Critique of HAIL, HOLY QUEEN by Scott Hahn

Chapter 8 - A Concluding Unapologetic Postscript

 

Now that you’ve read most of this book on the Blessed Virgin Mary, perhaps you’re looking forward to speaking with friends, family members, or coworkers who are Christians, but perhaps doubters when it comes to Marian doctrine. If you’re eager to evangelize, then I’m pleased. I wrote this book so that my fellow Catholics would never be ashamed of their supernatural mother as I was once ashamed of my natural mother when she came to take me home from school.

Note: Christians will not be ashamed of Jesus Christ.

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26

Note: The New Testament is about Jesus Christ not Mary.

 

Yet I’d also like to raise a caution, and urge you not to be too eager – or rather, not to be eager for the wrong reasons. I urge you never to forget that, when you defend the Blessed Virgin, you’re defending your mother, not a quarterback, not a goal line. You should defend her only as she would want to be defended. No mother worth the name wants her children to go on the offensive in defending her. No mother worth the name wants her children to be rude in defending her. No mother worth the name wants to be the subject of a schoolyard brawl.

Note: Christians will be focused on the name Jesus Christ.

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31

Note: The New Testament is about Jesus Christ not Mary.

 

I say this because I sometimes encounter people who practice apologetics as a full-contact sport or as take-no-prisoners warfare. For such apologists, the goal is to win the argument, even if that means utterly humiliating their “enemies.”

Note: Cult members will try to gain superiority through false humility.

These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2:23

Note: The New Testament is about Jesus Christ not Mary.

 

That is no way to prove Marian doctrines. Children of Mary have no enemies. We know only our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ – our adelphoi, from the same womb. We need not so much argue them back home (though arguments are sometimes necessary) as love them home (though love can sometimes be tough).

Note: Children of God will know God not Mary.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:1-2

Note: The New Testament is about Jesus Christ not Mary.

 

Moreover, we must never grow overly proud that we have come to recognize ourselves as children of the queen mother. We must never come to believe that we have all the answers. Though the answers are all available to us, no one is ever in full possession of them. God will continue to humble us, to remind us that we’ve children, by allowing us to fall and to find ourselves without the right answer at the right moment. He’ll even permit this when we are, ostensibly, working for His good cause. I can vouch for all of this, because, shortly after my conversion, God brought the message home to me.

Note: Christians will be given how to answer heretics and pagans.

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:19-20

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has replaced the Holy Spirit with Mary.

 

I had long since begun to feel at home in the Catholic Church, and I was elated by how enthusiastically Catholics were receiving my conversion testimony wherever I went. Fundamentalists and evangelicals would sometimes attend my lectures to challenge me, but I was eager to take them on. I knew the arguments before they even opened their mouths – I had once espoused them myself – and I knew exactly the right biblical response. I even began to look forward to these challenges, as a marksman looks forward to the next clay pigeon. I was feeling very much the macho apologist.

Note: Christians should never feel prideful or proud.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Note: The phrase “Proud to be Catholic” is wrong.

 

Flush with so many successes, I found myself one weekend in the neighborhood of my old Protestant seminary, Gordon-Conwell. I decided to go back and spend some time with the professor I’d served as a teaching assistant. He seemed eager to see me and even invited me to stay at his home while I was in town. He had heard, of course, about my entering the Catholic Church, and he was, to put it mildly, disappointed. He said he was looking forward to discussing the matter at greater length. I knew that he wanted to challenge me, and I was eager to be challenged.

Note: Christians will be given how to answer heretics and pagans.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:5-6

Note: The phrase “Proud to be Catholic” is wrong.

 

I arrived, and we greeted each other warmly; but my initial hunch was right. It wasn’t long before my host and his wife began to pepper me with all kinds of questions about the pope, purgatory, the Eucharist, the priesthood, confession … All of which was fine by me, because, through a whole day and into the night, I was like an all-star slugger at batting practice, slamming one slow pitch after another into the bleachers.

Note: Christians should never feel prideful or proud.

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. Proverbs 11:2-3

Note: The phrase “Proud to be Catholic” is wrong.

 

Then, around midnight, just as I was beginning to look forward to some well-earned shut-eye, my friend said to me: “What about the assumption?” I knew what he was implying – that there is no scriptural evidence for the assumption. I was tired, and annoyed that he was bringing up the assumption at that late hour of the night. But I was also unprepared. I replied, “Well, you can look at Revelation 12 and see that there she was, body and soul in heaven.” “That’s nice, Scott,” he said. “But give me evidence that anyone in the Church believed that before the sixth century.”

Note: The nation of Israel is referred to as a woman numerous times and God will keep His promise to her.

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Romans 11:1

Note: The phrase “Proud to be Catholic” is wrong.

 

I responded that, in all its history, the Church had never honored a tomb as the final resting place of Mary’s bones. He pointed out, rightly, that the argument from silence was about as weak an argument as one could offer. I acknowledged that he was right, but countered that times of persecution rarely yield evidence of doctrine or devotion. Survival and perseverance are the Church’s top priorities. My hosts were not impressed.

Note: The Apostle Paul was teaching doctrine up to his death.

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

And the macho apologist was beginning to feel the effects of a day’s worth of sporting arguments – and a year’s worth of intellectual pride. I scrambled to point out that, yes, it’s not until the sixth century that the assumption makes its debut in our documentary history – but by then, we encounter it as established and developed, with its own feast days, hymns, and literature. When the emperor declared it a universal feast, there was not even a hint of resistance or controversy. My hosts smiled. “That’s all well and good, Scott. But the fact is that you don’t have anything to account for five centuries of silence, do you?”

Note: The New Testament is about Jesus Christ not Mary.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 2 Peter 3:16-17

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

Up to this point, our discussion had been amiable. But now I felt it turn somewhat pointed, almost adversarial. But I had to respond, “No, I can’t think of anything.” “Can you recommend a book? Anything at all that I might read?” I shook my head. “You don’t have answers from the first five centuries. You don’t have a book I can read – you, who have a book for everything, don’t have a book on the assumption!” He was just savoring the moment, relishing this victory. I said, “No.” “Let me remind you, Scott, that this is a dogma, infallibly defined. And you can’t explain to me why there was silence for five centuries?” “I don’t know,” I said. It was the closing moment of a dramatic exchange that had gone on for hours, and all my previous triumphs seemed reduced to nothing. I kind of limped up the steps to my guest room bed, feelings like I’d let my mother down.

Note: Christians will be given how to answer heretics and pagans.

And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:10-11

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has replaced the Holy Spirit with Mary.

 

I sat on the bed, then dropped to my knees and prayed an apology to Jesus. I felt I’d let Him down by letting His mother down. I felt as if I’d run with the ball to the one-yard line, only to fumble short of the goal. I said, “I’m sorry, Lord, for my weakness and failure.” I prayed a Hail Mary. Then I fell, exhausted, to sleep. They let me sleep in. I woke up at nine, and a plate of scrambled eggs awaited me in the kitchen. As I sat down and began eating, I noticed that the calendar said Monday, December 8. Something about that date set off an alarm in my memory. Was it a holy day? Then I remembered it was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, my first as a Catholic – and I had almost missed it, staying, as I was, in Protestant territory.

Note: Christians will remember Jesus Christ not pagan feast days.

Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

I sheepishly said to my hostess, “Um, today is a holy day of obligation. Is there any way I can get to, uh, Mass somewhere close by?” She said, “Oh, you’re in luck. Saint Pau’s is in our backyard.” She even called to find out their Mass times – but they had just finished their last Mass for the day. So she proceeded to call around ten nearby churches, without finding a single one that could accommodate me before my flight out of town. Finally she discovered a listing for a Carmelite chapel at Peabody shopping mall, around fifteen miles away. One more call and she found out that, indeed, the chapel had a noon Mass. There would be just enough time for me to get there, get back to the house, and have my hosts drive me to the airport. So I got ready for my departure and left for the mall, arriving just a little before noon, I asked directions to the chapel and soon found myself in a crowd of Christmas shoppers making their way down a narrow staircase to the basement. At bottom, I found myself amid a standing-room-only congregation, and I took my place in the back.

Note: Christians will attentively listen to the Word of God.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

A bell rang, and an old priest sauntered out. He must have been in his seventies. And I though, Oh, no, this is gonna be a long Mass. Through the first parts of the Mass, I found myself glancing frequently at my watch, thinking anxiously about my flight. When it came to the homily, though, everything changed. That ancient man stepped up to the pulpit and looked out at us. Surely everyone could see there was a gleam in his eye. He seemed to be speaking directly to me when he said, “we’re celebrating our mother today!” From there he took off, preaching a firestorm. Billy Graham had nothing on this guy. “If anybody should ask you,” he thundered, “’Why do you believe that Mary was conceived without sin?’ what are you gonna tell him?” He paused. “What are you gonna tell him?” He paused again. Then, with a twinkle, he said, “Tell him this: If you could have created your mother and preserved her from original sin, would you? Would you? … Of course you would! “But could you? No, you couldn’t! But Jesus could and so Jesus did!”

Note: Mary was a sinner as she tried to stop the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-35

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

Afterward, I had a hard time concentrating on the Mass, but I surely wasn’t thinking about my flight out of town. I wanted to talk with this priest. When the Mass had ended, the crowd returned to its shopping, and I made my way back to the chapel’s small sacristy. “Father, do you have a minute?” I asked. “No,” he replied without looking up. I said, “Do you have a minute?” Finally, he looked up at me. “What do you want?” I said, “I’m a grad of Gordon-Conwell, top of my class, but I just converted earlier this year.” He smiled at me as he said, “Gordon-Conwell, up in South Hamilton – I used to teach there, I taught theology.” I said, “No, I don’t think you understand. It’s an evangelical Protestant seminary.” He raised an eyebrow. “No, young man, I don’t think you understand. I used to be a Carmelite seminary, and I taught there for decades ... When did your graduate?” “Eighty-two,” I replied “Top of my class, a stalwart Calvinist. I converted. Now I’m back to visit, and it’s really humbling.” “Ha!” he said, “We give them our seminary; they give us their graduates. Seems like a fair exchange.” Then he remembered how our conversation had started. “So what’s your question?” I told him the whole story of the previous day, culminating in the humiliation at midnight. “You were so good in your homily, I was wondering whether you might know a book I can recommend.” There’s a good reason why you can’t think of any titles,” he said. “There aren’t any titles in print. There was one, and it just went out of print last week.” I was astonished. “You really know your Marian bibliography, Father.”

Note: Christian conversion begins with believing Scripture not Catholic dogma.

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. Acts 17:10-12

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has turned aside to Marian fables.

 

He said, “In this case, I should. I wrote the book.” My jaw dropped. I felt as if I’d entered the Twilight Zone. “Yes, I wrote it. It’s called The Assumption of Mary, and I was notified last week that it was going out of print … But I have two copies.” He reached into a cabinet. “What is this professor’s name?” I told him. “And you, you’re married, what’s your wife’s name?” “Kimberly.” “And he inscribed the books with his name – Father Kilian Healy, O.Carm. – for my wife and for my friends. Then he left abruptly and left me astonished. I drove back to my friends’ house, marveling at God’s mercy.

Note: Christians have received mercy for the sake of ministry through the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 2 Corinthians 4:1-5

Note: Marian cult members will proclaim Mary, their church, and themselves.

 

I pulled up with just enough time to load the car and get to Logan Airport. My former professor couldn’t ride along because he was teaching that afternoon. So we were standing in the driveway saying good-bye. I said to him, “One last thing. You asked about a book about the assumption of Mary.” I reached into my pocket for Father Healy’s book as, in thirty seconds, I summarized the episode at the chapel. Breathlessly I explained that this was the only book available, and it had just gone out of print, and I had just happened to run into the author at the mall that afternoon. He was speechless. His wife just laughed as she drove me off to the airport. As I got on the plane, I felt like a little boy. I pictured Mary patting me on the head and saying, “Don’t worry so much about defending me. Just love me and love my Son, and where you fall short, we’ll make up for what you lack.”

Note: Christians will be comforted and guided by the Holy Spirit not Mary.

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-14

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has replaced the Holy Spirit with Mary.

 

When all my research and rhetoric had failed, when I was thoroughly humiliated according to my own human standards, when I could do no more, then I did what I should have done from the start. I prayed a Hail Mary. That prayer at the end of the day, in my moment of utter weakness and humiliation, was the turning point in this episode of my life. It set into motion a chain of events that I couldn’t have surpassed with my best-prepared speeches.

Note: Christians will follow Jesus Christ instead of Catholic dogma.

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13

Note: Marian cult members will proclaim Mary, their church, and themselves.

 

When it comes to explaining the Blessed Virgin Mary, having a lot of love is more important than having a lot of answers. When we come up lacking, she’ll make greater goods out of our deficiencies, as only a mother can do. Whenever we’re humiliated and shown our weakness, we should get ready for something better than we could ever plan and prepare to accomplish. Evangelize with joy, then, and with confidence. Know from the start that you don’t have all the answers – but your Savior does, and He loves His mother. He will give you everything you need, even if sometimes you need to fail.

Note: Christian evangelism is the proclamation of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Romans 15:18-19

Note: The Roman Catholic Church has replaced the Holy Spirit with Mary.

 

 

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