The Biblical Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus)
And How Roman Catholic Doctrine Differs
by Henry Velez; Editor

INTRO:
As will be seen here, there is a vast difference between that which the Papal Authorities and it's doctrines declare and that which is declared by the Bible in regards to Mary. Despite many decrees by Popes over the years, there are absolutely no scriptures in the Bible granting Mary (a) any form of sovereignty, (b) she is not a mediator between man and Jesus, (c) she is not to be prayed to under any circumstance, (d) she is not the path to Christ, (e) and mankind is not to offer up thier lives in dedication to Mary or anyone other mortal, created being.

A common verse quoted by Catholic leaders in regards to Mary is the verse Luke 1:28. In the King James Version it reads; "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."(KJV) It is not much different in the New Intl. Version (taken from the original text in Greek) which reads; "The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (NIV)

Catholic doctrine regarding Mary relies heavily, almost solely, upon the wording, "..blessed art thou among women.". As will be seen here, the overwhelming weight of the rest of scripture teaches that the doctrines mentioned above are the product of Papal dictation and not scriptural insistence.

Roman Catholic doctrine states:
The Virgin Mary may be prayed to and is the "path to Christ". As seen here in direct quote from Pope Paul VI during an address given on April 30th, 1965.. the virgin Mary is an integral person to man's relationship with God; (quote) 

"As the month of May draws near, a month which the piety of the Faithful has specially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady, We are gladdened at the thought of the moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world will soon be paying to the Queen of Heaven. For this is the month during which Christians, both in Church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. 

"In this month, too, the gifts of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance. This pious practice, by which the Blessed Virgin is honored and the Christian people enriched with spiritual gifts, gladdens and consoles us. Mary remains ever the path that leads to Christ. Every encounter with her can only result in an encounter with Christ Himself. For what other reason do we continually turn to Mary than to seek for the Christ she holds in her arms--to seek in her, through her and with her the Savior to Whom men, in the perplexities and dangers of life here below, must of necessity have recourse, and to Whom they feel the ever recurring need of turning as to a haven of safety and an all-surpassing source of life?" (endquote) OnLine Reference

However, the Bible states:

Luke 11:1-4
"1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
1 Tim 5:5
5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
James 1:16-17
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Pet 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

Roman Catholic doctrine states:
Devotion of life belongs to Mary and she is the believer's caretaker. In a prayer offered up in January of 1979, at her Basilica in Mexico, His Holiness Pope John Paul II made the following statements; (quote)

"O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer.
Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church; hold us always with your loving hand. ...Amen."(endquote) OnLine Reference 

However, the Bible states:

Rom 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
Mark 12:30
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 
Ps 121:1-8
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.
II Ki 17:35
35 When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: "Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 

Roman Catholic doctrine states:
Mary shared an integral part in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. According to Pope John Paul II, in his General Audience given Oct. 25th, 1995; (quote) 

"...this doctrine was systematically worked out for the first time at the end of the 10th century in the Life of Mary by a Byzantine monk, John the Geometer. Here Mary is united to Christ in the whole work of Redemption, sharing, according to God's plan, in the Cross and suffering for our salvation. She remained united to the Son "in every deed, attitude and wish" (cf. Life of Mary, Bol. 196, f. 122 v.). Mary's association with Jesus' saving work came about through her Mother's love, a love inspired by grace, which conferred a higher power on it: love freed of passion proves to be the most compassionate (cf. Ibid., Bol. 196, f. 123 v.).

"3. In the West St. Bernard, who died in 1153, turns to Mary and comments on the presentation of Jesus in the temple: "Offer your Son, sacrosanct Virgin, and present the fruit of your womb to the Lord. For our reconciliation with all, offer the heavenly victim pleasing to God" (Serm. 3 in Purif., 2; PL 183, 370).

"A disciple and friend of St. Bernard, Arnold of Chartres, shed light particularly on Mary's offering in the sacrifice of Calvary. He distinguished in the Cross "two altars: one in Mary's heart, the other in Christ's body. Christ sacrificed his flesh, Mary her soul". Mary sacrificed herself spiritually in deep communion with Christ, and implored the world's salvation: "What the mother asks, the Son approves and the Father grants" (cf. De septem verbis Domini in cruce, 3: PL 189, 1694). (endquote) OnLine Reference 

However, the Bible states:

Acts 4:9-12
9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed,
10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Isa 46:9
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
Gal 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--
7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
I Jn 4:1-5
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 

Roman Catholic doctrine states:
Mary holds a 'sovereign' title of 'Queen' in the heavenly realms. As stated from AD CAELI REGINAM Encyclical of Pope Pius XII promulgated on October 11, 1954. To the Venerable Brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops and other Local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Holy See... (quote) 

"4. It is well known that we have taken advantage of every opportunity--through personal audiences and radio broadcasts--to exhort Our children in Christ to a strong and tender love, as becomes children, for Our most gracious and exalted Mother. On this point it is particularly fitting to call to mind the radio message which We addressed to the people of Portugal, when the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary which is venerated at Fatima was being crowned with a golden diadem.[3] We Ourselves called this the heralding of the "sovereignty" of Mary.[4] 

"5. And now, that We may bring the Year of Mary to a happy and beneficial conclusion, and in response to petitions which have come to Us from all over the world, We have decided to institute the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen. This will afford a climax, as it were, to the manifold demonstrations of Our devotion to Mary, which the Christian people have supported with such enthusiasm. 

"6. In this matter We do not wish to propose a new truth to be believed by Christians, since the title and the arguments on which Mary's queenly dignity is based have already been clearly set forth, and are to be found in ancient documents of the Church and in the books of the sacred liturgy." (endquote) OnLine Reference 

However, the Bible states:

2 Sam 7:20-22
20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD.
21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
Ps 71:5-6
5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Jer 32:17
17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 
Ezek 12:28
28 "Therefore say to them, `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" 
2 Pet 2:1-3
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 

SUMMARY: What can be seen here is that, while the Bible makes the statement (a single time) that Mary is "blessed among women" (phrased that way in the KJV) for her role as the chosen vessel for bearing the child Immanuel (meaning 'God is with us').. the Roman Catholic church has taken great liberties to extend her status far beyond that which scripture ever allowed.

The Bible declares repeatedly and explicitly that only through Jesus Christ will mankind find peace, mediation or relationship to God. The RC church has decided to insert Mary into a role never assigned her by scripture. To say Mary suffered on the cross with Jesus can only be taken in the same way anyone else present that day also suffered to see Him crucified. For it can be said that likewise the forgiven criminal on the cross beside Jesus also suffered when he saw the injustice as he said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Luke 23:41 

Finally, to preach that Mary in any slightest way has a part in either Mediation, Supplication, Redemption or Sovereignty which is above that of any other saint or near to the office of God is to clearly preach a different Gospel than that which is in the Bible. Gal 1:6-9 is very clear in that we are to reject any such other "gospel" no matter who the source is.

Gal 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--
7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!