Augustine (354-430) is revered, not just by Catholics, but also Calvinists, as a great theologian. However, one question a Calvinist will have to answer is, “Was Augustine regenerated?” For, in their view, one who engages in idolatry, while professing to be a Christian, do one’s dying day, is, more than likely, a false convert (per the Reformed interpretation of 1 John 2:19 and other like-texts). The following is a prayer by Augustine to Mary (my question to Calvinists is: would you pray this prayer? If one who attended your Reformed congregation prayed the following, what would you conclude about the person? [unregenerate, right?] And should this person and their theology be followed on essential areas?):
Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanksgiving for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent? What sons of praise can our weak human nature offer in your honor, since it was through you that it has found the way of salvation? Accept then such poor thanks as we have to offer, unequal though they be to your merits. Receive our gratitude and obtain by your prayers the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to bring about our peace with God.
May the sins we penitently bring before Almighty God through you be pardoned. May what we beg with confidence be granted through you. Take our offerings and grant our request; obtain pardon for what we fear, for you are the only hope of sinners. We hope to obtain the forgiveness of our sins through you. Blessed Lady, in you is our hope of reward.
Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you, feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual care to pray for the People of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, Who lives and reigns forever. (Dictionary of Mary [Catholic Book Publishing Co.: N.J.: 1997], 531 as cited by Dan Corner, Is this the Mary of the Bible?: Is the Mary of Catholicism the Mary of the Bible [Washington, Pa.: Evangelical Outreach, 2004], 272, emphasis in original)
For a book-length discussion of Mary, see Behold the Mother of My Lord: Towards a Mormon Mariology.
