Ad Jesum Per Mariam

One of the biggest question that is asked about Catholicism is it's special devotion and honor given to the Theotókos. Sometimes these Protestants believe that we are worshipping her, but the truth is we do not worship Mary because she is powerless alone. Without God, Mary can't do anything. We simply implore her intercession. We ask her to bring our prayer to Jesus. Only Jesus can grant our prayers. Mary brought salvation to the world, Jesus. She is cannot save us, but she can draw us close to our salvation. Mary offers Jesus to us. She pushes us to be closer to her Son, Jesus. 

Ad Jesum Per Mariam

This phrase means "To Jesus through Mary." She leads us to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. This belief is taken from the first miracle of Jesus at Cana. 

 "¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

   ⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

 ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

 ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

 ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

 ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

   They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

 ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him." -John 2:1-11

The Meaning of the Passage

Why did the servants go to His mother? They asked her intercession to ask Jesus to help them. Clearly they asked her. However it shows that the miracle did not come from Mary, but from Jesus. Did the servants worship Mary because they asked her to intercede? Simply they implored her intercession. Then Mary leads the servants to Jesus by telling them, "Do whatever He tells you." Mary tells us to do the will of Jesus. By her intercession Christ showed His glory to us.

Mary: Leading us to the Light and Salvation

One of many representations of Mary, called the Mother of Perpetual Help, shows us an interesting message. Mary is the center of the image, as we can clearly see. If we dissect the image, we see messages hidden in the image. Mary is known as the Mother of Perpetual Help. Mary is known as the Mother of perpetual Help, this means that Jesus is our help that he never cease helping us. 

Even though Mary is the center of the painting, her hands points to Jesus. She is clearly leading us to Jesus, our perpetual Helper. She comforts Jesus because He sees His passion and death. As she points to Jesus, He is shown with the symbols of His Passion that leads to our Salvation. Jesus is our salvation and help.

On the painting we see the words 'MP-ΘΥ (Μήτηρ Θεού, Mother of God); OAM (Archangel Michael); OAΓ (Archangel Gabriel); and Iς-Xς ( Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Jesus Christ ). They label the names of the people represented in the image. 

Prayer to Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help 

To thee we come imploring help. 

Behold us here, from far and near, 

To ask of thee our help to be; 

Behold us here, from far and near, 

To ask of thee our help to be. 

Perpetual help we beg of thee; 

Our souls from sin and sorrow free; 

Direct our wandering feet aright, 

And be thyself out own true light; 

Direct our wandering feet aright, 

And be thyself out own true light. 

And when this life is o'er for me, 

This last request I ask of thee: 

Obtain for me in heaven this grace, 

To see my God there face to face; 

Obtain for me in heaven this grace, 

To see my God there face to face. 

Holy Trinity: Three Persons but ONE God

     The Trinity is a hard concept to accept. That is why some people choose to become an Arian, since it is more easy to understand.
     God revealed Himself to the world in Three Persons; The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are not gods. They are one and united. None of them were created. Jesus is the 2nd person of the Trinity. He is both human and Divine.

God the Father

     He is the first person in the Trinity. He is not a separate being from Jesus. God is our Father, since He created us out of love. We have a Father-son relationship with God.  God the Father is eternal and uncreated. We see a conversation between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in Genesis. This means that neither the Father nor the Son nor the Holy Spirit was created. God the Father is the Father of Jesus and all of us. God the Father is often compared to a mother because He is caring and loving. He is one with Christ and together they are one.

God the Son

The second person of the Trinity is Jesus Christ. He was with the Father in the beginning. He was not created. He is Begotten of the Father. We know that Christ existed before the Creation. In John's Gospel we see Christ called as the "Word" or "Logos". He came down from Heaven and became Incarnate, God Incarnate. Through Him everything was made. Nothing came into being without Him. God the Son, Jesus—assumed human nature, so that he has two natures (and hence two wills), and is really and fully both true God and true human.  He was never created. He is equal and one with the Father.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is also called as the Paraclete. He was never created. He was with God in the beginning. He is often called in the Bible as God's Spirit. He gives knowledge and understanding to us. He was sent by the Father and the Son to His Church. So by this we are guided by the Holy Spirit. He gave knowledge and courage to the Apostles at Pentecost. He is still with us, guiding us, and helping us.  

The Athanasian Creed

"That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity."

Three in One

        The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal and are one. They are not gods. They are one. The Word is equal with the Father and they are one. Jesus has two natures, human and Divine. 

"I and the Father are one." -John 10:30

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped," -Philippians 2:6

Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. -John 14:10

But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." -John 10:38 

For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. -John 5:18

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." -John 10:33

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call himImmanuel. -Isaiah 7:14

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." -Matthew 1:23

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" -John 8:58

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" -Exodus 3:14

Jesus: True God and True Man

The nature of Christ has been debated by Theologians since the beginning of the Church. Heresies started because of this debate. One of the powerful and unbiblical heresy is called Arianism, adapted by the Iglesia ni Cristo and Jehovah's Witness. Arianism triumphed because it is more easily understood. Arianism is almost close to Islam, both believe that Jesus was only a man and not God. However Arianism is full of error. Many saints and doctors of the Church have took on the battle and answered by using the Scriptures.

Jesus: The Word Incarnate

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

                                                                                                                 -John 1: 1-3 and 14

         Jesus is called as the Word, Logos (λόγος). John tells us Christ's first nature, Christ's divine nature. St. John summarizes the Incarnation in a sentence, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Who is this Word that became Incarnate? This is Jesus, the Living Word. Jesus was never created. He was with God even before the creation. When we speak of the "birth" of Jesus, we don't mean that He was created. We mean that He came and took the form of man, His second nature. 
        Jesus was with God before the Father created the world. "In the beginning was the Word..." This means that Jesus was already present prior to the creation of the world. 

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

-Genesis 1:26 

Who is God talking to? We know that God created us in His image, not in the image of angels. Does this mean there are gods? No, clearly God is talking with the Word (Logos) and the Holy Spirit. 

This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

-Genesis 5:1 

 This conversation shows us that Jesus and the Holy Spirit existed before the creation. 

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. -Romans 9:5

And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. -John 17:5 

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. -Colossians 1:17

Jesus: God Incarnate

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. -John 1:1

    This verse doesn't need any explanation because this was already written literally. Jesus is the Living Word. And the Word is God.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" -John 8:58

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" -Exodus 3:14

    Jesus says He is the "I AM." The words "I Am." are the words God used when Moses asked Him what was His name. This means that Jesus is God. 


    One of the many titles Jesus has is Immanuel (Emmanuel). This is from a prophecy by the Prophet Isaiah. Immanuel (Emmanuel) means "God with us". Clearly Jesus is God who dwelt with us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14

   We are reminded about this prophecy in Matthew's Gospel. This clearly shows that Jesus is God who dwelt among us.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." -Matthew 1:23

 Isaiah gives us more titles for Jesus. One of the particular title is "Mighty God". Jesus is God and not only another ordinary man who was born in a Manger in the 1st Century.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

Jesus: Coming into humanity

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! -Philippians 2:6-8

St. Paul clearly summarizes the life of Jesus. Philippians 2:6 says that was God, His 1st nature. However when he came into the world, he did not took advantage of it and did it the easy way. He, because of His great love, humbled Himself and died to save us. He did the will of the Father in order to fulfill the Holy Scriptures. 
    Even the Jews believed that Jesus was God, and that is why they tried to kill Him. They called Him "equal to God" and "Claimed to be God". Are these Arians in the side with the Jews because they both can't grasped the reality that Jesus is God.

For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. -John 5:18

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." -John 10:33

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."-John 1:18 

What does that verse mean? Obviously there are no gods, but only one. Jesus is God that descended from Heaven. 

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" -Colossians 2:9

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" -John 20:28

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." -Hebrews 1:8

The angels clearly addresses this to Jesus because of the words, "about the Son".

Equal with the Father

    Jesus is not greater nor lesser than the Father, but equal with the Father. Jesus and God are one, both in nature and love for His sheep. Jesus is one with the Father, as well as the Holy Spirit. Jesus says that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. Meaning that Jesus is also God. There is only one God, not two or three. God is revealed to us in three persons.

Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. -John 14:10

But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." -John 10:38 

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. -John14:11

"I and the Father are one." -John 10:30

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped," -Philippians 2:6

However, these heretics just doesn't want to listen to the Holy Scriptures. They prefer their false doctrines and false beliefs.

The INC's Crazy History Lesson

The Iglesia Ni Cristo is one of the Protestant/Arian church that dwells in false history teachings from their leader Manalo. One of their favorite topic to attack the authenticity of the Catholic Church is what I call the "1870 stand".  They always say that the name "Roman Catholic Apostolic Church" was adapted as a title for the Church.

 "HEHEHEHE DI BA SINABI YAN NG KONSILYO NG BATIKANO KUNG KAILAN LUMABAS ANG OPISYAL NA PANGALAN NINYO NA IGLESIA KATOLIKA APOSTOLIKA ROMANA HEHEHEHEHE NOONG 1870 L;AMANG"

"Didn't the Vatican Council where your official name, Roman Catholic Apostolic Church.. appeared on 1870" 

-Paul Peter 

This belief is clearly an uneducated guess. History shows us that before 1870 the word Catholic was used to refer to the Church. Even the Bible uses the word "Catholic". If the Catholic Church was founded in 1870, as what INCs claim, then how could they build churches in 3rd or 4th Century, in the Philippines, in 1565. What was the Church called prior to the 16th Century? This belief is clearly defeated by history. This belief is clearly FALSE.

What History Says

"The term "catholic", derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos), which means "universal" or "general", was first used to describe the Church in the early 2nd century."

The combination "the Catholic Church" (he katholike ekklesia) is found for the first time in the letter of St Ignatius, written about the year 110. The words run: "Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the people be, even as where Jesus may be, there is the universal [katholike] Church."

Later, in the "Catechetical Discourses" of St. Cyril of Jerusalem we see the name "Catholic Church" to identify the church from various sects. St Cyril writes, "And if ever thou art sojourning in any city, inquire not simply where the Lord's house is--for the sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens, houses of the Lord--nor merely where the church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of the holy body the mother of us all."

Oldest Church in the Philippines
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
Consecrated in 1565

In the Bible

Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησία καθ’ ὅλης (kath' holēs) τῆς Ἰουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχεν εἰρήνην οἰκοδομουμένη καὶ πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐπληθύνετο. -Acts 9:31

Members Church of God International's Lies and Heresies

One of the MCGI/ADD belief that contradicts the Bible is that God is not Omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. This belief is clearly belittling God. This is clearly a belief that was never ever preached by Christ or the Apostles. Here is a statement given by an ADD member:

"hindi po siya presente sa lahat ng dako, Meron din po siyang hhindi alam.... meron din po siyang hindi magagawa.."

"He (God) is not present in some places, There are still things He doesn't know.... there are also things He can't do.." 

 -Austine Rhiaz

Clearly this heresy taught by Eliseo Soriano is a big heresy. He is belittling the power of God. "Almighty" in Latin is "omnipotens". Therefore God is Omnipotent. Here are verses that defeats the heresy of Eli Soriano and the MCGI.

What Holy Scripture says

God the Omnipotent 

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. -Revelation 19:6

¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,
   from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
   and I will do all that I please.’ ¹¹ From the east I summon a bird of prey;
   from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
   what I have planned, that I will do. -Isaiah 46: 10:11

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -Matthew 19:26

"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." -Job 42:2

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." -Jeremiah 32:17

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? -Jeremiah 32:27

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." -Mark 10:27

For nothing is impossible with God." -Luke 1:37

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." -Luke 18:27

God the Omnipresent 

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast. -Psalm 139:7-10

¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
 ¹⁹ And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
 ²¹ Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. ²² When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”- Exodus 33:18-23


When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." -Genesis 28:16

"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" -1 Kings 8:27


"His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step." -Job 34:21


There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. -Job 34:22


"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD." -Jeremiah 23:24


"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." -Hebrews 4:13


"But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?" -2 Chronicles 2:6


My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. -Jeremiah 16:17

God the Omniscient 

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. -Psalm 147:4,5

Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. -Acts 15:18

The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. -Psalm 33:13

And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. -II Kings 13:19

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be will unto thee, and thy soul shall live -Jeremiah 38:17-20


(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and calleth those things which be not though as they were. -Romans 4:17

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. -Isaiah 46:10

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. -Matthew 11:21-23
So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down. Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up. Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. - I Samuel 23:5-14