Who Is Catholic Mary?

The Question:In your posts, you often refer to “The Catholic Mary” and “The Mary of Scripture.” Aren't these the same person?

The Response: They most definitely are not the same person. Mary of Scripture was a woman blessed by Almighty God and assigned a special mission in His salvific program. This Mary is mentioned but a few times in the Sacred Books, and it is never reported in them that she possessed special powers or authorities to dispense grace, mediate between man and God, grant salvation to fallen man, rule over Heaven and Earth, etc.

Catholic popes and councils have declared, however, that Catholic Mary possesses powers and authorities the Scriptures tell us are of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In a religion that worships spirits of the dead, a special form of worship is reserved exclusively for worshipping Catholic Mary. Only God Himself is rendered a higher level of worship in the Catholic way of things. It appears likely that at some future time the fantasizers who dream up Romish doctrine will elevate Catholic Mary to equal status with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is the considered opinion of this evangelical Christian that the Catholic Church is a pagan cult that worships a vast pantheon of gods and demigods, principle of which is the Catholic re-creation of Anahita under the guise of a Catholic imitation of Mary of Scripture. Who is Anahita?

The ancient Persian water goddess, fertility goddess, and patroness of women, as well as a goddess of war. Her name means "the immaculate one". She is portrayed as a virgin, dressed in a golden cloak, and wearing a diamond tiara (sometimes also carrying a water pitcher). The dove and the peacock are her sacred animals.

Anahita was very popular and is one of the forms of the 'Great Goddess' which appears in many ancient eastern religions (such as the Syrian/Phoenician goddess Anath). She is associated with rivers and lakes, as the waters of birth. Anahita is sometimes regarded as the consort of Mithra— MMII Encyclopedia Mythica, "Anahita," © MCMXCV, All rights reserved

Back in the old days, Anahita was the patroness of a number of things, but her client list has been greatly enhanced under the guise of Catholic Mary. A lengthy, but incomplete, list of Catholic Mary's patronage may be read by clicking here. Those interested may further populate Catholic Mary's address book by doing a Google search for: Mary and adding such descriptors as patron or patronage or patroness. Creating a definitive roster of nations, acts, persons, jobs, etc., may well be an impossibility, for Catholics seem to invent to titles and jobs for her quicker than any historian might add them to his compilation.

Catholic Mary, more correctly called by her ancient name of Anahita, is well known to Pagans.

Anahita rules life, fresh water, semen, rivers, war, breast milk, and reproduction. Her worship was widespread and she was known by many names, including Anaitis, Ana-Hid, Anahid, Nahid, Anahit, Ananita, Sura Anahita, Ardvi Anahita, and Anailtis-Tanata. Her titles include Immaculate One, Great Goddess of Waters, Holy Spring, Great Lady, Mother of Sobriety, The Golden Mother, Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithras, and Benefactor of Humanity. As Ardvi Sura Anahita, her titles were The Heavenly Spring, The Wide Expanding, and The Humid, Strong, Immaculate One.

February 10 is her feast day, when she is celebrated as Anaitis. Invoke Anahita for fertility, protection, healing, battle, victory, fertility, knowledge, procreation, purification, sobriety, water magic, river spells, defensive magic, love spells, safe passage over water, weather magic, sacred promiscuity, wish magic, safe childbirth, defending blind and deaf people, purifying semen, breast milk or the womb, and for increase, especially of herds and of wealth. A single woman can ask her for a strong husband, and couples with fertility problems can ask her for a baby. Invoke her as Ardvi Sura Anahita for good health. Anahita will not grant blessings to those who are evil or miserly.--Anahita, © Eileen Holland, from Invocation for Witches

I am aware of no biblical evidence to support the elevation of the Mary of Scripture to the exalted position of “Queen of Heaven and Earth.” I have found it equally impossible to discover scriptural foundations for Mary of Nazareth as anything other than the young maiden blessed to be selected by God to be the vehicle used in the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity.

When I was Catholic, I was taught to pray to and render worship to Catholic Mary. I know that my Heavenly Father forgave me such sins when He imputed to me the righteousness of Christ and declared me to be justified in His eyes. Since that wonderful regeneration, I have always prayed only to God; never to any created being. I urge all who read this to follow my example.