The Protestant Reformers on Mary

ANGLICANISM

"She both in the conception and also in the birth and nativity of this her blessed Child and ever after retained still her virginity pure and immaculate and as clear
without blot as she was at the time she was first born...pure, holy, undefiled." (Institution of a Christian Man, The Bishops' Book [1537])

"Some imagine that all the faithful, irrespective of the faith with which they have been endowed, are, none the less, equal in virtue and justice, so that they do not fear to place all women on an equal footing with the Blessed Virgin. Far from Christian minds any such blasphemy." (The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christian Man, The King's Book [1543])

JOHN CALVIN

"It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to the Mother of His Son, granted her the highest honor. Elizabeth called Mary Mother of the Lord, because the unity of the person in the two natures of Christ was such she could have said that the mortal man engendered in the womb of Mary was at the same time the eternal God. (Calvini Opera, Sermons 35 and 45)

MARTIN LUTHER

"Christ was the only Son of Mary, and the Virgin Mother bore no more children besides Him. 'Brothers' really means 'cousins' here and the Holy Writ and the Jews have always called cousins brothers." (Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, Chapters 1-4)

"God says 'Mary's Son is My only Son.' Thus Mary is the Mother of God. The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart." (Sermon on September 1, 1522)

"The infusion of Mary's soul was effected without original sin. From the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin." (Sermon on the "Day of the Conception of the Mother of God")

"We can never honor her enough. Still, honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to neither injure Christ nor the Scriptures." (Sermon on Christmas Day, 1531)

"Whoever possesses a good faith says the Hail Mary without danger." (Sermon on March 11, 1523)

ULRICH ZWINGLI

"I esteem immensely the Mother of God, the ever chaste, immaculate Virgin Mary."

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