The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his078/cath_25.arj/CATH-25.TXT

Text File | 1990-04-14 | 19KB | 382 lines

                    MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY
                   (The Phenomenon of Bayside)

                       by Edgar L. Havaich

  Sightings of the Virgin Mary have been recorded, some in great
detail, through the last several centuries. Rumors of potential
visits by the Virgin attract large crowds to the expected visita-
tion site. In some cases only a few people see her. In others,
she is visible to everyone present.

 A common description is: The apparition identifies herself as
the Blessed Virgin, the mother of Jesus, and says she has come
with an urgent warning of imminent destruction and judgment. She
tells people to shun this corrupt world. She emphatically con-
demns the corruption she sees in the Roman Catholic Church. She
also promises a solution to the world's problems if people will
heed her words.

  If this Mary truly is a messenger of God, people need to heed
her words. However, if these visitations are not divinely direct-
ed, then Christians should not heed them and even regard them as
demonic.

 In considering this issue, Christians first need to look at what
is known about Mary and separate that from legend.

  The Bible mentions the name Mary 54 times in 46 verses. Not all
of these references are to Mary, the mother of Jesus. There are
other Marys mentioned in the Bible: Mary Magdalene, from whom
Jesus cast seven demons, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, Mary, the
wife of Cleophas' and Mary, mother of John Mark.

   Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the cousin of Elizabeth, mother
of John the Baptist.  Mary is first mentioned in Matthew 1.
There we learn she was engaged to Joseph and hears from an angel
that she is going to have a baby, who will be the Son of God, and
so on. In other Gospel accounts, Mary attends a wedding at Cana.
Another time, Jesus receives a message that Mary wishes to see
him. She also is at the foot of Jesus' cross. She is mentioned in
Acts 1 as being among the disciples. Luke gathered material from
her for his Gospel. A brief study with a Bible and concordance
will tell the reader all God has revealed about her in His word.

  Documents called the pseudepigrapha also mention Mary. Pseude-
pigrapha means "false writings" and refers to unauthentic books
written in the centuries just before and after the birth of
Christ. These books contain religious folklore and are not con-
sidered canonical by the Christian Church. Eusebius called them
"absurd and impious." Orthodox Christian scholars consider them
valuable only because they point out heretical teachings and
record the fanciful lore of the early church.

  Following is a summary of the two pseudepigrapha books that are
essentially about Mary.  After reading these you'll have a better
understanding of the origin of some of the Marian myths, and why
the Church rejected them.

  The Gospel of the Birth of Mary begins by describing Joachim
and Anna.  Their lives are plain and right in the sight of the
Lord.  They vow that if God will give them children, they will
devote them to the service of God.  Joachim and some of his tribe
go to Jerusalem for the feast of dedication. There, Issachar the
high priest reproaches Joachim because he and Anna have no chil-
dren.  Joachim is ashamed.

  Then an angel tells Joachim that Anna is going to have a baby
girl whom they are to name Mary. She is to be reared in the
temple, and while she is a virgin, will bring forth the Son of
God.  Joachim is told to look for a sign, and the angel leaves.

  Then the angel tells Anna she is going to have the baby. Short-
ly after, Anna conceives and has Mary.

  At age three, Mary is brought to the temple.  In the temple
there are, "according to the fifteen Psalms of degree, fifteen
stairs to ascend."  Anna and Joachim set Mary on the stairs.
While Anna and Joachim take off the clothes they traveled in Mary
ascends all 15 stairs unaided. "Thus the Lord did, in the infancy
of his Virgin, work this extraordinary work and evidence by this
miracle how great she was like to be hereafter," the "gospel"
says. Mary's parents leave her with other virgins at the temple
and return home.

  Mary has daily conversations with angels and receives visitors
from God. These keep her from all sorts of evil.  At age 14, Mary
is still above reproach and admired by all who know her. Then the
high priest orders all virgins to go home and prepare for mar-
riage. Only Mary refuses, because she and her parents have devot-
ed her to serving the Lord.

   Faced with Mary's refusal to obey, the high priest calls all
the important people of Jerusalem and they decide to seek the
Lord's counsel.  Immediately, there is a voice from the Ark of
the Covenant. The high priest obeys the order and has all the men
of the house and family of David to bring their rods to the
altar.  Mary will be engaged to the one who has the rod that
produces a budding flower and that the spirit of the Lord sits
upon in the appearance of a dove.

 Joseph draws back his rod.  Nothing happens and the high priest
consults with God again.  God tells the high priest that the one
who didn't bring his rod is the one to whom Mary is to be en-
gaged. So when Joseph does bring forth his rod, a dove from
heaven perches on top of it, the sign that he is the one to take
Mary.

  Then the angel Gabriel appears and explains to Mary that she is
going to conceive without lying with a man. Mary is acquainted
with angelic visits and is not afraid.  After a couple of ques-
tions about how it was going to happen, she submits.

  Joseph returns to Jerusalem to marry the Virgin.  When he finds
out that she is pregnant, he wants to put her away.  The angel of
the Lord tells him that this is not the work of man, but of the
Holy Spirit. So Joseph marries Mary but does not have relations
with her.

  The second book which provides additional information not found
in "The Gospel of the Birth of Mary" is "The Protevangelion."
This writing purports to be an account the birth of Christ and
the perpetual virginity of Mary.  Its content  is similar to that
of "The Gospel of the Birth of Mary" with some notable additions:

   Joachim is shown to be a rich man. A high priest named Reuben
opposes him because he has no children.  Joachim goes to the
desert and fasts for forty days and forty nights.

  When Mary is 9 months old, Anna puts her on the ground to see
if she can walk. She takes nine steps and returns to her mother.
Anna says "As the Lord my God liveth, thou shalt not walk again
on this earth till I bring thee into the temple of the Lord."

  And the Protevangelion 8:2 says, "But Mary continued in the
temple as a dove educated there, and received her food from the
hand of an angel."

  There is little wonder why the Church rejected these two books.

  Despite that, notions of who Mary was and her place in God's
scheme range far from the biblical truth. Hence, we have people
who heed visions and purported visits by Mary as being direct
messages from God.

  For example, Estella Ruiz of Phoenix, has opened her back yard
to Roman Catholics who believe she has seen the Virgin Mary.
"The message of our Blessed Mother, more than anything, is people
need to return to God and they need to return to the teaching of
her son, Jesus; and that is love and respect each other,"  Says
Armando Ruiz, a Democratic legislator and son of Estella. " Two
months ago, Armando Ruiz said that the Virgin Mary has instructed
his mother to build a shrine in the family's back yard."  Mary
told Ruiz that she is to be called "Our Lady of the Americas,"  A
local pastor says he believes that Mary has been appearing and
has been in contact with the Phoenix Diocese, but the apparitions
have been neither condoned nor rejected." (USA Today, Aug. 18,
1989, A2)

  Across the United States visions of the Virgin Mary have ap-
peared in most unusual places.  For example, it is claimed that
she has appeared on the side of a garage in Toledo, Ohio.  From
50 to 100 people have been lining the street to see the image of
"Mary bowing in prayer with hands clasped."  (Cleveland Plain
Dealer, August 19, 1989)

  In Lubbock, Texas, Mary reportedly visited St. John Neumann
Catholic Church. Fifteen thousand people attended an open-air
Mass on August 15, 1989, and many claimed that they saw 'images'
in the sky. Church officials promised an investigation into the
reported visions and messages.

  But of all those reporting Marian visions, few are as organized
as the group at Bayside, N.Y., that has rallied around Veronica
Lueken.

 Lueken is in her early 60s. Her first vision came in 1968. St.
Theresa started appearing to her and dictated to her poems and
sacred writings.

  Mary appeared to Veronica on April 7, 1970, and told here her
she would appear on the grounds of the old St. Robert Bellarmine
Church in Bayside on June 18, 1970, ordered that prayer vigils be
held there, that full directions be given to the clergy of the
parish to prepare for her visit; and that a shrine and basilica
be built there.

  Luekens' background story is in almost every copy of Roses, a
newspaper providing current information on the revelations at
Bayside.

 In her visions of Mary, Jesus is usually following His mother.
Mary makes the sign of the cross, then blesses the people.  She
then places her finger to her lips, which means those who see her
must listen and repeat. She then speaks. She has spoken out on a
multitude of issues and subjects. These are just a few of her
messages:

  "My children, go to your Bishops and tell them that all Heaven
is disturbed, and Our Hearts are torn by the laxity in attitude
in pride and arrogance of the priesthood in My Son's Church."
(Roses, May 26, 1979)

  "My Son has sent Me to you, through the Father and the Spirit
of Life, as a Mediatrix between God and man, to direct you and
counsel you, that you may understand the knowledge given in the
Book of love and life, your Bible.  For many who read, they are
just words, not to be practiced in the daily lives of many."
(Roses, Sept. 7, 1979)

"My child and My children, the cross of your Christ is being
trampled upon.  And who will take this cross and carry it in
reparation for the sins of mankind?  I beg unto you as your
Mother: Pick up your cross and carry it for My Son.  Can you not
suffer for My Son?  Can you not make reparation for the sins of
man, to expect God the Father in Heaven may extend unto you a
small measure of time to save your brothers?"  (ibid.)

"Remember always, Veronica and My children upon the earth, that
the eventual victory over Satan shall be with My Son. You, My
child, Veronica, will not be given a heavier cross that you can
carry."  (ibid.)

"Make it known, My child and My children, to all mankind that all
wars are a punishment for man's sins."  (ibid.)

"You will all continue a constant vigilance of prayer: bead to
bead, Rosary to Rosary going throughout the world, nation to
nation.  And with the cooperation of all good souls, there is
still time - although very little time is left - there is still
time to hold back the destruction."  (Roses, Oct. 1,
1983)

  Miracles are also attributed to Mary.  Someone writes in to
Roses and tells of a friend diagnosed as having cancer in her
left breast.  She is advised to have surgery.  This person imme-
diately sends her a rose petal blessed by "Our Lord and Our
Lady." She is told to tape the rose petal to the affected breast
and not to remove it.  The tumor shrinks.  Nevertheless, she has
surgery and the tumor is benign.  Even though Jesus and Mary are
said to have blessed the rose petal, Mary alone is honored and
thanked for the miracle. (Roses, Oct. 1, 1983)

  Page 3 of the December 1989 issue of Roses contains testimoni-
als from people  around the world who say they were healed by
rose pedals Mary and Jesus have blessed. These people have prayed
to Mary for these healings.  Some include Jesus and Mary.  When
the healing occurs some give thanks to Mary alone while others
include Jesus.

  Lueken has received messages from Mary about another organiza-
tion she views as evil, the Watchtower Society.

  "And now, My child, it has not been My policy to put down in
strict perfect order those who are going throughout the world as
deceivers, but I warn you now to beware and protect your children
from the groups that are forming that are false prophets and will
take you from the true religions.  One must be named now and it
is called the Jehovah Witnesses.  My children, they are not a
church.  They were not founded in the time of My Son's placement
upon earth.  They were founded approximately 55 years ago by a
group of so-called learned seminarians, not of the true Christian
Faith, but seeking to rewrite the Bible of God to suit their own
human frailties and needs.  It took a great deal of courage to
come away from the true Faith and establish themselves, but this
courage will be brought to naught.  Except, My children, that
there are many new souls that come also from the fold of the
Eternal Father, the Roman Catholics, that are being taken in by
this group of false prophets.

I do not wish to seek merriment on this, My child, but We, too,
in Heaven must smile as they go about the world saying, that
Jesus was not upon the earth as a Savior, nor is He the Son of
God; no, He is Saint Michael the Archangel!  My child, I see this
brings a smile to your lips." (Roses, Sept. 27, 1986)

  It brought a smile to this writer's lips, too.  Jehovah's
Witnesses love to correct people on this point.  Many people
think Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe Jesus is the Son of God.
However, they do believe Jesus is God's Son and that He is the
savior.  They don't believe Jesus is God, equal with the Father,
and that He can be their personal savior.

  This writer sent a letter to Bayside asking for the references
to Mary's declaration that the founders were former seminarians.
The letter also pointed out what Jehovah's Witnesses believe
about the person of Jesus Christ and requested that they ask Mary
where she got her information. Several months later, the Bayside
group replied that it still was looking for the quotes but that
in the meantime the letter along and a note would be placed at
Mary's feet during one of the vigils in hopes she would answer
it.

  Lueken also claims to receive messages from Jesus Himself. Here
are some examples:

"I will repeat again for My Mother, that We wish that you all
write to Cardinal Casarilli in Rome and beg him, if necessary, to
put aside his false pride, and not mislead Pope John Paul II any
longer.  If necessary, if he does not listen to this counsel, We
will be forced to remove him."  (Roses, June 18, 1987)

"My parents of the world, I say unto you, as your God: This will
not be tolerated much longer.  For if you parents will not raise
your children in the light, you will raise them in darkness, and
they will eventually rise up and even kill you.  There are many
satanic institutions throughout the world now that are waiting
for your children.  Are you going to allow them to fall into
their hands because you are too busy elsewhere to watch your
children?  Are you turning them over to the satanic tube, the
television?  Yes, My children, they are learning to kill by the
television.  They are learning disrespect
for the parents.  They laugh at you when you are not watching.
That, My children of the world-parents, your children are to be
lost." (Roses, Mar. 18, 1989)

 "Be it known to Our bishops and cardinals: (I do not include
Pope John Paul II at this time, because he is under the domina-
tion of his bishops and cardinals.)  I look upon my Church at
this time and I find gross errors.  I tell you now, all bishops
and cardinals of the world: My Church shall not be defamed.  You
shall not defame My Name.  I will allow this to continue but for
a short time.  If you do not acknowledge Me properly before the
world, I assure you, I will not acknowledge you before the Fa-
ther; and you will not have eternal rest with My Father in Heav-
en." (ibid.)

     Lueken also claims to have seen the God the Father, announc-
ing: "I see a very wonderful Man.  He is so grandfatherly, with a
long white beard.  And He is sitting with the most beautiful cape
on Him; He looks like a regal King.  He's smiling.  There is no
way to explain Him.  And He is so translucent and shining.  I
know it is the Eternal Father.""  (ibid.)

  The Bayside messages have detractors. Several PFO staff members
who visited the site of the Bayside  apparitions noticed papers
laying all around the Vatican Pavilion. The papers included
letters from Jesus and someone called "Little Pebble."  One paper
corrected the message given to Lueken on June 18th, 1989.  The
paper said the messages at Bayside have been distorted and added
to in order to suit some evil purpose.  This paper purportedly
was from Mary, who said the words transcribed by Lueken were
those of neither her nor her son.  Lueken, the paper said, has
been tested and found wanting.

  People can argue whether Lueken is a true bearer of messages
from beyond, but the point is that the biblical Mary has no such
role. Mary was a mortal woman whom God chose to be the mother of
the baby Jesus, God clothed in human flesh. She conceived Jesus
by the Holy Spirit, gave birth to him and reared him as her son.

 When Jesus turned 30 and began His earthly ministry, Mary's role
was no different from that of any other mortal. She had no au-
thority or primacy over Him.

 John's account of Jesus' crucifixion provides telling evidence.
Jesus placed Mary into John's care, saying "Behold your mother!
(John 19:27). John took Mary into his home, not the reverse.  We
need not spiritualize this verse and say that John was symboli-
cally receiving Mary for the whole body of Christ.  We cannot
from this verse nor any other infer that Mary is our spiritual
mother.

  When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray He told
them to pray to the Father. Prayer should be directed to the
Father and Son. Mary cannot intercede for us.

  Apparitions, dreams, and visions must all be judged according
to Scripture.  Further Christians must not confuse illumination
with revelation.  Without the Word of God as a guide there is no
way to evaluate the revelations of the many seers, prophets, and
gurus.  The apparitions are, at best, the work of a fertile
imagination, or, at worst, demonic.  The Bayside revelations
cannot be real because they have been tested by Scripture which
has shown this "Mary" to be "quite contrary" to the Word of God.



(c) 1990 - PFO - All rights reserved by Personal Freedom Out-
reach.  Reproduction is prohibited except for portions intended
for personal use and noncommercial purposes.  For reproduction
permission, please contact: Personal Freedom Outreach, P.O. Box
26026, Saint Louis, Missouri 63136, [phone].