scrutiny of Non-Marians arguments
The arguments presented above sound correct. But scrutinizing the

validity of its reasoning, it is fallacious. The conclusion that “IF MARY IS THE
MOTHER OF GOD, THEN GOD IS NOT GOD, and IF GOD IS GOD, THEN
MARY COULD NOT BE THE MOTHER OF GOD” is embedded with fallacy of
Circulus Non Probando or Arguing in the Circle. It does not always mean that if
it is not white, it should be black, or if it’s not black, it is white.
It is attributed to its failure of defining the terms of the title “Mother of God”.
To whom the title is referred? Clearly, it refers to Mary as the Mother, and Jesus
as God. The first evidence we have to edify in this context is the divinity of Christ.
Is Jesus God? If he is not, then the dogma is completely defeated. However, if it
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is proven that Jesus is God, the second evidence we have to establish is the
motherhood of Mary to Jesus who is God in order to complete the proof that
Mary is the Mother of God. Misinterpretation is the primary problem that
encouraged opposition to the dogma. Non-Marians misunderstood the term God
as the Father, or the Holy Spirit or the Trinity. The term God in the dogma refers
principally to Jesus Christ and not to the Almighty Father nor to the Holy Spirit.
Here are the logics as counter argument to defend the dogma.
Counter Argument No. 1
1. Jesus is God (Jn.1:1, Rev.1:8, Rev. 22:12, Titus 2:13).

2. Jesus was born into flesh (Jn. 1:14, Lk 2:11).
3. When Jesus was born into flesh, it was Mary who begot Him (Mt.2:11).
4. Jesus is born of Mary (Mt.1:23).
5. Jesus is the born child, Mary is the mother.
6. Therefore, Mary is the mother of Jesus.
7. But Jesus is God. Therefore Mary is the mother of Jesus who is God.
8. She is the Mother of God.
Question No. 1:
The divinity of Jesus is already there, long before His incarnation in Mary’s
womb. Is Mary’s motherhood limited only to the human nature of Jesus?
Answer:
When Jesus was conceived by Mary, His two natures are already unified.
Two natures in one. This is called the Hypostatic Union. During Mary’s
pregnancy, she conceived Jesus not only as a mere man nor Jesus as only God
but Jesus as God-man in nature. Then, whoever delivers this God-man nature is
His mother. She is Mary. Therefore, Mary is both mother of Jesus in two folded
natures-Mother of Jesus-God and mother of Jesus-man. You cannot find a half
Jesus when He was born. The whole Jesus is both God and man who was
conceived by Mary and born by Mary.
Another argument to support this claim is that when we were conceived by

our mother, the spirit came from God as we were in the process of incarnation.
When born, we are living creature with body and spirit. Using this claim, does it
mean that our mother is mother only of our flesh since our spirit is a mysterious
gift that only God can give? See the comparative illustration below.
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Illustration 1. The incarnation of Christ.
Stage 1. Stage 2. The Process of Incarnation Stage 3. Jesus is born

at Mary’s womb
Christ as Jesus as He is God & man

God, (in God (unified). Jesus’ Spirit
heaven) non- (Spirit) united in the flesh, the
flesh but a become hypostatic union.
Spirit. flesh He became
Heb. 10:4-5 John 1:1 completely human.
Illustration 2. The usual incarnation of human.
Stage 1. Stage 2. The conception & Stage 3.The birth.

Process of Incarnation
God created The spirit

the spirit united with
(Ecc12:7), & the body It becomes a complete
give it as a gift during the human being: a spirit
of life to every conceptio with a body or body
human born n forming with the spirit
Gen. 1:26 one
person
What’s the difference between the two illustrations? It is the same. The
only difference is that Jesus’ Spirit is God. Ours is not but a human spirit given by
God. Our spirit was created by God, but Jesus’ Spirit is not but the Creator. This
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is the difference but the process of incarnation that Jesus has undergone is the
same as we had (Heb. 2:14, 17). On the issue of motherhood, can we say in
Illustration No. 2, that our mother is our mother only in flesh and not our mother
in spirit since spirit is from God? Of course not! Even our human body is of God’s
too. We, human, are only given the chance to participate in the wonderful
process of creation. We are co-creator of God.
Try to compare the two illustrations. How our earthly mother conceived us
is the same way as Mary conceived Jesus. If we claim that our mother is our
mother of the wholeness of our being human, then Mary is the mother also of the
totality of Jesus. Therefore, Mary is the mother of Jesus-God and man.
Question No. 2:
If all Christians have acknowledged Mary as the mother of Jesus, why not
change her title to “Mother of Jesus” rather than Mother of God to avoid conflict
of understanding?
Answer:
Reasoning and truth does not contradict. They are in fact allies. We use
reasons to find the truth and defend the truth and ensure that it prevails at all
times. The conflict of understanding is not the product of reasoning and truth, it’s
the opposite.
As stated that all Christians have agreed that Mary is the Mother of Jesus,
hence there is no need for further arguments. We can now move on to finding the
validity of the other claim that Mary is Mother of God since this is the focal point
of the argument. To justify the validity of this dogma, read the following:
Supposing you acknowledge the presence of President Gloria Macapagal

Arroyo’s mother, which utterance should you use?
Statement 1: Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the presence of the

mother of Gloria!
Statement 2: Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the presence of the

mother of the President!
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Both statements are correct. But the most formal and proper statement to
use is Statement No. 2 since the “President” is higher than “Gloria”. This is the
rule of grammar. Statement No. 2 should therefore be used.
It is the same case with Mary. “God” is higher than “Jesus” when
considering grammar rules. Hence, it is most proper to use Mother of God than
Mother of Jesus.
Question No. 3:
Does the Bible clearly state that Mary is the Mother of God? An argument
regarding this matter must always be in conformity with the Holy Scripture.
Answer:
Yes! In Luke 1:41-45 (NIV) during the Annunciation. Luke 1:41-45 (NIV),
”When Elizabeth (cousin of Mary) heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her
womb, and Elizabeth was FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. In a loud voice she
exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will
bear! But why am I so favored, that the MOTHER OF MY LORD should come to
me? ”
Remember, the words of Elizabeth are not hers per se but of the Holy
Spirit. She was filled by the power of the Holy Spirit as she uttered those words.
It is therefore the Holy Spirit who confirmed Mary’s title as Mother of the Lord
through Elizabeth.
Question No. 4:
The term used by Elizabeth is “Mother of the Lord”, it was not Mother of God!
Why not use “Mother of the Lord” as in the Bible?
Answer:
Thanks! Raising this question signifies your acceptance to all my

arguments since these two terms do not differ at all. In Psalm 100:3 (NIV), it
says, “Know that the Lord is God.” Lord and God are therefore the same.
Question No. 5:
The title of Mother of God was instituted only in 431 A.D. in the Council of
Ephesus. Meaning, this was only the declaration of the Catholic Church and not
by the early Christian Church?
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Answer:
The Philippines was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The

island was named Philippines to honor Prince Philip II of Asturias, Spain. Does it
mean that there was no Philippine Island yet before they named it Philippines?
Of course not! The island has long been there since the creation of the world.
Discovery only took a while hence name was given only later.
Same as the dogma of Theotokos, it has been there as truth long before
its definition in 431 A.D. in the Council of Ephesus. The Church’s responsibility is
only to unveil the truth since it is her prime duty to propagate the truth to the
faithful. The Church’s definition cannot make Mary as Theotokos. It is only the
truth. In the same way, even without the formal declaration from the Church it
could not unmake the truth that Mary is the Mother of God. Truth will stand in the
test of time. As what Saint Paul said, “we can do nothing against the truth but
only to submit ourselves to the truth”.
The truth of being Theotokos was already revealed long before the
institution of the Christian Church when Elizabeth said those words it in Luke
1:41-45. Elizabeth was part of the early Christian Church, so it is wrong to say
that it was not recognized by the early Christian Church.
But why does need formal declaration? Because in the 4th century there
was division among the Christians on the issue of motherhood of Mary. To settle
the dichotomy, the Council was called upon to define the truth on Mary’s
motherhood.
Question No. 6:
It is said in Luke 8:19-21, “Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but
they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him,
‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, waiting to see you.’ He replied,
‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’
In this event, why did Jesus deny Mary as his mother? Is it not contrary to the
dogma of Theotokos?
Answer:
You are wrong! Jesus’ answer was even more emphatic to affirm the
motherhood of Mary. Jesus used figure of speech. When he said, “my mother
and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice “, He
was pointing out directly to Mary, whoe obedience to God was never surpassed
by anybody even up to the present times. Mary knew Jesus more than the
apostles did. She was there at the very moment of Jesus’ conception till He grew
up and was nailed on the cross. If only at that time discrimination of women was
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absent, Mary could have written more about Jesus and the Good News than the
four evangelists and other apostles. The hidden life of Jesus was never captured
by the apostles in their writings. It was Mary who knew what happened in that
lacking history of Jesus’ personal life.
Question No. 7
In John 2:1-4 during the wedding at Cana, why did Jesus never address Mary as
His mother, instead he said, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is
not yet come?” Is it not a manifestation that Mary is not really the mother of
Jesus as God?
Answer:
You are using the King James Version. In the Philippine culture when you
address “woman” (Babae in Tagalog, Babaye in Visayan) to a lady, it sounds
insulting. But remember, Jesus and Mary lived not within the Philippine culture
but of the Jewish’s. In Greek translation of the text, the word is GYNE. This term
is used to any women including mothers. It is addressed to ladies with full of
respect. GYNE is the counterpart of KYRIOS which means Lord.
The word of Jesus never humiliated Mary. It even boosts her dignity. Try
to review the text you used. In King James Version, this is what had been written
in John 2:4:
“Jesus saith unto her, WOMAN, what have I do with thee? Mine hour is
not yet come.”
The word Woman is capitalized. It denotes that this was used with great
respect and not to humiliate. Jesus is a good son. He is the God who
commanded, “Honor your father and your mother.”
Referring on the footnote of the Oxford Annotated Bible Revised Standard

Version, “Woman means a term of solemn and respectful address.”
Let us look at other translations:
Living Bible:
John 2:4, “ I can’t help you now,” he said. “It isn’t yet my time for miracles”
New International Version:
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John 2:4, “ Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time
has not yet come”
New American Bible:

John 2:4, Jesus replied, “Woman, how does this concern of yours involve
me? My hour has not yet come”
The most important message in the wedding at Cana is the miracle

performed by Jesus. Gail R. O’Day in his commentary on John in the Women’s
Bible Commentary Expanded Edition said, “Jesus’ mother is the catalyst for the
miracle in this story.” He commented further that the words of Jesus are not acts
of rudeness to his mother but an important assertion of Jesus’ freedom from all
human control.
Even though it was not the time for Jesus to perform miracle but through
the request of His mother Mary, He was not able to dismay Mary. He did miracle
by turning water into wine. If Jesus performed miracle even it was not His hour
yet upon Mary’s request, how much more at the ripest time of Jesus to perform
miracle.
At the very HOUR that Jesus fulfilled His mission at the cross, He used
WOMAN again to address Mary. In John 19:26 (RSV), “When Jesus saw his
mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother,
‘Woman, behold your son!’ then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’
And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
The footnote of the New American Bible said:
19,26f: This scene is to be read in the light of the Cana story in Chapter 2.
The presence of the mother of Jesus, the use of woman, and the mention
of the hour, are elements of both scenes. Now that the hour has come,
Mary (a symbol of the church) is given a role as the mother of Christians
(personified by the beloved disciple).
We cannot question the wisdom of God. He willed Mary to be the mother

of His Son. Who are we to question His ways? As the Proverbs says, “His way is
not our ways, for heaven is above the earth, so as the ways of God”.
The Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, 1964) has

etched this way:
“The title of Vatican II’s exposition of Mary is: “The Role of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church. It begins
with perhaps the oldest Biblical testimony:” when the designated time had come,
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God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…..that we might receive our status as
adopted sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5)”
The Catechism of Filipino Catholics emphasized once again that: “The

Virgin Mary is acknowledge and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of
the Redeemer. Redeemed in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of
her Son and united to him by a close and indissoluble tie, she is endowed with
the high office and dignity of the Mother of the Son of God, and therefore she is
also the beloved daughter of the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit”
In the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the

Philippines (CBCP) in 1975 entitled Ang Mahal na Birhen said that “The Son of
Mary and the Son of God is one and the same person, Emmanuel”
The proof that Mary is the Mother of God is not only founded on the good
and irrefutable arguments but more significantly on the foundation of Christian
truth.
Heaven’s Only Lawyer

Anecdote by Bro. Andrew Maria, MMHC
Isaac the Catholic met Faustus the Fundamentalist wile they were aboard
a ship. They soon found themselves arguing about the Mother of God. Faustus
demeaned Mary and Isaac defended her. After arguing for several hours, they
were both completely exasperated. No one had succeeded in convincing the
other.
Finally, Isaac the Catholic told Faustus the Fundamentalist, “If you cannot
utter Mary’s name with devotion here on earth, you will not be able to call upon
her on judgment day.”
“I do not need her,” Faustus boasted, “I need only Christ.”
A violent storm broke the night and wrecked the ship. Both Isaac and
Faustus drowned and died. An angel immediately brought the two of them before
the judgment seat where the Judge sat sternly.
Isaac the Catholic was summoned first to appear before the Judge. His
innumerable sins were read, and he was sentenced to one thousand years in
purgatory. Before the verdict was pronounced, Mary appeared before the
tribunal, beside the Catholic.
Mary appealed to the Judge, “I want to act as lawyer for this Catholic who
was so devoted to me.”
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“Again?” the Judge asked his Mother.
“Yes, Son.”
The Lord shook his head with a smile and said, “Mother, you know I
cannot deny you anything. What do you request this time?”
“Please”, she said, “Lessen Isaac’s sentence. Make it ten years in

purgatory, for while on earth, he defended me.”
The Judge agreed and reduced the sentence from one thousand years to
ten years. After this the Lady disappeared.
Faustus the Fundamentalist was stunned. When it was his time to be

scrutinized, the Judge sentenced the Fundamentalist to ten thousand years in
purgatory.
“Please, Your Honor,” Faustus appealed to the Judge, “I would like to

have a lawyer.”
“There is only one lawyer in this court.”
“May I ask who it is?”
“My mother,” the Judge replied.
“May I ask for here presence?”
“Call her name if you wish,” the Judge answered.
The Fundamentalist was overjoyed. He tried to call Mary, but he found

that he could not pronounce her name. He tried again but he still could not say
her name. Then he remembered what Isaac the Catholic told him, “If you cannot
utter with devotion Mary’s name here on earth, you will not be able to call upon
her on judgment day.”
Finally, the verdict was pronounced. Faustus the Fundamentalist was

sentenced to ten thousand years in purgatory. If only he had a lawyer….
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Chapter 2
MARY, PERPETUAL VIRGIN
Is perpetual virginity possible? How can you preserve virginity after

delivering a baby? Can the hymen and the glass of virginity remained intact after
a baby passed through it? Ask your mother when she conceived and born you.
She will surely say it is impossible.
In the case of Mary, did she remain a virgin after Jesus was born? Are
there other children of Mary aside from Jesus? These are some of the questions
used by the antagonists to defy the second Marian dogma of Perpetual Virginity.
The dogma of Mary’s Perpetual Virginity was formally defined by the

Catholic Church in 649 A.D. However, hitherto Protestants and its break away
denominations maintained their opposition to the dogma as non-scriptural and
false.
According to non-believers of the dogma, perpetual virginity cannot be

possible to a mother who labored a child. On Mary’s case, she might be virgin
upon Jesus’ conception but after the birth of Jesus, she could no longer be.
The text of Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 which said “a ‘virgin’ will born a
child Emmanuel” does not mean perpetual virginity. Virgin here means an
unmarried young lady or a woman who has not had sexual relationships. Mary
indeed had these traits when she conceived Jesus. However, after Jesus was
born, she no longer was.
There’s a great possibility also that she had genital contact with Joseph as
they were legally married in the eyes of God and of the Church. They were
together for almost thirty (30) years. They slept together as the usual couples do.
Possibility of sexual intercourse with Joseph is very possible as Matthew 1:25
said, “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave
him the name Jesus”.
Matthew’s words is confirmed by Mark 6:3. The Bible says, “ Isn’t this the
carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and
Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” If Jesus had brothers, it will support the
claim that Mary and Joseph had genital relationship as a couple. Luke, when he
wrote the Acts of the Apostles for Theophilus affirmed that Jesus has brothers.
Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the
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women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Therefore, Mary is
not a perpetual virgin.
Consider these arguments.
Argument No. 1
1. Science has proved it factually, that normal delivery of baby can destroy a
lady’s physical virginity.
2. Mary bore a child normally.
3. Therefore, Mary is no longer a virgin upon the birth of Jesus.
Argument No. 2
1. Science had proved that the location of lady’s virginity is embedded where
the baby will come out upon birth.
2. Sensitivity of a lady’s virginity can easily be destroyed by sexual
intercourse or genital contact.
3. If physical virginity can be destroyed by genital contact, how much more
the size of the baby that will pass at the portal of lady’s virginity.
4. Therefore, upon the birth of Jesus, Mary is no longer a virgin.
Argument No. 3
1. Mary is legally married to Joseph.
2. They are couple in the eyes of God and of the Church.
3. For almost thirty (30) years, they’ve been together. Sexual relationship is
not impossible as textually manifested in Matthew 1:25.
4. Therefore, Mary’s perpetual virginity is false.
Argument No. 4
1. Mark 6:3 and Acts 1:14 said that Jesus had brothers.
2. Since he had brothers, Mary is therefore the mother.
3. Then, Mary had many children other than Jesus.
4. Therefore, Mary is not a perpetual virgin.
The Counter Arguments

Arguments can be proven correct and valid if tested. We will test the
validity of the four arguments presented by the oppositionists to the dogma of
perpetual virginity. Are the premises factual and valid to cater correct
conclusions? We will define first what is perpetual virginity.
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Virgin as defined by the New World Dictionary-Concordance to the New
American Bible is a woman who has not had sexual intercourse. In Hebrew, the
word is betulah and in Greek parthenos. The New Lexicon Webster’s
Encyclopedic Dictionary 1997 defines virgin as a person who has not had sexual
intercourse. It refers especially to a girl or woman. Now, if we say, perpetual
virgin, it means she has no sexual intercourse for the rest of her life.
A arguments 1 and 2, therefore are out of context. Since the real meaning
of virginity is not the destruction of some layer like hymen in the lady’s sex organ
but on context of sexual relations. But for the sake of discussion, we will entertain
the argument and counter it that the physical layer of Mary’s virginity was not
destroyed when Jesus was born.
It should be remembered that Mary’s pregnancy is not the usual case of

pregnancy. It’s a very special case. First, she conceived Jesus not by sexual
intercourse with any person but by the power of the Holy Spirit (St. Luke 1:35).
Argument No. 1 and No. 2 used science as the premise to prove their
contention. The arguments can be accused fallacious of using wrong reference.
Mary’s case of pregnancy and labor is far beyond science. It is a miracle. Miracle
cannot be explained and proven by science.
Was Mary’s virginity destroyed by Jesus when He came out from her
womb? This is the focal point of discussion presented in Argument No. 1 and No.
2.
Let me introduce one significant event in the Bible as my basis for

argument to counter the contentions of the antagonists. In St. John 20:19-20, the
apostles and followers of Jesus hid and assembled in a room as they were afraid
from the high priest and Roman soldiers. It was Sunday, and the room was
closed. But suddenly Jesus entered the room without using the door nor passing
at the window and said, “Peace be with you!” This event tells us that Jesus can
enter in a closed room of glass without breaking it. Jesus is God, for Him nothing
is impossible (St. Luke 1:38).
1. Jesus is God and therefore nothing is impossible to Him (St. Luke 1:37)
2. He can enter a closed glass room without breaking the glass.
3. He entered a closed room without any passage way (St. John 20:19-20)
4. If He did it during His resurrection, it is not impossible that He can also do
it when He entered and came out from Mary’s womb.
5. Therefore, Mary remained virgin after Jesus’ birth.
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Try to reflect in this illustration:
Illustration No. 1
As illustrated above, the rays of the lighted flashlight traverse the glass but
do not break the glass. If this can be done by the rays and the material flashlight
how much more by Jesus who is God? “For God nothing is impossible!” (Luke
1:37). The rays or the flashlight is Jesus and the glass is Mary’s virginity.
This counter argument is significantly emphasized by St Matthew 1:25. In

the Living Bible, this is the text,” and she remained a virgin until the child born
and he named the child Jesus.”
Even though it is proven that Mary remained a virgin after Jesus’ birth
another problem to face is the Argument No. 3 and No. 4 that try to refute the
dogma by presenting possibilities that there was genital contact of Joseph and
Mary. Thus, Mary had children other than Jesus.
Argument No. 3 strongly use the statement of St. Matthew 1:25 (in New
International Version) that says, “But he had no union with her until she gave
birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus”. They assumed that the
statement conveys that Joseph had sexual intercourse with Mary. After all, it’s
not sin, since they were legally married in the eyes of God and of the Jewish
Church.
Well, does Saint Matthew mean it to be as the antagonist perceived it? I

don’t think so! It is just an assumption of the non-Marians. Assumption is not only
a weak argument but a fallacious one. It is a fallacy of Assumptio Non Probata. It
is assuming without proving. Assumption can either be correct or wrong. It has
no certainty. Argument No. 3 has it!
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When St. Matthew said…..”until she gave birth” does not mean when
Jesus was born Joseph did it because of the word UNTIL.
The statement that “he was not able to take his medicine UNTIL he died”
does not mean he had taken his medicine after he died. Dead person can no
longer take such! Wherefore, it is fallacious to think that Joseph did it because of
the word UNTIL. Evangelist Matthew is just trying to emphasize that Jesus is not
the son of Joseph but of God. The emphasis of his statements is on the issue
whether Jesus is the Son of God or the son of Joseph. That’s why he did say it
so in his Gospel to push the truth that Jesus is God.
1. In 2 Samuel 6:23 Michal did not give a child UNTIL he died.

2. Does it mean Michal has a child after his death? Of course no!
3. Therefore, the word UNTIL does not absolutely mean something has done
after it.
Argument No. 4 uses St Mark 6:3 and Acts 1:14 that Jesus had brothers.
It argues that these brothers were surely Mary’s children too. Therefore, Mary is
not a perpetual virgin.
Well, this statement is another case of assumptio non probata. The non-
Marians assumed that the word brothers equally mean children of Mary. This is
not so! Let us examine first the contextual meaning of the word brother in the
Jewish’s culture. Let us treat the texts used one by one. St. Mark mentioned the
name of Jesus’ brothers in a question. However, Acts 1:14 affirmed it in a
statement that Jesus had brothers. Let us get all the names of Jesus’ brothers
mentioned in the Bible. If these names are found to be children of Joseph and
Mary then they are Jesus brothers in the flesh. These are the names as
mentioned in St. Mark 6:3: Joseph, James, Jude and Simon. Who are their
parents?
These are their parents.
a.Joseph – brother of James, sons of Mary (St. Matthew 27:55)

b.James – (the first) is the brother of John and son of Zebedee (St. Mt.10:2)
- (the second) is the son of Alphaeus (St. Matthew 10:3)
c.Jude – son of James (not James the apostle) St. Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13
d.Simon – brother of Andrew and son of John (St. John 1:40-42)
Question No.1:
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Is Mary the mother of Joseph and James refers to Mary the mother of Jesus as
mentioned in Matthew 27:55 and Mark 15:40? Then, it is true that Jesus had
brothers. They are James and Joseph.
Answer:
If you read legibly the two texts, it is very clear that it is not Mary (Jesus’
mother). The Bible said in St. Matthew 27:55….” Many women were there,
watching from a distance…Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee.” It is surely not Mary
(Jesus’ mother) because Mary (Jesus’ mother) was not there from a distance.
She was at the foot of the cross (St. John 19:25). John used “mother” to give
distinction that she is different from other Marys. The Mary mentioned by St.
Matthew 27:55 refers to Mary the wife of Clopas. Clopas is Alphaeus, the father
of James (Mark 3:18). The New World Dictionary-Concordance to the New
American Bible said, “ Clopas, many identify him with Alphaeus, father of James
the Less”.
Let us compare the writings of the three evangelists about the women
mentioned during the crucifixion:
St. Matthew 27:55 St. Mark 15:40 St. John 19:25

1. Mary Magdalene 1. Salome 1. Mother of Jesus
2. Mary mother of 2. Mary Magdalene (Mary)
James and Joseph, 3. Mary mother of 2. and sister of Mary
and James and Joseph mother of Jesus
3. the wife of Zebedee. 3. Mary wife of Clopas
4. Mary Magdalene
Only two Marys are Only two Marys were There are three Marys
mentioned. mentioned as St. mentioned: Mary
Matthew did. Salome is Magdalene, Mary the
Here, the wife of the same with the wife mother of Jesus and
Zebedee refers to of Zebedee in St. Mary the wife of Clopas.
Salome. Matthew 27: 55
It is very clear based on the above comparison that Mary, the mother of
James and Joseph refers to Mary the wife of Clopas not of Mary the mother of
Jesus. St. John gave the distinction in his writings that Mary (Jesus’ mother) is
different and distinct from the two Marys. St. John used the term “His mother” to
emphasize that it differs from other Marys who were there during Jesus’
crucifixion.
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1. Joseph, James, Jude and Simon are sons of Clopas, Zebedee, James
and John respectively.
2. They are not sons of Joseph and Mary.
3. Then, Jesus is the only son of Mary.
4. So, Mary has no other son aside from Jesus.
5. If Joseph has genital contact with Mary, she should have sons or
daughters other than Jesus.
6. But there is no other son and daughter that Mary had.
7. Therefore, Joseph never had sexual intercourse with Mary.
8. Mary then is virgin even after Jesus’ birth.
9. Since, virgin means a woman who has not had sexual intercourse.
10. Mary factually has it.
11. Conclusion: She is perpetual virgin.
Question No. 2:
Does it mean that there is contradiction when the Bible says Jesus had brothers
but Mary had one and only son Jesus?
Answer:
Surely, there is no contradiction in the Bible. Only contradiction of explanation
brought by wrong interpretation. The word brother should not always be taken as
“brother in the flesh”. It has many meanings based on different cultures and
usage. Here are some of its usages and meanings:
1. Brother in the Lord – it simply means a person of the same faith or

religion.
2. Brethren (brothers) that means countrymen – it simply means a person of
the same citizenship.
3. Brother in organization – usually used in fraternity organizations.
4. Brother in Cause – usually means a person involved of the same cause.
5. Brother in flesh – means brother in blood, of the same mother or father.
6. In Hebrew’s culture, brother is also used to address persons of the same
blood and relatives like cousin, father, mother, nephew, niece and other
terms use to denote relative.
In Gen 14:12-16 (Black Bible) Abraham called Lot as his brother but Lot is
his nephew. Like Laban who called Jacob as brother (Gen.29:15) but Jacob is
Laban’s nephew (Gen 29:13). In the New Testament, Jude called James as his
brother (Jude 1:1) but James was actually his father (Acts 1:13).
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Counter Argument No. 4:
1. Brother does not always mean brother in flesh but has various meanings.
2. In Hebrew’s culture, it also means relatives.
3. Brothers of Jesus mentioned in the Bible cannot be proven to be his
brother in flesh.
4. So, it means the other way around.
5. In many instances, brother means relative as Gen. 14:12-16, Gen. 29:13-
15 and Jude 1:1, Acts 1:13 explain.
6. Therefore, brothers of Jesus in Bible mean his relatives.

1. When Jesus was hung in the cross, He confided Mary to John the
apostle‘s care (John 19:26).
2. If there could have been brothers of Jesus, why Jesus confided His
mother to John’s care?
3. Since, Jesus confided Mary to John’s care it is safe to conclude that Mary
is already alone at that time with no child to lean on.
4. Then, Jesus is the only son of Mary.
5. Therefore, Jesus has no brother in flesh but only brothers that mean
relatives.
Counter Argument in Summary
1. Mary’s virginity remained in tact and was not never destroyed upon Jesus’
birth
2. Mary has no other son except Jesus.
3. Mary has no sexual and genital contact with Joseph.
4. Therefore, Mary is a perpetual virgin
5. The Marian second dogma is true and scriptural.
You can never find any single text in the Bible that says Mary had
children. You can only find the term brothers of Jesus which means (as
discussed above) his relatives. Wherefore, it is irrefutable that Jesus is the only
son of Mary. Mary has no other child except Jesus.
The New World Dictionary-Concordance to the New American Bible has

said, “ The most ancient Christian tradition has taken these passages to mean
brother in the larger sense, and not as Mary’s children. They were more distant
relatives.”
The phrase of Acts 1:14 that said “together with the women and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” does not defy Mary’s virginity because of
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the words “and with his brothers.” It even supports and proves that the claim that
Mary has only one son (Jesus) is absolutely right because if Mary had children
other than Jesus, Luke should have written “together with the women and Mary
the mother of Jesus and her children or and her sons”. But Luke never wrote that
way since he knew the fact that Jesus is the first and the last born and only son
conceived by Mary, so he intented to use the text “and with his brothers”
corresponds to the Hebrew culture that means “relatives” of Jesus.
Other Cultural Meaning of Virginity
In ancient times, virginity describes a state of independence or

autonomy. It referred to a lady who made her own decisions by her own free will
without coercion or pressure from anybody. It pictured a freedom of choice. Mary
during the time of Annunciation said YES to God on her own free will, of her own
accord, acting independent from any influence or coercion. This is how we
described Mary on the other context of a virgin.
Even in the later history of England, Elizabeth I, has the title of the Virgin
Queen of England. She was not a virgin actually. She is not a virgin in the
modern use of term. But why did they call her such? Because she is a woman of
power who could not be subjected or possessed. Here, virginity means a mental
and emotional quality. This is how virginity applied also to Mary, when she said
“yes” to God with complete autonomy. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it
done to me according to your words” (St. Lk 1:38). Her “Amen” to God’s
redemptive plan was free from coercion or influenced made the birth of our
Savior Jesus Christ possible.
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC) 1997 said that Mary’s
perpetual virginity is not simply abstention from sexual intercourse but the
positive value of perfect personal integrity in her total gift of self to God. Mary’s
virginity flowered into maternity not only for Jesus, the first born of all creation
(Roma 8:29, Col.1:15-18) but also for all who would be born again to new life in
him (John 3:3, 1 Jn 5:11)
According to Bob O’Gorman and Mary Faulkner (2000) in their book

Understanding Catholicism, the title Virgin Mother originated in the East in early
New Testament. In our modern times, it seems a contradiction to speak a mother
being a virgin. But in pre-Christian culture, a virgin birth often described a man’s
divinity. Virgin birth in Christian era paved way for the Christians to understand
that Jesus’ birth as the Son of God is not of earthly origin but of divine. That
Christ was conceived of divine origin. Virgin birth told the people that Mary’s
conception was a miracle.
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Chapter 3
MARY, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Do you believe in original sin? That while we were at our mother’s womb
we were already stained by the sin of Adam and Eve. Original sin simply means
that no one among us was conceived without sin.
Original sin is an official teaching of the Catholic Church. The Church said
that none among us was born without the stain of original sin. If this is so, how
could sin-free conception be possible? Does it not contradict the dogma of the
Church that Mary was conceived without original sin?
The dogma of Immaculate Conception says that the Virgin Mary was
preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. It was
defined in December 8, 1854 by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus.
This is the third Marian dogma of the Church.
Before the formal definition of the dogma, the great theologians of the
Catholic Church clashed their opinions of whether Mary is an immaculate
conception or not. The Dominicans, like St. Thomas Aquinas were on the
contention that Mary was stained by sin during conception. This was contested
by the Franciscans, like Duns Scoto, who maintained that the mother of Jesus
could not have been stained by any sin.
The dichotomy of opinions among Dominicans and Franciscans was

ended through the declaration of Pope Pius IX that “the universal redemption of
Jesus was anticipated by Mary at the moment of her conception in view of her
divine motherhood”.
In 1858 the declaration of Pius IX was affirmed by the apparition of Mary
at Lourdes, France. When Bernadette asked the name, the Lady replied: “I am
the Immaculate Conception”. The apparition was considered a heavenly
endorsement to the dogma.
While the whole Catholic Church was united in believing the definition of
Ineffabilis Deus, the Protestants on the other hand waved their flag of opposition
to the dogmatic definition.
The antagonist could not accept that Mary is pure and sinless. Here are
their arguments:
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Argument No. 1
1. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rome 3:23).
2. All men (human) have sinned (Rome 5:12).
3. Mary is human.
4. Then, Mary sinned.
5. Therefore, she is not an Immaculate Conception.
Argument No. 2
1. The wage of sin is death (Rome 6: 23)

2. Mary has undergone death.
3. Then, her death is her payment for sin.
4. Therefore, Mary has sinned because she has undergone death as the
payment for her sin.
Scrutiny of the Arguments Above
The syllogism may sound correct but weak and inappropriate. The major
premise is being used as if it has no time boundary. May I ask this question: Is
the statement that “all (men) human have sinned” has no time boundary? If the
answer is yes, does it mean that there was none even one man who is exempted
from this? What about the man mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:5 which says, “And the
truth is this: God is one. One also is the mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus.”
Is Jesus, who became human, therefore a man, included in the Rome

5:12 who sinned? Of course not! Therefore, the context of Rome 3:23 and 5:12
are time bounded. Its coverage is from the time when Adam disobeyed God in
Genesis until the plan of salvation is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And the fulfillment of
God’s plan of salvation came with Jesus and Mary.
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Consider this illustration:
Fulfillment of
God’s plan of
Salvation
Human is Human come short of the glory

Immaculate of God. All men have sinned.
God created Adam & Eve Mary and

Adam & Eve Disobeyed God Jesus
Time Boundary
The statements of Saint Paul that men come short of the glory of God
(Rome 3:23), and just as one man sin entered the world and with sin death,
death thus coming to all men inasmuch as all sinned (Rome 5:12) are his
preliminary words to emphasize that death comes through Adam, but life comes
through Jesus Christ. It is clear in verses 17 and 18 of the same Chapter (NIV),
which says, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that
one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of
grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus
Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all
men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings
life for all men.”
1. Rome 3:23 and Rome 5:12 are time bounded.

2. Jesus is not included since He is eternally immaculate.
3. In Hebrew 2:14 (NAB) it says, “Now, since the children are men of blood
and flesh, Jesus likewise had a full share in ours…”
4. Jesus shared blood and flesh from Mary during conception till He was
born.
5. Jesus blood is Mary’s blood. His flesh is Mary’s flesh.
6. If Jesus who shared blood and flesh from Mary is immaculate, how much
more Mary who shared it.
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7. You cannot get sweet water from the salty sea. Saint James 3:11-12 said,
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My
brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can
a salt spring produce fresh water.”
8. Therefore, if Jesus is not included in Rome 3:23 and Rome 5:12 how
much more Mary?
1. Wisdom 1:4 (NAB) said, “Because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul,
nor dwell in a body enslaved of sin.”
2. 1 Cor. 1:24 (RSV) said, “Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God.”
3. Jesus who is the wisdom of God dwelt on Mary for nine months.
4. If Mary is enslaved of sin, Jesus will never dwell and enter unto her.
5. But Jesus did.
6. Therefore, Mary is pure, sinless and immaculate.
1. Hebrew 10:5 (RSV) said, “Consequently, when Christ came into the world,
he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body has
thou prepared for me…”
2. Christ’s body is to be prepared perfectly necessary for salvation.
3. To perfect the preparation, it should also be prepared from a being who
has also been prepared perfectly.
4. To whom the body of Christ perfectly prepared? From the body of Mary.
5. It is a fact that Christ body is perfect and immaculate as prepared.
6. Then, the place to where it is prepared ought to be perfect and
immaculate also. If not, it could not produce a perfect and immaculate
body for Christ.
7. But Jesus’ body is perfect and immaculate.
8. Therefore, Mary to where Jesus was perfectly prepared is perfect and
immaculate.
On the argument (Argument No. 2) that “Mary has sinned because she
undergone death, and death is the wage for sin” has the same contention with
the Argument No. 1. Not all who died sinned. Jesus died, but it does not mean he
sinned. He remained pure and sinless despite embracing death.
The Argument No.2 is out of context. Again, I would like to use the same
counter argument that the statement of Rome 6:23 pertains to the act of Adam.
Adam’s disobedience to God has openned the gate of death to humanity. Death
became the payment for his disobedience. That’s why Jesus came with Mary to
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ransom humanity from the slavery of death. Jesus has conquered death. And we
are already liberated.
In Rome 5: 17 (NIV), it is said “For it, by the trespass of the one man
(Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those
who receive God’s abundant provisions of grace and of the gift of
righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, Rome 6:23 is not applicable to dispute the contention that Mary
is immaculate. It has been prophesied that SHE should be immaculate. Songs of
Solomon 4:7 (KJV) says, “Thou art all fair, my love: there is no spot in thee.” It
continues in 6:9, “My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her
mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and
blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.”
Mary is foreordained to be immaculate to fulfill the plan of salvation in

Jesus Christ’s perfect offering of his body and blood. Rome 8:30 (NWT) said,
“Moreover, those whom he foreordained are the ones he is called, and those
whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous.”
In St. Luke 1:28 (DV), when Archangel Gabriel gave his salutation he said,
“Hail Mary, FULL OF GRACE, the Lord is with you.” He used full of grace to
signify the purity and sinlessness of Mary. In the Old Testament, King David in
his Psalms 86:15 (KJV) he said, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion
and grace…..” He addressed God as full of grace because he knew that there is
no spot in God. There is parallelism in the two texts. Mary became parallel with
God, not in divinity but in being spotless, sinless and pure.
This is the unique position of Mary. She was conceived without original
sin. Her existence from conception is prominent in God’s redemption plan. God
arranged sinlessness as a tribute to her and to prepare for the coming of the
Savior (Heb. 10:5) through her.
When God created Adam and Eve, the first people, they were immaculate.
Free from any stain of sin and full of grace. However, as they disobeyed God
(Gen. 3:11), these traits were destroyed. Total harmony on earth was destructed.
(Gen. 3:16-19). But God is love. He gave hope to humanity by promising a Savior
with a woman, who will strike the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15-16).
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The perfect plan of salvation is to bring back humanity in harmony with
God (1 Tim. 2:4-5) - to bring humanity to what it was from the beginning. This
could only be done through a perfect ransom in Jesus Christ with Mary. If Adam
and Eve were perfect and immaculate before they disobeyed God and destroyed
the complete harmony with God, the liberators who will fulfill the great design of
salvation must also be perfect and immaculate to complete the Salvation.
Therefore, Mary and Jesus, the new Adam and Eve ought to be perfect and
immaculate. Otherwise, salvation could not be perfected.
Eve disobeyed God because of PRIDE (Gen. 3:5 “No, God knows well
that the moment you will eat of it your eyes will be opened and YOU WILL BE
LIKE GODS…”) Mary has submitted to God’s plan and ransomed us from pride
by her HUMILITY. Though, she could hardly fathom the message of Archangel
Gabriel, she nodded to God’s will. Though bearing a child without a father is
punishable by death, she strongly accepted her future sufferings and pain (St.
Luke 1:38 “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.”) Eve
listened to the deceit of the serpent which had sweet promises. Mary, on the
other hand listened to the truth uttered by Archangel Gabriel despite the
sufferings in store for her.
Mary is the new Eve foreordained by God to bring us back to His bosom
and Jesus is the new Adam. Christ is the new Adam that will not bring us to ruin
but will save us from death. “Scripture has it that Adam, the first man, became a
living soul; the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit…..The first man was of
earth, formed from dust, the second is from heaven…Just as we resemble the
man from earth, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven” (1 Cor.
15:45,47,49). Adam brought us to death by eating the fruit of the “forbidden
tree”. Jesus saved us as He drunk the cup of suffering and was nailed in the
“cursed tree of the cross” at the Calvary.
Look at this illustration:

The Destruction of Humanity The Salvation of Humanity
a. Eve (Pride) Mary (Humility)

b. Adam (Death) Jesus (Life)
c. Serpent (Lies) Archangel Gabriel (Truth)
d. Forbidden Tree (Destruction) Tree of Cross (Salvation)
Eve, Adam and the serpent were the three principal characters in the story
of Human Fall- the story of human’s submission to slavery of sins. The world was
dominated by pride, death and lies. However, when time ripened, in the
fulfillment of Salvation, God has sent three perfect principal characters. They
were May, Jesus and Archangel Gabriel. The world was freed from the bondage
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of sins. They are new creation-new born. The world was flew by humility, life and
truth. The former three characters were sinners the latter three characters are
immaculate.
The Neuner/Dupius, Eds. “The Christian Faith” (A compilation of Church

documents and pronouncements on matters of faith and morals, in English,
1982) is correct when it alluded that Mary’s unique mission from God to be the
Mother of His Son-made-man, the Redeemer, shares in a special way Jesus’
salvific mission. From this mission flows her singular grace and privilege of the
Immaculate Conception. This signifies that Mary was “from the first moment of
her conception, in view of the merits of Christ Jesus the Savior of the human
race, was preserved and immune from all stain of original sin”.
This was supported by the statements of the Catechism of Filipino

Catholics (1997) that the “Immaculate Conception” as God’s gift to Mary, was
therefore doubly Christ-centered: first, as given because she would be Mother of
Christ; second, as showing that no one is saved apart from Christ, even those
who lived centuries before him. “In view of the merits of Christ” means Mary was
made holy by her immediate relationship to Christ, the source of grace, for whom
and towards whom all things are created (Col. 1:15-17).
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Chapter 4
ASSUMPTION OF MARY
We are familiar with the Apostle’s Creed that says, “He will come to judge
the living and the dead.” The creed clarifies that the judgment is yet to come, in
the Final Day. With this, there was no one yet who received his judgment.
Therefore, none has entered yet heaven or hell. How can anyone enter heaven
without passing the judgment of God?
It has been said that Mary has assumed into heaven. Does it mean she
has received her judgment ahead of us? How can we reconcile the statement of
the Apostle’s Creed with this dogma?
The Assumption of Mary was declared as dogma of the Catholic Faith by

Pope Pious XII’s Munificentissimus Deus in 1950. The dogma defined that Virgin
Mary, at the end of her life, was taken into heavenly glory-body and soul. This is
the fourth Marian dogma of the Catholic Church.
After five decades from its formal definition, the dogma faced many
objections from the non-Marian Christians. These are the arguments that attempt
to dispute the validity of the dogma of Mary’s Assumption.
Argument No. 1
1. The Final Judgment is yet to come (Rev. 22:12).

2. In the Last Day, Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead (Acts
10:42).
3. Since Judgment Day is yet to come, no one has received his reward and
punishment yet.
4. No one received yet the glory of heaven and condemnation of hell.
5. Then, Mary is still here on earth waiting for the Final Judgment.
6. Therefore, Mary never assumed to heaven.
The dead are waiting for the last judgment. As the Psalm 115:17 (NIV)
says, “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence.” This
is supported by Psalm 30:9-10 (NAB) that says, “What gain would there be from
my lifeblood, from my going down into the grave? Would dust give thanks or
proclaim your faithfulness?”
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Argument No. 2
1. It is said in the common maxim, “What is not included is deem excluded.”

2. The Assumption of Mary into heaven cannot be found in the Bible.
3. It is not included in the writings of the Bible. Therefore it is excluded.
4. Since it is excluded, it is unscriptural and therefore unbiblical.
5. What is unbiblical is false.
6. Mary’s Assumption into heaven, therefore is false.
The Answer to the Above Arguments
If it is difficult to prove that Mary assumed into heaven, it is more difficult to

refute the claim that the dogma has defined. No wonder that most of the non-
believers of the dogma focused their argument on the Judgment, to edify
statements that nothing has been judged yet. Therefore, no one has entered
heaven or hell so far. If no one has entered heaven so far, so Mary never entered
heaven or assumed into heaven.
However, there are many passages in the Bible to prove that there is
already judgment. In Hebrew 9:27 (RSV), it is said, “And just as it is appointed
for men to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
1. If there is no judgment yet, then no one has entered heaven so far.

2. But the Bible testified that several faithful have gone to heaven already.
They are:
a. Abraham and the Poor Lazarus– St. Luke 16:22 (GNB)“
b. Elijah – 2 Kings 2:11 (NIV) “…and Elijah went up to heaven in a
whirlwind.”
c. Enoch – Gen. 5:24; Heb.11:5 …”God took him away to heaven
without dying.”
d. The martyrs – Revelation 6:9
3. There were also punished and was sent to hell in torment (St. Luke 16:22-
23). “The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in
torment…”
4. Therefore, there is already judgment.
Does it mean that the texts are contradictory? No. They are supplemental
to each other instead. The text cited by the Argument No. 1 refers to the General
or the Last Judgment while Counter Argument No. 1 refers to the Particular
Judgment. What I am trying to prove is that, while waiting for the General
Judgment, there were already people who underwent particular judgment and
entered heaven.
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1. It is not the teaching of Christ that what is not written in the Bible should
not be believed in.
2. Jesus never even commanded His apostles to write but instead preach
(Mt. 28:19-20).
3. Writing the Gospel was only a result of the apostles’ initiatives.
4. Not all are written in the Bible (John 21:25)
5. The word carabao cannot be found in the Bible.
6. Does it mean that carabao is false just because it is not written in the
Bible?
7. Peter’s death cannot be read in the Bible. Does it mean we should not
believe that Peter died?
8. Therefore, not all that are not found in the Bible are false.
Among the Marian dogmas, this is the most difficult to prove if we use the
Bible alone since the Assumption of Mary is based more on the truth embedded
in the Christian Tradition. However, logic and correct reasoning will testify the
truth of the dogma.
The Catholic Tradition said that Mary died in Jerusalem in 48 A.D. Saint
Thomas the Apostle was not able to attend the last day of Mary. After five (5)
days from her interment, Saint Thomas arrived and requested to see the remains
of the mother of their Master Jesus. Upon his assertive request, the sepulcher
was opened. To their surprise, they saw nothing but empty tomb. The body of
Mary was no longer there. Some may doubt the authenticity of the story. But the
tomb was sealed with mark by the government when they opened it.
The event inspired the apostles to preach that Mary, the mother of Jesus
was assumed into heaven body and soul. Can this be proven in the Bible? Well,
it is being supported by Biblical facts. It can easily be understood in the
Revelation 12:1-17.
Here are some arguments, if entwined together, edify the truth about the
Assumption of Mary into heaven.
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The Argument from Possibility
1. Enoch and Elijah went to heaven body and soul without dying (Heb. 11:5
and 2 Kings 2:1-13).
2. When Jesus died, there were godly people who were raised again, and
after His resurrection, these people went to the holy city (Mt. 27:51-53).
3. A person who resurrected is composed of body and soul. These godly
people clearly went to the holy city (heaven) with their bodies and souls.
4. Therefore, to enter heaven with body and soul is of great possibility.
5. These godly people mentioned by the Bible could not be more godly
compared with Virgin Mary.
6. Therefore, Mary’s assumption to heaven body and soul is of great
possibility.
The Argument from Preference
1. Jesus promised to bring the apostles to His Father’s house in heaven

(John 14:2-3)
2. The martyrs reigned under the altar of the Lamb in heaven (Rev. 6:9)
3. These were the first Christians who witnessed and maintained their
testimony for the Lord.
4. Jesus, who is the Great Actor of Salvation, and the Savior himself
graciously brought His friends and disciples into heaven, how much more
His mother?
5. Mary did more witnessing and testimony than any Christians ever lived.
(From Jesus birth (Luke 1:26-38) till His death (John 19:26) and
afterwards (Acts 1:14)
6. Mary, therefore, has the first preference to be in heaven than any
Christian.
The Argument from the Ark of the Covenant
1. The Covenant and the Ark of the Covenant are inseparable.

2. Where the Covenant is, the Ark of the Covenant should be also.
3. Jesus is the New Covenant of God, the Father to the world (John 3:16, Mt.
26:28).
4. Mary is the Ark from where Jesus the Covenant has been incarnated
(Luke 1:26-38).
5. If Jesus the Covenant is in heaven, Mary, the Ark of the Covenant should
also be (Rev. 11:19).
6. They are inseparable. Mary is in heaven.
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The Argument from the Bones and Relics
1. Early Christians paid homage to the saints and to their relics.

2. Relics of saints were jealously guarded, highly prized.
3. It is even claimed that Peter’s bones is in Rome.
4. The bones of the martyrs in Colosseum were quickly gathered up and
preserved.
5. Mary is said to be with John in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension.
6. But why did no city claim the bones of Mary?
7. Mary, certainly is the most privileged of all the saints, and certainly the
most saintly among the saints.
8. There is no record of her bodily remains being venerated anywhere.
9. Therefore, it is an undisputable fact that her relics are not here on earth.
The Argument from Immaculate Body
1. Only the pure can enter the holy place in heaven.

2. Mary has pure, immaculate and sinless body and soul like Jesus.
3. Therefore, there is no impediment for Mary’s body and soul to enter
heaven.
The Old Testament told us that the Ark of the Covenant and the Covenant
are indispensable. In the final scriptural revelation, the ark of the covenant was
seen in heaven (Revelation 11:19), “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened,
and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple.”
Who is the new covenant? It is Jesus. Then Mary is the New Ark who
bears within herself Jesus the Redeemer, who is the New Covenant between
divinity and humanity (Miraville M. 2003)
Does it mean that Mary, like Jesus, comparable to God by assuming into
heaven? It should be noted that Mary did not ascend into heaven. She assumed
into heaven. The difference of “ascension” and “assumption” is that Jesus
ascended into heaven – meaning by Jesus’ own power He went to heaven.
Mary’s assumption into heaven means that she went to heaven by the power of
God, not by her own will and power.
With all the valid arguments and truths presented above, we are compel to
concede that the Lumen Gentium is absolutely right in its official statement that
Mary was preserved free from all guilt of original sin as she was taken up body
and soul into heavenly glory upon the completion of her earthly sojourn (LG 59,
ND 715, CCC 966) With her Assumption to join her Son, the Risen Christ, in the
fullness of her personality, Mary reveals the fullness of God’s redeeming work for
all of us, “ a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God (LG
68).”
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Chapter 5
MARY, MEDIATRIX AND CO-REDEMPTRIX OF CHRIST
God is all-powerful. He is omnipotent. All of us will agree. If He is

Almighty, why does He need a mediator? Well, the mediation of Christ is of no
question. Christ is God who became flesh (John 1:14). He is the perfect mediator
between God and men (1 Tim 2:5). Do we need others to mediate in our
salvation?
Jesus’ mediation was perfect. Does He need other mediation? If other

mediation is needed in salvation, then, the mediation of Christ will be fogged with
imperfection.
In the redemption of humanity, there is only one Redeemer that we

recognized. It is Jesus. Does He need a co-redeemer? This will put Jesus into
imperfect savior since He still needs a partner to redeem the world.
Will the teaching of Mary, Mediatrix and Co-Redemptrix of Christ place

Jesus’ power on the dim light as Redeemer of the world?
The Co-redemptrix Title of Mary is not yet a Dogma but a Doctrine. It is

not yet included in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium).
However, as a teaching, this title has long been used by some theologians, and
even Pope John Paul II has used the title repeatedly. The whole Christianity was
even more shaken when the Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici (“The Voice of the
People for Mary Mediatrix”) encourages the Pope to define Blessed Virgin Mary
as Co-redemptrix, and Mediatrix of all graces as Catholic Dogma.
This group of the laity in the United States was organized by Dr. Mark
Miravalle in May 1993. But long before the inception of this group, the title Co-
redemptrix and Mediatrix was already believed and used by the Catholics.
The non-Catholics, on the other hand, denied the title and counter
opposed the movement of Vox Populi.
The Argument of the Oppositions:
The title “Co-redemptrix” will place Mary on equal level with Jesus Christ.
Making her a goddess or quasi-divine goddess. In the Bible, there is only one
Redeemer. It is Jesus Christ (Titus 1:4, 13).
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Argument No. 1
1. The Co-redemptrix title of Mary was derived from the root word redemptrix
with the prefix “co”
2. The prefix “co” signifies equality. Like the co-owner and the co-signatory
have the same rights with the owner and the signer. She is co-equal.
3. If Mary is Co-redemptrix of Christ, therefore, she is co-equal with Christ as
a Redeemer.
4. Then, it puts Mary a goddess and reduces Jesus “to being half of a team
of redeemers”.
5. Placing Mary a goddess is an absolute idolatry.
The title “Mediatrix” has the same context with the “Co-redemptrix” . How
can Mary be a Mediatrix when there is only one Mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5)?
Argument No. 2
1. The Scriptures say, “There is ONE Mediator between God and men” (1
Tim.2:5).
2. The quantity of ONE cannot be TWO.
3. If Mary is Mediatrix, then, it will make our Mediator TWO not ONE.
4. Therefore, the title Mary Mediatrix is unscriptural.
5. No creature can rightly be a Mediator. It is Christ ALONE. He is the ONE.
The Counter Argument to the Objections:
Titles must be based according to the context of its meaning. It is not

because there is Vox Populi that encouraged the Pope to define the titles as
Dogma but because of the unquenchable thirst for truth about Mary.
Whether the Pope defines it or not, a declaration cannot change the truth
of the matter. No declaration can make a false the truth. Truth is truth, and
nothing can alter it.
Argument No. 1 has used wrong and invalid reference. The prefix “co”
comes from the Latin term “cum” which means “with” and not “equal to.” In
school, we usually hear Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum
Laude given to the honor students. These respectively mean With Highest
Honors, With High Honors and With Honors. The term “cum” clearly means
“with” .
- 42 -
1. The prefix “co” in the Marian title Co-Redemptrix was derived from the
Latin term “cum”.
2. The Latin term “cum” simply means “with”.
3. So, the Co-redemptrix title of Mary does not place her “equal to” with
Christ.
4. Then, it does not put Mary a goddess.
5. Therefore, the proper translation of Co-redemptrix is not co-equal with
Jesus but “the woman with the redeemer.”
1. Saint Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that we are God’s CO-WORKERS.

2. But it does not mean that we are already God’s equal with the one God.
3. Therefore, the prefix “co” does not always mean “equal to”
1. Sin entered the world through Adam but grace has filled the world by
Christ.
2. Adam opened the gate of death to humanity but Christ brought Salvation
to human race (1 Cor. 15:46-47).
3. Adam sinned with Eve causing death to freely enter the world, but Christ
has become flesh through Mary and brought forth salvation and eternal
life.
4. Eve is the Co-destructor of Adam and Mary is the Co-redemptrix of Christ.
1. Jesus redeemed the world by becoming an Incarnate Word (John 3:16).

2. By the Incarnate Word’s death and resurrection, the humanity was
redeemed.
3. The Incarnate Word came from the flesh of Mary (John 1:14, Luke 1:26-
38).
4. Jesus’ flesh and blood is Mary’s flesh and blood.
5. Jesus’ blood and body that save (John 6:54) is Mary’s too (Hebrew 2:14).
6. These are inseparable.
7. Therefore, in the work of Redemption Mary is WITH Jesus.
8. She is Co-redemptrix of her son Jesus.
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Argument No. 2 cited the right phrase in the Bible but used it in the wrong
context. The word “mediator” is derived from the Greek word “mesitis” which
means “go-between”. By this term, we can define mediator as someone who
mediates and intercede, someone who bring about settlement or reconciliation of
conflicting parties.
Saint Paul’s phrase in 1Timothy 2:5 signifies the perfect and primary
mediation of Christ through His death in the cross and through His resurrection.
None among the saints can take the place of being crucified to ransom the
humanity from condemnation. But it does not mean that the one perfect
mediation of Jesus Christ prevents other subordinate or secondary mediation.
If you start at the verses 1-4 of Chapter 2 of First Timothy (RSV), Saint
Paul encourages mediation. He said, “ first of all, then, I urge that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men….This is good,
and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved
and come to the knowledge of the truth.”
It is clear that Jesus, our Savior, desires us to pray, to intercede and

mediate for others through our prayers and supplications.
1. Christ’s One Perfect Mediation refers to His perfect offering of His life in
the Cross.
2. This primary mediation is exclusive for Christ alone but it does not prevent
the participation of others to mediate and intercede in subordinate and
secondary way (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
3. Saint Paul encouraged us to intercede and mediate for others.
4. Moses mediates between God and the Hebrew People (Exodus 19:1-24;
21:1-36).
5. Isaiah was anointed prophet by God to mediate and bring the message of
God to His people (Isaiah 1).
6. Jeremiah was anointed prophet by God to mediate and bring God’s
message to the people (Jeremiah 1:1-19, 2:1-37).
7. Therefore, subordinate and secondary mediation is Scriptural.
1. Mediation means “go-between”

2. Mary “goes-between” God and men when she said “yes” to be the mother
of the Incarnate Word (Luke 1:38).
3. Therefore, Mary mediates subordinately through her divine motherhood in
Christ.
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4. She is Mediatrix of graces. Jesus is the grace we ever received from the
Father.
1. Through Jesus’ Incarnation, we received the grace from God (John 3:16).
2. We received Jesus who is the source of all graces through the divine
motherhood of Mary (Luke 2:11).
3. Therefore, Mary mediates the flowing of grace.
4. She is Mediatrix of graces.
The participation of Mary in the plan of salvation does not put Jesus in the
dim light. Her mediation does not even compete with Jesus. God wills it. We are
even called to participate in the Good News of Salvation. Jesus commands the
apostles to “Go to all nations, baptized them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, make them my disciples and teach them what I
have told you……” (Matthew 28:19-20). It does not mean that Jesus cannot save
the world without the participation of his apostles. However, God wills it to use
people in propagating the Gospel of Salvation. Who are we to question God’s
wisdom?
The Mother Cannot Deny

Anecdote by Bro. Andrew Maria, MMHC
Silvanus the Priest and Henry the Protestant were on their way to the
Castle of Paltiel. They both wanted to ask Prince Ammihud for a donation. The
priest is building a church, while the protestant is building a school.
As they waited, Henry the Protestant argued with Silvanus the Priest, “You
Catholics are fools! Why do you honor Mary? Is Christ not enough?”
Silvanus remained silent and did not argue. When they reached the Castle
of Paltiel, both of them were asked to wait outside the room of Prince Ammihud.
Then the prince bade one of them to enter. Henry the Protestant went in first.
After some time, Henry the Protestant went out depressed and very sad.
He was empty-handed. The prince did not give any donation for the school.
Then, to his surprise, he saw Silvanus the Priest waiting for him with a bag filled
with money.
“How did you get that?” the Protestant asked. “Prince Ammihud has just
told me that he would give neither one of us any donation.”
Silvanus the Priest smiled while tapping the bag filled with money. “I knew
the prince would not give us anything,” he said. “And so, I went to his mother the
queen, who was sitting next door. I stated my request and she gave a donation
right away.”
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At this, Henry the Protestant shook his head in bewilderment.
Silvanus the Priest grinned and said, “What the son might deny, the
mother cannot. Now you know why Catholics love Mary very much.”
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Chapter 6
THE HOLY ROSARY
Why do we need these necklace-like beads in praying? Is kneeling not

enough? How about closing our eyes, lift our hands and sincerely talking to God?
Why do we need to count the number of beads while we recite the patterned
prayers? Why do we need to repeat things all over? Why do we need the rosary?
Non-Catholics find difficulty in accepting the Rosary for it cannot be read

literally in the Scripture. Influenced by the Sola Scriptura teaching of Protestant
Martin Luther, they will not believe what is not written literally in the Bible. Bible
alone is the sole basis of their faith.
Aside from such, they also accuse the Rosary as repetitious and long
prayer that is abominable to God (Mt. 6:7-8). Repetitious and long prayer is no
different with pagan prayers. Hence, they have these arguments:
Argument No. 1
1. Bible alone is the source of truth and the basis of faith.

2. What is not included in the Bible is deem excluded.
3. The word Rosary cannot be found from Genesis to Revelation.
4. Therefore, Rosary is unscriptural.
Argument No. 2
1. God despised repetitious and long prayers. It is believed as paganic (Mt.

6:7).
2. Rosary is a repetitious and long prayer.
3. Therefore, God despises the prayer of Rosary.
Scrutiny on the Above Arguments
In treating Christian faith, the “Sola Scriptura” as presented in Argument

No. 1 is contradictory to itself. The theory that what is not written in the Bible
should not be believed upon is nowhere to be found in the Bible. The “Bible
Alone Teaching” of Martin Luther is unscriptural. No single passage in the Bible
teaches what is not written should not be believed upon. The Bible even agreed
that it does not have all the truth. John the Apostle wrote, “But there are also
many other things to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain
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the books that would be written” (John 21:25). Therefore, this “sola scriptura” in
not “sola scriptura” in itself. It is the contradiction of all contradictions.
Argument No. 2 accused the Rosary as a long prayer. It is wrong! We can

finish the Rosary within 15 minutes. Is 15 minutes long enough for prayer? Saint
Paul even said, “pray without ceasing” (1 Tes. 5:17 KJV). They misunderstood
the context of Matthew 6:7. What Jesus tried to stress is that wonderful words of
prayers, may it be short or long are be meaningless, if you prayed to pagan gods.
Everything is in vain. Prayer should be done in truth not in hypocrisy and pride.
That’s how the pagans are praying. No matter how often they repeat their prayer,
these could not be heard because pagan gods are false gods. That’s the context
of Jesus’ message!
There is nothing wrong in repetition as long as you are repeating what is

something good. Bad things ought not to be repeated. But praying is a good
deed. Praising is glorifying and exalting! What makes repeating a prayer bad?
Jesus even repeats His prayer three times saying the same words in Matthew
26:39-44. In heaven, they don’t rest night and day in worshiping God in these
words “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come”
(Rev. 4:8). God never rebuked them.
1. The “Sola Scriptura” doctrine has no Biblical foundation.

2. It is even contradictory to itself.
3. There are truths that were not written in the Bible (John 21:25)
4. Therefore, not all explicitly unwritten in the Bible should not be believed in.
1. Bible alone is the source of truth, the non-Catholics declared.

2. The Bible existed late.
3. Does it mean there was no truth before the Bible existed?
4. Of course there had been truth long before the Bible was written.
5. Therefore, the “Bible alone” doctrine is false.
1. God despises paganic prayers (Mt. 6:7).

2. Christian prayers are not paganic.
3. The rosary is one of the Christian prayers.
4. Therefore, God does not despise the Rosary.
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1. Granting without admitting that long prayer displeases God.

2. Non-Catholics accuse the Rosary as a long prayer.
3. But Rosary can be finished within 15 minutes.
4. Then, Rosary is not a long prayer.
5. Therefore, it does not displease God.
1. It is said by non-Catholics that repetition of prayer displeases God.

2. Jesus repeats His prayer three times of the same words (Mt. 26:44)
3. The heavenly beings worship God without rest day and night and sing the
same words repeatedly (Rev. 4:8)
4. But God the Father never rebuked Jesus and the heavenly beings.
5. Therefore, the notion that repetition of prayer displeases God is false.
The Lord’s Prayer was never called by Jesus as Lord’s Prayer. He never
gave a title to it when He taught it to His disciples. It is only the Christians that
named it as Lord’s Prayer since it was Jesus who taught it. The contents of this
prayer are scriptural but the term “Lord’s Prayer” is not found in the original
manuscript of the Bible. It is the same with the Rosary. Its contents are scriptural
but the word Rosary was not literally written in the Bible. Let us examine what
comprises the Rosary and how it is supported by text in the Holy Scriptures. The
prayers in the Rosary are the Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory
Be.
a. The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (Gen.
1:1-31, 2:1-3).
I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son our Lord (John 3:16), who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), born of the Virgin Mary (Mt.2:1, 11). He
suffered under Pontius Pilate (Mt. 27:26). He was crucified (Mt. 27:35), died (Mt.
27:50) and was buried (Mt.27:60). He descended into the dead ( 1 Peter 3:18-19)
and in the third day He rose again (Luke 24:1-12). He ascended into heaven
(Acts 1:9) and seated at the right of the Father Almighty (Acts 7:55). He will come
again to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).
I believe in the Holy Spirit (John 14: 15-17), the Holy Catholic Church (Mt.
16:18-19), the Communion of Saints (Jude 1:14, Hebrew 13:24 KJV), the
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Forgiveness of Sins (John 20:23), Resurrection of the Body (Mt. 22:30) and Life
Everlasting (John 6:40). Amen.
b. Our Father (The complete text of this prayer is taught by Jesus in Mt. 6:9-14)
c. Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you (Luke 1:28-30). Blessed are
you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus (Luke 1:42).
Holy Mary, Mother of God (Luke 1:43) pray for us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death (1Tim. 2:1, James 5:16). Amen.
d. Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit (Mt. 22:37,
Acts 12:23). As it was in the beginning, now and ever shall be without end
(Hebrew 13:8, Rev. 22:13). Amen.
The four mysteries of the Rosary are all found in the Bible. The Rosary is
the compendium of the Gospel.
The Joyful Mystery
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38).

2. The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:41-45).
3. The Birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:11, Mt 2:1-2).
4. The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:22-24).
5. The Finding of Jesus at the Temple (Luke 2:41-49).
The Luminous Mystery
1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River (Mt. 3: 13-17, Mk. 1:9-12).
2. Jesus’ Self-manifestation at the Wedding in Cana (John 2:1-4).
3. Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to Conversion
(Mt. 4:1217, Mk 1:35-39, Luke 4:14-15).
4. The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mk 9:2-13, Mt. 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36).
5. The Institution of Holy Eucharist as the Sacramental Expression of the
Paschal Mystery (Luke 22:19-20, Mt. 26:26-30).
The Sorrowful Mystery
1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-38, Mk.

14:32-35).
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2. The Scourging at the Pillar (Mt. 27:26, Mk. 15:15, John 19:1).
3. Jesus is Crowned by Thorns (Mt. 27:29, Mk 15:17).
4. Jesus Carry the Cross (John 19:17).
5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:23-30).
The Glorious Mystery
1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:1-18, Mk. 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12).
2. The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven (Acts 1:6-10).
3. The Holy Spirit Descended to the Apostles (Acts 2: 1-4).
4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Rev. 12:1).
5. The Coronation of Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven. (Rev. 12:1).
Everything that comprises the Rosary is found in the Bible. How can we
claim that it is unscriptural? On the argument that God is displeased with the
prayer of the Rosary, how can God admonish the truth He Himself revealed? The
Rosary is consisted of scriptural truth. Therefore, the prayer of Rosary is Biblical.
This is what the Argument from the Whole and the Parts is trying to prove.
The Argument from the Whole and the Parts
1. The whole is composed of the parts.

2. The totality of the parts is integral to the whole.
3. The parts made the whole.
4. Therefore, what are the parts is also the whole.
5. They are one.
6. The parts of the Rosary are proven to be Scriptural.
7. These parts made the whole Rosary.
8. Since, the parts of the Rosary are scriptural.
9. Therefore, the Rosary as a whole is also scriptural.
When we refer to the Rosary, we are going back to the history of Christ’s
Gospel. The Rosary is the Gospel in a form of prayer. In short, it is the Gospel’s
prayer. Why is it offered to Mary? Because no one among the Christians and the
saints can relate the whole story of the Gospel intimately than Virgin Mary, the
mother of the primary actor of the Gospel can.
The prayer recited for every decade of the rosary, “Oh my Jesus forgive
us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, and bring all souls into heaven
especially those who most need of your divine mercy” was Virgin Mary’s words
during her apparition in Fatima.
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Question No. 1:
Most of the beads of the Rosary are dedicated to Mary. Therefore, the Rosary is
Mary-centered rather than Christ-centered. Christian should be Christ-centered.
What can you say?
Answer:
Your contention is wrong. Since every bead of the rosary relates the
history of the Gospel, and the Gospel is Christ-centered, therefore, the Rosary is
not a Mary-centered but Christ-centered prayer. It is a devotional prayer with
Mary to Jesus Christ. It is said “ through Mary to Jesus”. The word “pray for us
sinners” in Hail Mary is a manifestation that Mary is asked to pray to Jesus with
the devotees. This prayer starts with God and ends with Him. Mary is just
facilitating the prayer of the devotees to her Son, Jesus Christ. The ultimate end
of the prayer is God. How could it become Mary-centered? It is God-centered
instead.
Why do we need a rosary object in praying the rosary?
Is there a need for the necklace-like thing to pray the Apostle’s Creed, Our
Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be? Can we not pray the Rosary without this object?
We can relate this to the stick of Moses when God could easily divide the
Red Sea by His power. But why it needs to raise the stick of Moses before the
sea was divided. The Lord could outright give water for the Israelites in the
wilderness. But why did He opt for Moses to strike the rock first with his stick
before the water flowed?
In the Old Testament’s religious rites, why did the priest need to use
incense in offering prayer to Yahweh? Can they not celebrate the liturgy without
it?
Still in the Old Testament, people need to offer animals like cows, sheep
or goats for the atonement of their sins when God could have directly forgive
their sins.
In the New Testament, when Jesus hailed the blind, why did He knead
mud before the eyes of the blind in order for the latter to see again? Jesus could
have directly opened the sight of the blind.
The same analogy could offer to answer the question why we a rosary is
needed.
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Chapter 7
VENERATION OF MARY
God alone shall be worshipped and adored. This could not be offered to
human as well.
But why do Catholic offer veneration to Mary? Is it not placing Mary in a

Goddess-like position? Catholics worship Mary. They are guilty of Mariolatry!
God is a jealous God (Exo. 20:5). He shall only be praised and worshipped!
When Cornelius worshipped Peter, he was reproved by Peter saying that

he too is a man (Acts 10:25). The angel rebuked John the Apostle when he
started worshipping him. The angel said, “don’t do it, worship God instead” (Rev.
22:9).
Mary is no different with Peter and the angel. Is it not a form of idolatry
when the Catholics worship Mary?
The non-Marian sects accuse the Catholics of committing idolatry in

violating the law of worship. Here are their arguments:
Argument No. 1
1. God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5).
2. To worship others who are not true God is idolatry (Deut. 5:7-9).
3. The Catholics worship Mary.
4. Therefore, the Catholics are guilty of idolatry.
Argument No. 2
1. Peter refused to be worshipped by Cornelius (Acts 10:25).
2. The angel rebuked the act of worship of John the Apostle before him (Rev.
22:9).
3. Peter and the angel are no different from Mary.
4. Therefore, Mary should not be worshipped.
Argument No. 3
1. No one is worthy of worship but God alone.
2. Mary is not God.
3. Therefore, Mary should not be worshipped.
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Treating the Three Arguments
The three arguments presented above lost their context in the kind of
worship given to Mary and to the definition of idolatry.
We will treat first the kind of worship the Catholics offer to Mary. Is it the
same with what they offer to God? Are these acts of worship parallel and equal?
There are two kinds of worship; the adoration and veneration. They are
not parallel in the degree of honor.
a. Adoration – a worship of highest reverence due to God alone as

the creator, redeemer, and sanctifier. In Greek, it is called “latreia”.
God alone should be adored and glorified.
b. Veneration – an honor shown to saints and to person with

outstanding holiness. In Greek, it is called “doulia”. The veneration
given to Mary is called “hyperdoulia” which means more than just
veneration but less than the “latreia” or adoration.
Mary said in Luke 1:48, “from henceforth all generation shall call me
BLESSED”. The word BLESSED in Funk and Wagnall dictionary means worthy
of veneration. And veneration means, a form of worship less than adoration. This
is the kind of worship that the Catholics offer to Mary, not the worship of
ADORATION which is due to God alone.
What is the reason why Peter and the angel reproved Cornelius and John
respectively? Because they offer a “latreia” form of worship, not “doulia”.
Cornelius adored Peter, as John did to the angel instead of venerating them.
Is there an instance when the “doulia” form of worship was mentioned in

the Bible? Yes. Joshua threw himself to the ground and worshipped the
commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:14-15 KJV). King Nebuchadnezzar fell
upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and ordered to offer incense (Daniel 2:46
KJV).
1. It is true that God alone should be adored. (Exodus 20:5 GNB).

2. Adoring other God is a sin of idolatry. (Deut. 5:7-9 GNB).
3. But Mary is never adored she is just venerated.
4. And the veneration kind of worship is scriptural (Joshua 5:14-15, Daniel
2:46).
5. Therefore, venerating Mary is not idolatry.
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1. It is true that Peter, the angel and Mary are not different in terms of
holiness.
2. The reason why Peter and the angel refused the worship given to them
because it was a form of adoration.
3. What was different is the act of worship given.
4. Cornelius and John did the latreia, while Catholics do the hyperdulia to
Mary.
5. Doulia form of worship is scriptural (Joshua 5:14-15, Daniel 2:46).
6. The commander of the Lord’s army, Daniel and Mary had one in common
in the aspect of exemplary holiness.
7. Therefore, it is of no sin to venerate Mary.
Now, we will settle the issue of idolatry. What is idolatry as defined by the
Bible? Idolatry is adoring something that does not really exist ( I Cor. 8:4 GNB). It
is a wrong representation of a god, therefore a false god like adoring Astaroth,
Bel or Jupiter and Nebo or Mercury (Isa. 46:1).
If the Catholics worship Mary as a Goddess, this is a clear act of idolatry.

But the Catholics never do. They do not worship Mary as God (adoration). What
is given to Mary is only veneration-a form of respect and honor due to a person
with outstanding holiness.
Question No. 1
God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). Will he not be jealous when we venerate
Mary?
Answer:
God will only be jealous if we will worship Mary as God. But if we honor
Mary of her holiness, in veneration way of worship, God will be pleased because
He knows that it is He who made Mary holy. Mary’s blessedness (Luke 1:48) is
just a fruit of God’s abundant graces. “Be holy for I am holy,” God said.
How can a father afford to hate her daughter who was praised by her
holiness when knew that she became holy out from his holiness? The father is
more honored even. “ And my glory is shown through them,” Jesus said (John
17:10 GNB). With Mary and other holy martyrs, God is even more glorified.
Even Archangel Gabriel gave such honor to Mary when he said during the
Annunciation, “Hail Mary, full of grace”. No one among the prophets of God, not
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even one of the apostles received such kind of salutation from an archangel. If
the angel who is created greater than human (Hebrew 2:7) gave such high
respect to Mary, who are we to despise the mother of the Lord from such distinct
honor?
The Descendants of the Lady
“From henceforth all generation shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). To

whom Mary is referring this? Whose generation?
In Genesis (3:15), the Bible mentioned two offspring (seed): of the

Woman, and of the Serpent. It says, “I will put enmity between your seed and her
seed.”
These words from Genesis is the foreshadowing of the virgin in the New
Testament to whom the Emmanuel (the seed) shall be born. This is the
generation that will venerate the Mother of the Savior.
Analogically, the generation who despised the Lady is the generation of

the Serpent. It is the generation who deny the veneration of the Woman. They
cannot afford to call the Woman blessed. They furiously attack the lady instead
like the dragon who fight drastically the descendants of the Woman mentioned in
Revelation 12.
It is your choice. You cannot be a descendant of both. You cannot serve

two masters at the same time. You cannot be a generation of two conflicting
descendants.
Be prudent. Choose-the generation who called the Lady blessed (those

who venerated Mary) or the generation who despised the Woman and said no
harsh words instead of praises.
The Cup of Medicine that Saves
This short story was narrated by Atty. Socrates Fernandez, the president
of Catholic Faith Defenders, Inc. of the Philippines during the Seminar on
Catholic Fundamental Teachings and Doctrines he has conducted in Tagum City
sometime in 1990.
There was a place afflicted by an epidemic disease. It was very tragic and
dreadful. Whoever carries the coffin of a dead person affected by such disease
couple of days after he will soon be contaminated and would experience the
same fate.
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The whole society was horrified. How could they fight and eliminate this
outrageous virus? What kind of malady is this that badly impinged on the lives of
the people?
One man said, “Why don’t we seek help from the expert doctor in the
nearby town to solve this serious illness that little by little takes our lives?”
The whole community went to the doctor and convinced him to find
solution in treating the plague.
The doctor said, “Give me one week to wok with in laboratory and
discover what medication will effectively stop this scourging illness.”
After a week, the doctor succeeded in his experiment. He shouted, “Let us

rejoice! We have found the cure against the horrible disease!”
The people flocked to the house of the doctor, bringing with them all kinds
of jars, cups, glasses and bottles that are made from different kind of materials.
But none of these items could contain the liquid medicine. They all melted and
broke as the liquid medicine dropped unto it.
“How could we take this medicine with us?” the people complained. The
doctor said, ”Give me another week to invent the jar, cup, glass or bottle that can
contain the medicine.”
After a week, the doctor successfully invented the cup that is capable of
holding the liquid medicine. Then, the people take the medicine using the newly
invented cup with them. The epidemic was finally gone. They were all healed.
The people went back to the physician and said, “Thank you so much
doctor, and thank you for the liquid medicine. We are all free from the contagious
virus. We are completely healed!”
The doctor got mad. He shouted, “You are all ingrate! You have thanked
me and the medicine. Have you not remembered that without the cup you cannot
take the liquid medicine with you? If you thank me and the medicine, you should
not forget to give thanks also to the cup I have invented!”
This short story is an allegory of our salvation. The epidemic disease is

the sin that entered the world. The doctor is God the Father. The medicine that
completely healed the illness is Jesus Christ. The cup that took the medicine with
the people is Mary.
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Chapter 8
MARY AND THE PLAN OF SALVATION
The Fall of Humanity
The whole Bible provided only two chapters which discussed the holy,
gracious and happy beginning of human race. The succeeding chapters narrated
only the pain, suffering and fall of man.
Man is created for a little while lower than the angels; but crowned with
glory and honor. He is made to rule over all things (Hebrew 2:7-8). Man and
woman were created perfect and full of glory. They were immaculate. Free from
any stain of sin. They don’t even know what sin is. For in the state of being full of
grace, immaculate, perfect and glorified, they knew no sin.
They were given full freedom and autonomy over all creatures. But such
freedom is entwined with great responsibility of obedience to the will of God.
Beguiled by the serpent’s shrewd and sugar-coated words, the first parents fell.
Because of pride and desire to be like God, Eve succumbed to the will of the
serpent. Adam consented with Eve. They fell short to the glory of God (Rome
3:23). They have broken their perfect and immaculate harmony with the nature;
the ground was cursed (Gen. 3:17-18). They destroyed their relationship with
each other; they realized that they were naked (Gen. 3:7). In rebelling against
God, man and woman ruined their original harmony with others; their son Cain
killed his own brother Abel (Gen 4:8). The act of disobedience brought desolation
of their complete concordance with the community; it begot chaos and
misunderstanding as manifested in the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9).
And finally, the man and his wife were excluded from eating the fruit of the
tree of life (Gen. 3:22-24), and death is the final punishment of the sin committed.
Saint Paul puts, “Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought
death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because
everyone has sinned “ (Rome 5:12).
The Woman and the Promised Savior
Everyone knows that God is love. It is one word to portray His

compassionate nature. He could not afford to let His people lose, suffer and be
oppressed. He made a promise-a promise that signifies the keyword of love. He
promised to save His people. He promised a Savior.
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At the very instance that man fell, He promised a woman and a Savior.
God said, “I will put enmity between your seed and her seed. Her seed will crush
your head and you bite his heel” (Gen. 3:15 DV).
The footnote of the Douay Version said, “her seed….refers principally to

Jesus Christ “. He is the promised Savior who will victoriously crush the head of
Satan. If the “seed” refers to Jesus, with no doubt the “woman” signifies Mary
from whom the seed is born.
To edify foreshadows of His promise, God sent many prophets. Some had
prophesized the coming of the Messiah. One of which was Prophet Isaiah who
foretold, “ Therefore the Lord himself shall give a sign; Behold, a VIRGIN shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name IMMANUEL” (Isa. 7:14 KJV).
He further said, “ For us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6 RVS).
The Fulfillment of the Prophecy

And the Name of the Virgin
“My words will never come back to me empty and vain”, says the Lord.
Prophecy is God’s word. It is of no vanity. It will come to pass. Hundreds of years
that trundled from the prophecy of Isaiah, the fulfillment of God’s promise is
already at hand. Matthew wrote, “she will bear a son, and you shall call His name
Jesus, for He will save His people from sins. All this took place to fulfill what the
Lord has spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and His name shall be called Emmanuel which means God with us” (Mt. 1:21-
23).
What was the name of the virgin? Matthew missed to mention it. But Luke
has a detailed presentation in his Gospel. He wrote, “ In the sixth month, the
angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin
betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin’s name was Mary…..Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with
God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall
call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:26-31).
What is the noble intention of God in giving his Son? It is to ransom

humanity from the imprisonment of death. It is to save the world. This is the
hidden meaning of the word, “he will crush your head” in the Genesis. Jesus will
crush the head of the serpent (Satan) through his triumphant death in the cross
and victorious resurrection.
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The woman who has long been promised in Genesis and the virgin who
has long been foretold by the prophets is Mary, the primary partner of Jesus to
fulfill and perfect the plan of Salvation.
The Old Adam and the New Adam
The old Adam was easily tempted by the offer to eat the forbidden fruit
despite the abundance of food in the Paradise of Eden and even at the warning
of death. “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it you will be like
God “ (Gen 3:5 OAB). The new Adam in spite of terrible hunger in the wilderness
for forty days has persevered against the temptation of Satan. “If you are the Son
of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:1 OAB).
There is parallelism of the two events which are however contrary. What is
parallel is that both entered the world sinless. Both entered the world through the
special act of God. Both underwent temptations. Both were tempted to eat. The
only difference is that the old Adam was in the state of abundance while the new
Adam was in the state of starvation. The first Adam was full the second Adam
was in hunger. The former Adam was looking for more glory, to be like God (Gen
3:5). The latter Adam who is in the form of God and in glory of heaven has
emptied himself and took the image of a slave (Phil. 2:6). The old Adam was in
Paradise and ousted for disobedience. The new Adam was in the heavenly
throne with God, went out from heaven to save humanity from the slavery of sin
and death.
In the two situations, Satan both used the name of God in his shrewd way
of deceit, “For God knows….” and “If you are the Son of God…..”
The devil began his temptation in the context of life in both events. He said
to the old Adam, “Eat, you will not die….you will be like God”. To the new Adam,
he said, “If you are the Son of God turn this stone to bread” and satisfied your
hunger. The two Adams answered differently. The first conformed and was
trapped. The second denied and rebuke Satan and said, “Man shall not live by
bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
It is pride that pushed the first Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. It is humility
and for the perfect fulfillment of Salvation that the second Adam strongly denied
the entrapment of the devil. The former gave “Yes” to Satan which a tantamount
“No” to the will of God. The latter gave his “Yes” to God and boldly “No” to the
devil. The answer of the new Adam is reciprocal to the old one.
As a consequence, the old Adam opened the gate of sin to all humanity.
Sin that brought death. The new Adam opened the gate of heaven by His perfect
mediation in the cross (1 Tim 2:5) which rendered the sins of the world forgiven.
The old Adam brought imprisonment while the new Adam brought freedom from
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bondage. By the first Adam’s disobedience many were made sinners, by the
second Adam’s obedience many will be made righteous (Rome 5:19). The former
is the man of condemnation and the latter man is the man of liberation (Rome
5:18).
“For it is written, ‘the first Adam became a living being’; the last Adam
became life-giving spirit. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the
second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of
the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as
we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the
man of heaven” (1 Cor. 15:45-49)
The old Adam is the husband of Eve. The new Adam is Jesus Christ, the
son of Mary.
“For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have grace of
God that one man Jesus Christ abound for many. And the free gift is not like the
effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought
condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If
because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more
will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness
reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ “ (Rome 5:15-17).
The Old Eve and the New Eve
The first woman was created pure, sinless, perfect, immaculate and full of
grace. She should have been immortal and eternal. However, her disobedience
to the will of God has vanished all the glory she has to enjoy in the Paradise. She
was insatiable to what she has possessed. She wanted more. She wanted to be
like God. Thus, she was trapped at the serpent’s net when she ate the forbidden
fruit. It did not end there. She enticed Adam to partake and both were ousted in
the eternal glory in paradise. And paradise was closed to humanity (Gen. 3:24).
Because of this sin, the world is in the state of death (Rome 6:2).
However, in the fullness of time, as promised by God, He sent His only

begotten Son (John 3:16). A perfect place is also prepared, to perfect the Body
that will be offered to ransom the humanity from the state of death. The Body to
be prepared is the body of Christ (Hebrew 10:5) and it is prepared to the
foreordained body of Mary. Therefore, before God sent His son, it was Mary first
who was sent as the gateway of Jesus’ Incarnation. As the first Eve closed the
gate of Paradise by her disobedience, the second Eve opened the gate of
heaven by her obedience to the plan of God. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done to me according to your words” (Luke 1:38).
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Through pride, the first woman submitted to the will of Satan. Through
humility, the second Eve boldly obeyed and says “Yes” to the will of God. The
former Eve dreamed to be like God. The latter Eve humbly recognized herself as
handmaid of the Lord. The old Eve enjoyed the glory of Paradise but fell and
sinned that begot pain and suffering. The new Eve embraced pain and suffering
to bring back the glory of Paradise. The old woman brought condemnation as the
new woman brought liberation.
The first woman is after of a grandeur life like God, so she believed the
lies of Satan. The second woman believed the message of truth from Archangel
Gabriel, even, if it meant agony and misery to her for the sake of human
Salvation. The second and the last Eve is Mary.
Sin has gained ground by Eve’s invitation to Adam to eat the forbidden
fruit. But more is the grace the flowed in the humanity by Mary’s “yes” to the will
of God that perfect the Incarnation of Christ. Adam and Eve fell to sin by the
forbidden tree, so as Jesus with Mary brought grace through the tree of the cross
in the Calvary.
The Lord has molded Eve out from the ribs of Adam to complete the
creation. God foreordained Mary for Christ to perfect the Salvation.
The weakness of Adam is Eve. They are one. Eve is the flesh and the
bones of Adam, so as Jesus with Mary. Mary’s flesh is Jesus flesh. Mary’s bones
are Jesus’ too. They are inseparable. Adam cannot say no to Eve, he ate the
fruit. Jesus cannot say no to Mary, he performed miracle though it was not yet his
time. Wherever Adam is so is Eve also. Wherever Jesus is, so as Mary.
Eve is the co-destructor of Adam. Mary is the co-redeemer of Christ. Eve

is the mother of sin and Mary is the mother of grace. Adam and Eve were the
king and queen of God’s creation but fall into sin. Jesus and Mary is the king and
queen of redemption who brought back humanity from the sin to eternal glory
with the Father.
As Adam and Eve were worthy of curse because of their sins. Jesus and
Mary are worthy of exultation and praise. “Blessed are you among women and
blessed in the fruit of your womb Jesus” (Luke 1:42)
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Chapter 9
REFLECTION AND CHALLENGE
On December 12, 1531 Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian peasant Juan

Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico. The Lady asked Diego to tell the bishop to build a
temple to her honor at the Tepeyac Hill. The bishop did not believe the apparition
until such time that the image of the Virgin was printed miraculously at Diego’s
cloak. When Diego opened his cloak, beautiful roses of different varieties and
colors spilled out on the floor. And the beautiful image was printed on the cloak.
The bishop then kneeled down and believed.
On October 7, 1571 the Christians defeated the Muslims at the Battle of

Lepanto, at the coast of Greece. It was led crossly by Pope Pius V who is praying
the Rosary with the people. It was the first major defeat of the Muslims. The
victory was attributed to Virgin Mary. As such, Pius V instituted October 7 as the
Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and inserted the title Help of Christians in
the Litany of the Virgin Mary.
Between February 11 and March 25, 1858 Virgin Mary appeared several
times in Lourdes, France. Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary saw 18 different
appearances of the beautiful lady. By Mary’s direction, Bernadette uncovered the
flow of water. It has miraculous healing effect to those who drink and bathe from
it. On the final appearance of the Virgin, she told Bernadette that she is the
Immaculate Conception.
In 1915 at Fatima, the small town in the middle of Portugal, the three
young children saw an angel. The angel urged them to pray to the hearts of
Jesus and Mary. After the angel’s apparition, the children saw the Lady standing
on a cloud and conversed intimately with them. The Virgin asked Russia to be
consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. The Lady said, “If people do not turn to
prayer more war will break out”. The Russian Revolution has broken out four
month later after the Virgin’s warning.
The story of the lady is not new. Even in the Genesis, the significant role
of the woman was already foretold. The appearances of the lady in different
places are just affirmation to the authenticity of the message from the Scriptures.
She even appeared in the vision of John the Apostle at Patmos Island as written
in Revelation 12:1.
The scripture begins with the creation and follows by the fall of man, and
the manifestation of two distinct offspring: that of the woman and that of the
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serpent. In Genesis 3:15, there are two offspring that hate each other. It said, “I
will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will
always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite their
heel.”
The woman signifies Mary, who will bear a son to crush out the power of
Satan, the serpent.
In Luke 1:48, Mary said, “from henceforth all generation shall call me
blessed.” Who among the Christians called and treated Mary as BLESSED? It is
only the Catholic Christian who venerated her that way.
This passage indicates that there are two kinds of generations, as there
are two kinds of offspring mentioned in the first book of the Bible. It is the
offspring of the woman and the offspring of the serpent. It is the generation who
called the woman blessed and the generation who refuse to do so.
This allegorical phenomenon is extended in the Book of Revelation 12:17.

The dragon that is the same serpent in Genesis furiously went off to fight against
the descendants of the woman. This is the third time where dichotomy of people
is mentioned, the descendants of the woman and the dragon.
The offspring of the woman in Genesis, the generation who will call Mary
blessed and the descendants of the woman in Revelation are one. While the
offspring of the serpent in the Genesis, the generation who refuse to honor Mary
as blessed and the dragon in Revelation are also one.
There are two generations. To which group do you belong?
As what Sister Lucy of Fatima told to Father Fuestes on December 26,

1957, “She (the Blessed Virgin Mary) told me that the devil is in the mood for
engaging in a decisive battle against the Virgin. And a decisive battle is the final
battle where one side will be victorious and the other side will suffer defeat. Also
from now on we must choose sides. Either we are for God or we are for the devil.
There is no other possibility.”
Quo vadis? In the name of the Mother or in the name of the Dragon? To
the woman’s descendants or to the serpent’s lair?
“But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you
choose and do?” (Ecclesiastes11: 9).
- 64 -
Bibliography
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Manila, Philippines. 1997
Fernandez, Socrates C. The Handbook of Catholic Faith. Saint Paul

Publications, Philippines. 1992
Fernandez, Socrates C. Katin-awan II. Saint Paul Publications,

Philippines. 1992
Paredes, Jose Cristo Rey G. Mary and the Reign of God (A Synthesis of
Mariology), Claretion Publications, Quezon City, Philippines. 1990
Glenn, Paul J. Apologetics. B. Herder Book Company, Ballou Press, Inc.

Binghamton. 1931.
Kramer, Fr. Paul. The Devil’s Final Battle. Good Counsel Publications,
Canada. 2002
Kreeft, Peter and Ronald Tacelli. Handbook of Christian Apologetics.

InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove Illinois. 1994
Maria, Andrew. Parcel of Truth An Anthology of Anecdote. Saint Paul

Publication, Makati, Metro Manila. Second Edition 1993.
Miraville, Mark I. “With Jesus” The Story of Mary Co-Redemtrix.
Queenship Publishing, Goleta, CA 93116. 2003
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A Revised and Expanded Edition. Claretian Publication, Quezon City,
Philippines. 2001
O’Day, Gail R. Commentary on John. Women’s Bible Commentary
Expanded Edition. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky. 1998.
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Education Asia Pte. Ltd. 2000
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- 65 -

In The Name (Red)

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In the Name of the Mother

(The Basic Marian Truth)

by Allan “Way Labad” Laniba

I also dedicate this book to all the mothers,

Chapter 1. Mary, Mother of God

Chapter 2. Mary, Perpetual Virgin

Chapter 3. Mary, Immaculate Conception

Chapter 4. Assumption of Mary

Chapter 5. Mary, Co-redemptrix and Co-Mediatrix

Chapter 6. The Holy Rosary

Chapter 7. The Veneration of Mary

Chapter 8. Mary and the Plan of Salvation

Chapter 9. Reflection and Challenge

Mary is among these women, who experienced unjust and discriminatory

IN THE NAME OF THE MOTHER of Jesus, this book is designed to probe

This author has been a lecturer of Mariology in various local parish

This book discusses Mary’s Role in the Salvation of Humanity including

ALLAN “Way Labad” LANIBA

To those people who helped in one way or another in the completion of

To Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz, S.T.D., D.D. and Rev. Fr. Arnold

To my friends; Ma. Clarissa Balabag, who shared her precious time in

To my parents Felicisimo and Leonideza Laniba, my sisters: Josephine,

To my wife together with my children who is always there to inspire me

To my father and mother-in-laws; Rodrigo and Judy Baclaan, and to my

To my comrades in the Catholic Faith Defenders, Catholic Charismatic

And to others whom I may have failed to mention, my sincere thanks,

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

In Greek, this title of Mary is “Theotokos” which means “God-bearer”. This

Catholics defended the dogma ever since while non-Catholic

These arguments will compel us to favor only one: between Mary’s

Scrutiny of Non-Marians arguments

The arguments presented above sound correct. But scrutinizing the

Counter Argument No. 1

1. Jesus is God (Jn.1:1, Rev.1:8, Rev. 22:12, Titus 2:13).

Another argument to support this claim is that when we were conceived by

Stage 1. Stage 2. The Process of Incarnation Stage 3. Jesus is born

Christ as Jesus as He is God & man

Illustration 2. The usual incarnation of human.

Stage 1. Stage 2. The conception & Stage 3.The birth.

God created The spirit

Supposing you acknowledge the presence of President Gloria Macapagal

Statement 1: Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the presence of the

Statement 2: Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the presence of the

Thanks! Raising this question signifies your acceptance to all my

The Philippines was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. The

Referring on the footnote of the Oxford Annotated Bible Revised Standard

Let us look at other translations:

New International Version:

New American Bible:

The most important message in the wedding at Cana is the miracle

The footnote of the New American Bible said:

We cannot question the wisdom of God. He willed Mary to be the mother

The Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, 1964) has

The Catechism of Filipino Catholics emphasized once again that: “The

In the Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the

Heaven’s Only Lawyer

“I do not need her,” Faustus boasted, “I need only Christ.”

“Please”, she said, “Lessen Isaac’s sentence. Make it ten years in

Faustus the Fundamentalist was stunned. When it was his time to be

“Please, Your Honor,” Faustus appealed to the Judge, “I would like to

“There is only one lawyer in this court.”

“May I ask who it is?”