More from TurretinFan on the Immaculate Conception.
Thoughts of Francis Turretin: The White-Ferrara Marian Debate - Some Follow-Up
In the post TurretinFan links to 'Ineffibilis Deus' which is the document which declares the Immaculate Conception to be official Church Dogma. Here is a quote from it that shows the purpose of the doctrine and the spirit of it, which is offensive beyond words:
All our hope do we repose in the most Blessed Virgin -- in the all fair and immaculate one who has crushed the poisonous head of the most cruel serpent and brought salvation to the world: in her who is the glory of the prophets and apostles, the honor of the martyrs, the crown and joy of all the saints; in her who is the safest refuge and the most trustworthy helper of all who are in danger; in her who, with her only-begotten Son, is the most powerful Mediatrix and Conciliatrix in the whole world; in her who is the most excellent glory, ornament, and impregnable stronghold of the holy Church; in her who has destroyed all heresies and snatched the faithful people and nations from all kinds of direst calamities; in her do we hope who has delivered us from so many threatening dangers. We have, therefore, a very certain hope and complete confidence that the most Blessed Virgin will ensure by her most powerful patronage that all difficulties be removed and all errors dissipated, so that our Holy Mother the Catholic Church may flourish daily more and more throughout all the nations and countries, and may reign "from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth," and may enjoy genuine peace, tranquility and liberty. We are firm in our confidence that she will obtain pardon for the sinner, health for the sick, strength of heart for the weak, consolation for the afflicted, help for those in danger; that she will remove spiritual blindness from all who are in error, so that they may return to the path of truth and justice, and that here may be one flock and one shepherd.
All these things ascribed to Mary are things that only God Himself does, and our hope and praise should go to Him alone. Christ is the one who crushed the head of the serpent. This is why I am offended and continue to feel the need to expose the spirit behind this doctrine.
I posted this whole chapter a few days ago and bolded this passage, hoping it might strike a chord: 1 Peter 1:20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
We believe in God the Father through Christ alone, and our faith and hope are in Him.
