12 October 2007
Patristic Quote for the Day
The Word, which is God, took on flesh from Mary, not however in order that the Virgin might be adored, neither that he might make her God. Let Mary be held in honor, but let the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be worshiped; let no one worship Mary. This mystery is due God, not to women, neither to man. Nor does such a doxology belong to the angels. Let those things be erased which have been wrongly written in the heart of those who have been deceived. Let the lust of the idol be extinguished from the eyes. Let the creature return again to the Master. Let Eve with Adam return to honor God alone. Let no one be led by the voice of the serpent. Let him abide by the command of God. ... Although Mary is holy and to be honored, nevertheless she is not meant to be adored. - Epiphanios of Salamis, Panarion 3.2:7
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4 comments:
Truly, never should (or do) we offer worship (latreia) to Mary, any other person or created thing.
Does anyone know what word is translated as "adored" in this text? It's one of those words like nous and karthia, latreia, hyperdoulia and doulia, agape and eros that is often not clearly translated into English - perhaps other Romance and Germanic languages, too?
Christopher,
I wish I had the Greek to check, but that's over in St. Louis. Next time I run over that way, I'll see if I can look it up in Migne and report back. I suspect, as you intimate, that "adore" is translating "latria."
The TLG (Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) lists the Latin word adoro, which always means to worship (hence the English verb, to adore), as the calque for the Greek work latreia. To adore (English)=Adorare (Latin)=Latreuein (Greek).
Dulia, hyperdulia, latria, it's all the same to me -- I still adore Lucy!!
That Mary is not to be worshipped or adored is beyond dispute.
Ditto for the angels.
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