Many have heard mention of the Rosary (both here and elsewhere), and may wonder what it is... it is many hundreds of years old, and is not just for catholics.
It consists of the following scriptural prayers:
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The Apostoles Creed https://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-apostles-creed/
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The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) https://www.praywithme.com/the-lords-prayer.html
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Hail Mary (Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42, +petitioning Mary to pray for us, both now and while we are dying)
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Glory Be (Doxology/Praising of the Triune God) Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, in now and will be forever, amen.
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Fatima Prayer (optional) Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
The above is the "Body" of the Rosary.
The "Soul" of the Rosary is, during prayer, meditating upon a set of 5 scriptural stories. These are grouped into 4 sets, with focus on Jesus' infancy and childhood, his public ministry, his passion, and his glory. Scriptural Meditation is not easy, but consists of bringing yourself into the scene being meditated on. What is little realized, is Jesus, being God, is aware of every one visiting him in this way -- even at the time of the original event (!)
The rosary is a most powerful prayer against the devil and all enemies of God. Two historical examples (there are others) where the tide was turned by praying the rosary:
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The 1571 Battle of Lepanto - where Christian forces, greatly outnumbered by Muslim naval forces, turned to the spiritual weapon of the rosary, and a powerful wind and storm caused the Muslim ships to be defeated. This staved off Muslim expansion into Europe, keeping Europe Christian, and lasting (arguably), until recent times and the current loss of Christian faith there. https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/history/how-the-1571-battle-of-lepanto-saved-europe.html
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Austria Saved from Communist Rule - in the early 1950's, Austria was occupied, by communist forces, and every indication was they would suffer the same fate as other iron curtain countries. A priest, recalling the Lepanto victory, roused up Austrians -- at least 10% of them, to pray the rosary for deliverance, and on May 13th, 1955, the Russians packed up and left Austria, without a shot being fired. https://choosing-him.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-rosary-frees-austria-from-communist.html
Mary is dead and can’t hear any of us.
She's more alive than you are, fren. :)
Yes, and it is very clear that Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42 in the New Testament is Mary’s story of receiving a divine blessing and rejoicing in God because of it.
Luke 1:28
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
Luke 1:42
and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
That is a great point -- many Lutherans for example, have no idea all the compliments of Martin Luther towards Mary. I've heard (but haven't seen) that his gravesite includes a picture of Mary in heaven.
The reformers were all catholic. Most Christians today are unknowingly catholic. The reformers didn’t go far enough—they got rid of the mass and idols and that’s about it.
From that website-
Again throughout his life Luther held that Mary's perpetual virginity was an article of faith for all Christians - and interpreted Galatians 4:4 to mean that Christ was "born of a woman" alone.
"It is an article of faith that Mary is Mother of the Lord and still a Virgin."
It's clear Yashua had both brothers and sisters, so Mary was not a perpetual virgin.
Matthew 12:46-50
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 13:54-56
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Did you know the Protoevangelium of James was written in classical Greek (not Koine Greek like the New Testament was) and was edited multiple times?
That's according to Dr. George Zervos, Professor Emeritus. He translated the Greek Text into English. In the process of doing so, he examined all the known copies of the Protoevangelium of James and determined it was a heretical document from the 1st century which was gradually changed to conform with orthodox Christianity over the years. It was heavily redacted and had compositional problems due to said redactions.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/protevangelium-of-james-9780567053169/
As far as your Wikipedia article goes, it name drops Origen-
Manly P. Hall, the Freemason who wrote The Secret Teaching of All Ages, had this to say about Origen and other early Christians in name only from Alexandria, Egypt-
The Mysteries and Their Emissaries
DID that divine knowledge which constituted the supreme possession of the pagan priestcrafts survive the destruction of their temples? Is it yet accessible to mankind, or does it lie buried beneath the rubbish of ages, entombed within the very sanctuaries that were once illuminated by its splendor?
"In Egypt," writes Origen, "the philosophers have a sublime and secret knowledge respecting the nature of God.
What did Julian imply when he spoke of the secret initiations into the sacred Mysteries of the Seven-Rayed God who lifted souls to salvation through His own nature?
Who were the blessed theurgists who understood them profundities concerning which Julian dared not speak?
If this inner doctrine were always concealed from the masses, for whom a simpler code had been devised, is it not highly probable that the exponents of every aspect of modern civilization--philosophic, ethical, religious, and scientific- are ignorant of the true meaning of the very theories and tenets on which their beliefs are founded?
Do the arts and sciences that the race has inherited from older nations conceal beneath their fair exterior a mystery so great that only the most illumined intellect can grasp its import? Such is undoubtedly the case.
Origen was descended from the following school of scholars in Alexandria, Egypt who were referenced in the Acts of the Apostles, and not in a good way-
Acts 6:9-14
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
This information war and battle against Jesus has been going on for a very long time.