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Review by Dr Pravin Thevathasan


In Defence of Mary
Responses to Non-Catholic objections to Catholic Devotion to Mary
by Professor Michael Ogunu
Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City Printing Press

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A Nigerian friend asked me to recommend a book on what Catholics believe about Mary. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. In a matter of just over a hundred pages, Professor Ogunu covers all the relevant topics and answers the standard non-Catholic objections with clarity.

I remember talking to a Protestant who would not accept that Mary is the Mother of God. "The Mother of Jesus in his human nature, yes" she said. "But to call her Mother of God makes her a goddess." Professor Ogunu shows how Mary is the Mother of God as taught by the Catholic Church without ever being considered a goddess. He also shows that this good Protestant had fallen into the heresy of Nestorianism, condemned by the Council of Ephesus in AD 431. When Christians read history, they become Catholics! Professor Ogunu offers us plenty of quotes from the Church Fathers and the Councils of the Church in his responses.

Do Catholics worship Mary? No. Then how is it that we bow down before Mary. It is because Catholics are Biblical Christians. Professor Ogunu shows that in the Old Testament, Abraham bows down before angels. He is not worshiping them. An angel is also described as bowing down before Joshua. He is certainly not worshiping Joshua.

The belief that Mary is the Mediatrix of graces goes back to the 6th century in the East and 9th century in the West. Mary's mediation must always be understood as being secondary to, and dependent on, Christ's primary role as mediator. Mary exercises her role by way of intercession. This is because God allows His creatures to participate in His work without the creature being identified as God. As the author beautifully put it:

"Mary is Mediatrix to the one mediator, Christ the Redeemer; her mediation involves a cooperation in the redemptive passion and death of her son and her continuing role in heaven of dispensing graces of the Redemption to individuals."

Does not the Bible tell us that Mary had other children. The author tells us that there was no Hebrew word for cousin. They were the cousins of the Lord.
How do Catholics justify beliefs that are not found in the Bible: the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption, for example? It is because we believe in Scripture and Tradition. Above all, we have the infallible teachings of the Church. Such beliefs are implicitly referenced in Scripture and they certainly do not contradict Scripture.

This is a very helpful work of Catholic apologetics.


Copyright ©; Dr Pravin Thevathasan 2017

Version: 7th October 2017


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