It is insidious.
The latest attack is, of course, coming from this so-called "ossuary box" that was recently "discovered" in Israel bearing the inscription, "James, the son of Joseph and brother of Jesus."
How convenient. What a nice tidy little package for all the naysayers to rally around. Here, they will argue, is "archaeological proof" that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, had other "children."
Of course, they continue to ignore the Truth.
* The first historian of the Church, Bishop Eusebius clearly denotes who the "brothers and sisters" of the Lord are. They are the children of Cleophas and Mary of Cleophas.
* When Cleophas dies, his wife Mary, as Jewish tradition held, went to live with his brother.
* Cleophas' brother was a man named Joseph, whose wife was named Mary.
* Mary gave birth to a Child named Jesus who was not Joseph's son, but the Son of God.
* Mary of Cleophas will go to live with her deceased husband's brother Joseph and his wife Mary and Her Child Jesus.
* Cleophas' children, James, Jude, Simon, and others unnamed, will grow up with Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Nazareth and become known as the "brothers and sisters" of the Lord.
* Mary of Cleophas will become known as the "sister" of the Blessed Virgin Mary and will accompany Jesus' Mother to the Foot of the Cross. In reality, Mary of Cleophas is the Virgin Mary's sister-in-law.
Will these historical facts stop the naysayers? Of course not. For 2,000 years they have and will continue to have reasons to disbelieve. It really all boils down to faith.
In this regard, let us examine the track record of the magazine that "broke" this supposed archaeological "discovery" and see if, instead of Bishop Eusebius and Sacred Tradition, we should have faith in the publication Biblical Archaeological Review (BAR).
This "prestigious" magazine has consistently used its editorial power to debunk the Shroud. This web site, of course, stands firmly for the reality that the Shroud is the IRREFUTABLE burial cloth of Jesus.
* While numerous scientific discoveries have proven the many enigmas the Shroud presents to the world, BAR consistently publishes reports by those who dispute these findings.
* These so-called experts that BAR publishes to debunk the Shroud have never touched the cloth nor done any real scientific experiments with it. None of their articles have ever passed peer-review and the vast majority have never even been submitted for scientific peer-review.
* When Shroud researchers write to protest the misleading articles on the Shroud that BAR prints, the magazine refuses to publish the letters.
* If BAR can be so blantantly biased against a cloth whose scientific and miraculous Truths stare the editorial staff in the face, what do you think the magazine's policy is on accepting the perpetual virginity of Jesus' Mother?
* Interestingly, while the Shroud is the world's most studied artifact, BAR shows no interest in supporting information about its authenticity while quickly embracing as authentic an ossuary whose "owner" wishes to remain "anonymous" and cannot tell the world where the box originally comes from or how he "acquired" it. While there are no bones in the box or any other identifying material, BAR publicizes it around the world as the box that possibly contained the remains of Jesus' brother -- as if it is a fact that Jesus had a biological brother!
At a race track, one never bets on a horse that does not have a chance to win.
We bet that at BAR no one on the editorial staff has the title "Saint" in front of their name, nor are they in the running for it, nor do they care to run for it. Many people who venerated and honored the Shroud as the authentic burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth, long before science came into the picture, now have the title of "Saint" before their name. These Saints also had another distinguishing trait about them. They honored and venerated Mary, Jesus' Mother, as the perpetual virgin.
We don't know about you, but we're betting that those who knew the Shroud was real also knew the Truth about Mary.
Since BAR can't seem to get it right about the Shroud, how can it get it right about an ossuary box that is being used to denegrate Mary? The track record of this magazine isn't a good bet.
So, which side of this battle do you want to be on? Do you want to bet on the side of a magazine or on the side of the Saints?
How do you want to face Jesus when you die? By recounting to Him your belief in a magazine's article and opinions or how you defended His Mother? Which side is your faith on?
Copyright 2002 Agnus Dei Presents!