The Cult o f the Virgin CRI Bools Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of John, Robert M. Bowman, Jr. A Crash Course on the New Age Movement: Describing and Evaluating a Growing Social Force, Elliot Miller Why You Should Believe in the Trinity, Robert M. Bowman, Jr. The Counterfeit Christ of the New Age Movement, Ron Rhodes Understanding Jehovah’s Witnesses: Why They Read the Bible the Way They Do, Robert M. Bowman, Jr. UFOs in the New Age: Extraterrestrial Messages and the Truth of Scripture, William M. Alnor The Cult of the Virgin: Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions of Mary, Elliot Miller & Kenneth R. Samples Elliot Miller is editor-in-chief of publications for the Christian Research Institute (CRI), an evangelical investigative organization. He is author of A Crash Course on the New Age Movement, has served as a major contributor to two books, and has also written several pamphlets, articles, and fact sheets dealing with new religious movements, apologetics, and doctrinal controversies. In addition to his literary work, he is an ordained minister and has served as a pastor and Bible teacher. He holds a B.A. in ministry from Anaheim Christian College and an M.A. in apologetics from the Simon Greenleaf School of Law. Kenneth R. Samples is senior research consultant at the Christian Research Institute. He is also a college instructor who has written for numerous publications, and a popular speaker, regularly featured on the radio program “The Bible Answer Man.” He has an M.A. in systematic theology from Talbot School of Theology and is now pursuing advanced studies in philosophy. The Cult o f the Virgin Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions o f Mary Elliot Miller and Kenneth R. Samples Foreword by Norm an L Geisler Response by M itchell Pacwa, S.J. D » BAKER BOOK HOUSE O B Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516 f!J~~~ .1.,.,.~'tl Copyright 1992 by B<tkc. Book House Company __~ ~ Box 6287 ~ Grand Rapids, MI 495~ ~tates Printed in me of America Unless india led ornawisc, du: $criprurc V<:l'$ion used is N= Ammciln Bibu. Ubnry of Cong~$ Cataloging-in-Publication Data MiIlcr,ElIiol. The cult of me Virgin: Catholic Mariology and of Mary I ElliOT Miller and Kenneth R. $vnples " 'm~,d I p. em. Includes bibliographical ISBN 0-8010-6291-8 :;:ary, ~~;~;~~:';;. ,~2. Blessed Virgin. Saim- 232.91-dc20 92-4273 Much of the content of this book originally appeared in the Christi"n R~4rch loumill bctwt<:n Summer 1990:rna Spring 1991. (For $l1bscripr;:»~n write: Christian Research In.uiruIC, P.O. Box SOO, San Juan Capislrano. F'~OO.) Ph,,~ 4t~fI!) c.,. . 0" "'" 117-20 """ by P,W ~~ This book is fondly dedicated to the memory of Walter Martin founder of the Christian Research Institute. It was he who first modeled for us a balanced approach to Roman Catholicism. He freely acknowledged that there are many true Christians and much that is orthodox within the Catholic church, but he did not gloss over the serious differences that remain between Catholics and Protestants. Contents Acknowledgments 9 Foreword by Norman L. Geisler 11 Introduction: The Cult of the Virgin Revives 13 Part 1 From Lowly Handmaid to Queen of Heaven: The Mary ofR oman Catholic Theology 1 Divine Maternity 19 2 Perpetual Virginity 24 3 The Immaculate Conception 30 4 The Assumption 36 5 Spiritual Motherhood 41 6 Coredemptrix and Mediatrix 46 7 Queen of Heaven 63 8 Hyperveneration 68 Part 2 Apparitions of the Virgin Mary: A Protestant Look at a Catholic Phenomenon 9 What Is an Apparition? 79 10 The Catholic Church’s Evaluation 81 7 11 A Survey of Marian Apparitions 88 12 The Mystery of Medjugorje 100 13 How Apparitions Have Influenced Catholic Piety 121 14 A Protestant Evangelical Response 126 Notes 137 Glossary 147 Appendix A Medjugorje Up Close: Interviews with Key People Surrounding the Apparitions 149 Appendix B A Catholic Scholars Response to This Book 161 Appendix C The Authors’ Reply to Father Pacwa 169 Postscript 175 Bibliography 179 Subject Index 183 Scripture Index 187 8 Contents