Attacks on Catholic doctrine

I know not whether John Guillaumier (April 18) is proficient in Latin or whether this language is absolutely not his domain and that he merely ventures into a field which is not his own.

I am sure ancient Rome did not call Cybele by the name Magna Deum Mater if it wanted to signify “The Great Mother of God”. Ancient Romans knew very well that, in Latin, there were the so-called declinationes, in English declensions. So, here, the word Deum is most incorrect.

Likewise, with that other expression Regina coelis. Romans could never write Regina coelis to signify “queen of heaven”. But let us try to defend Mr Guillaumier and, even if most strangely, say there was a mere lapsus calami in both cases!

This sort of aberration carries very little weight with it, albeit some might be inclined to style it “presuptuousness” or even “intruding into a language alien to us”!

The correspondent is not familiar with Church history.

What is more important is Mr Guillaumier’s assertion that “Marian miracles and apparitions always occur to illiterate peasants in some out-of-the way place”. In my humble opinion, this indicates that our friend is extremely far from being familiar with history, particularly with Church history. I would suggest he give a diligent glance at some good volume of History of the Church, even if he goes not that far as to delve diligently into such works as Pastor’s or that of Cornelius a Lapide.

Mr Guillaumier is at liberty to be Christian or Hindu or even an atheist. That is absolutely no business of readers. But, then, I would definitely not say that being given correct history is not readers’ business!

Does Mr Guillaumier really think that, with reference to the “Mother of God” as “the cult of the Mother Goddess” really “lives on among the credulous, miracle-craving populace”?! There is a substantial difference between the expression “Mother Goddess” and that other “Mother of God”. Please note!

For the Church the expression “Mother Goddess” would be an “anathema”. Absolutely not that other “Mother of God”. And, again, even this is to be explained in the light of sound theology with reference to the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As God, Jesus had no “mother”.

Having noted the above, I will absolutely not go that far as to note that “a little learning is a dangerous thing”. Is it too often we are fed Mr Guillaumier’s attacks on Catholic doctrine? I am pretty sure he does not enjoy it!