Clarifying a Misconception
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27559)
Philippines
October 6, 2021 7:42pm CST
Today is the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary, formerly known as Our Lady of Victory because on this day in 1571, the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic states arranged by Pope Pius V, won over the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto. The victory ended the expansion of the Turks and destroyed the myth of Turkish invincibility.
Story has it that Pope Pius V commanded every parish to pray the rosary all throughout the battle. One battleship of the coalition forces carried the image of our Lady of Guadalupe.
It was supposedly a lopsided battle because of the massive forces of the Ottoman navy. But a mist fogged towards the Ottoman ships that enabled the Holy League to attack. The victory was attributed to the our Lady of the Rosary.
Now, many Protestants accuse Catholics of praying to Mary and call it Mariolatry. Just to make clear the untruth presented in the accusation, Catholics do not pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholics pray with the Virgin Mary.
In the Catholic teaching, we have some Greek words to make clear to Whom we pray and who we invoke in our prayers.
Latria - refers to adoration or the supreme worship of God alone.
Hyperdulia - is the highest reverence given to the Mother of God, Mary.
Protodulia - is the first reverence given to the foster father of God, Joseph.
Dulia - is the reverence given to saints as examples of holiness.
By the way, the Holy Rosary is a meditative prayer on the Life of our Lord Jesus as True Man.
7 people like this
6 responses
@RebeccasFarm (94982)
• Arvada, Colorado
7 Oct 21
You are very knowledgeable in your Catholic faith Eileen.
It is also my faith.
This is very interesting this event. I did not know of it.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
7 Oct 21
Learned about the Battle of Lepanto from Fr. Don Calloway.
Our Catechism focused of the sacraments. No unit was offered in Church History. Had to research on my own. Still studying the Didache or the teachings of the Apostolic Fathers.
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@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
8 Oct 21
@RebeccasFarm The journey has been long but one warm memory shows me a tag-along with grandma to her catechism class at a public school. I enjoyed listening to Biblical stories.
As a freshie in High School, I volunteered narrating the same well-loved stories of the Old Testament: David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Jonah and the whale, Moses and the Ten Plagues, Noah and his Ark.
At the twilight of my life now, I do believe it was my calling to bring the Good News. As it is everyone's calling. We are all actually apostles also.
Thank you very much for the blessings. As I wish you the same blessings. Our good God loves us each the same.
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@RebeccasFarm (94982)
• Arvada, Colorado
7 Oct 21
@eileenleyva Your dedication walks before you Eileen. God bless you.
Yes us too, on the catechism and sacraments and saints.
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@RasmaSandra (85156)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Oct 21
Thank you for the information I did not know any of this, I am not Catholic I am Lutheran, The only little bit of rosary beads I have, have a little silver cross hanging from them. These and the cross were given to my husband when he was baptised at a Russian Orthodox Church in Latvia and I have hung the beads over a little plastic statue I have of Jesus,
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@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
8 Oct 21
The Church our Lord Jesus instituted has endured controversies and great schisms throughout the two millennium long history. The Church has been infiltrated also by ill-meaning creatures who posted as clergy. Thus, the infamous split of so-called Christians that led to more confusing ideologies and further fighting, including the erroneous effort of the Crusades to reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims. Francis of Assisi saw for himself the cruelties Christians has inflicted on the Muslims in the 13th century. Fast-forward eight hundred years, our Pope John Paul II has asked for forgiveness for the errors of the Church.
Martin Luther, I gather, was one disgruntled monk that led many to apostasy. From Fr. Don Calloway, I heard that he even ran away with a nun and married her, purportedly to malign the celibacy of priesthood.
Not really knowledgeable about the Russian Orthodox which your husband was baptized into. But if there is a Catholic Church near you, dial a priest and seek for advice. I know Tony Blair of the UK realized the importance of the sacraments, especially the Communion, which we must avail while on earth. I must add that Cyprian of the 3rd century did teach that 'outside the church there is no salvation.' However, he wrote that on the context of apostasy, I think.
I'd leave you with a clip for further introspection. My love and prayers. Shalom.
For centuries, the Catholic Church has proclaimed that there is no salvation outside of the Church. But what does that really mean?MORE ON FEENEYISMhttp://ww...
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (85156)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Oct 21
@eileenleyva thank you for the link. Personally, I believe there is always an exception as long as we are good people and we keep to our faith.
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@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
12 Oct 21
@RasmaSandra True. Church doctrines are there to guide us. Judgment is for our God alone.
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@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
9 Oct 21
Not exactly a research. I do my best to attend online Masses everyday. The pandemia had been so long that the Gospel stories and the homilies had been retold two or three times already. Once you hear the same thing, you kinda remember.
But yes, I also have a notebook wherein I jot down notes about teachings I've not heard before.
As of late, I had been discovering details about the life of St Francis whose feast day was celebrated last week. St. Francis is my most favorite saint. He literally followed the life of our Lord Jesus.
@owstalaga (4774)
• Philippines
21 May
I learned of this after I learned about the battle of La Naval. How we were able to defeat the Dutch who were trying to bring Protestantism to us. 
Too bad it eventually arrived 300 or so years later after the PH was sold to the US. Oh well.
Too bad it eventually arrived 300 or so years later after the PH was sold to the US. Oh well.
@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
7 Oct 21
Yup. There is much to learn about Salvation History. The truths has been distorted through the centuries that it is imperative to research and relearn Church History.
Pleasure sharing.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52263)
• Philippines
7 Oct 21
We actually asked Mother Mary and the saints to pray for us in the said prayer. It's just their propaganda to promote their christian religion. Some even burn images of Mama mary and saints.
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@eileenleyva (27559)
• Philippines
7 Oct 21
Arianism and Protestantism has done much damage to the church we love. It is important that we reteach the teachings of the Apostles and the Apostolic Fathers (the successors of the apostles first three centuries)
Remember, Islam came in the sixth century and that was brought about by Arianism.
Protestantism came about in the 1500's.
Remember also that we are not reducing our faith to merely a religion. Catholicism is a way of life that our Lord Jesus taught. We are not to convert but to bring the Good News of Salvation to those willing to listen about the Love of our God.
Spread the Love, Knight.
