For those working in the Islamic field, Lane’s huge 8-volume lexicon is now on line here. The hard-bound set is quite impressive, but take it from me…it also gives off an odd odor. Seriously. Its permanent home in my library is only a few feet from my keyboard.
Frank Beckwith, apart from showing up on blogs quoting the Council of Orange (but not Trent), will be participating this coming Saturday in the first meeting of the “Intra-Christian Conversion Study Group,” joining Paul J. Griffiths and Scott Hahn to discuss his conversion. Ironically, in announcing these things, Beckwith concluded with the Reformation slogan, Soli Deo Gloria, a phrase that cuts directly at Rome’s inclusion of all sorts of impediments to the glorification of God alone. In particular, these days, the insertion of Marian dogma is so prevalent, and unchecked, by Rome, that the late John Paul II could canonize Maximillian Kolbe in 1982, a man who wrote,
Still, their union is so inexpressible, and so perfect that the Holy Spirit acts only by the Immaculata, his spouse. . . .The third Person of the Blessed Trinity never took flesh; still, our human word spouse is far too weak to express the reality of the relationship between the Immaculata and the Holy Spirit. We can affirm that she is, in a certain sense, the incarnation of the Holy Spirit.
And,
The union between the Immaculata and the Holy Spirit is so inexpressible, yet so perfect, that the Holy Spirit acts only by the Most Blessed Virgin, his Spouse. This is why she is the mediatrix of all graces given by the Holy Spirit. And since every grace is a gift of God the Father through the Son and by the Holy Spirit, it follows that there is no grace which Mary cannot dispose of as her own, which is not given to her for this purpose.
Both citations are found in Mark Miravalle’s Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate, Queenship Publishing, 1993, 53-54. In any case, I wonder when Beckwith is going to deal directly with Rome’s Marian dogmas? I haven’t seen any evidence of it so far.
In a related development, Steve Ray posted a brief comment on his blog about what verses the Roman Catholic Church has defined “definitively.” The fact that you can’t even get a straight answer as to which verses have been infallibly interpreted should be kept in mind by every wide-eyed convert who is trotting happily toward Rome. But check out the listing he gives in the link in the blog article. Compare the “interpretation” provided with sound biblical exegesis as found in godly churches. The contrast is striking. But note as well the comment by one “Carlos” at the top of the combox:
You are starting from a scripture verse leading to defined dogma. IMHO, it would make more sense to start with the defined dogma and show what scripture verses supports it. One verse can support many teachings, and should not be limited.
Talk about the very essence of eisegesis! Truly incredible. Let us be thankful we are not trapped in such a system as Rome, and let us pray for those who are. May they come to have the same confidence in Scripture illustrated by the Psalmist in Psalm 119.
