The Apocryphal Book of

Baruch on Idolatry.

In the apocryphal book of Baruch, which is considered to be

inspired scripture by the Catholic Church, we find a very
interesting description of the pagan practices of the Babylonians,
who at the time held the Jews in captivity. While not considered
a book of the Bible by Protestants, there is no reason to doubt the
accuracy of this historical account of Babylonian idolatry in the
6th chapter of Baruch. The following scripture quotations are
taken from the Catholic Douay Rheims Bible:

Crowned silver statue of Our Lady of Bon-

Secours
carried in procession in Tournai, Belgium.
Baruch 6:3 But now,
you shall see in
Babylon gods of
gold, and of silver,
and of stone, and of
wood borne upon
the shoulders,
causing fear to the
Gentiles.
Baruch 6:4 Beware
therefore that you
imitate not the doings
of others, and be
afraid, and the fear of
them should seize
upon you.

It is worth noting that

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 Israel, by God's Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these
instructions, carried plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they
the Ark of the should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and
Covenant in brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear,
procession, which nor walk:
contained the Ten
Commandments of Note: the 6th chapter of Baruch may sometimes be set apart as a
God written on tables separate book titled the Letter of Jeremiah, in Bibles that include
of stone by God's the apocrypha. The Revised Standard Version is an example.
own finger, which
prohibited graven
images in very clear
terms. In ironic
contrast and bold
apostasy, idols are
similarly carried in
procession and
venerated by
Catholics, in open
and direct
contradiction to God's
explicit
commandment law.
Photo by Frédéric Denonne © 1996

The above photo of a crowned silver statue of Mary being carried

in procession is from the Great Procession of Tournai, Belgium,
an event which occurs every September to honor the Virgin Mary
for her allegedly saving the city from the plague during the
Middle Ages. The statue shown is just one of many that are
displayed and carried in procession for the event.

May Crowning of Mary Statues and Processions

The month of May is specially devoted by the Catholic Church to

the crowning of statues of Mary (perhaps most commonly with
flowers), and processions in honor and adoration of the "Queen
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 motheaten upon them, of Heaven". Below a statue of Mary, crowned with flowers, is
you shall know that knelt before by the priests and congregation, bowing in prayer.
they are not gods. And
they themselves at last
are consumed, and
shall be a reproach in
the country.
Baruch 6:72 Better
therefore is the just
man that hath no
idols: for he shall be
far from reproach.
Miraculous crowned statue of
Images © 2001 by EWTN
Our Lady of Aparecida,
patroness of Brazil
Baruch 6:5 But when you see the multitude behind, and before,
So, according to the 6th Chapter of Baruch, the ancient pagan adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be
Babylonians crowned their statues with crowns of gold or silver, adored, O Lord.
carried them in procession on their shoulders, dressed them with
regal clothing, and lit great numbers of candles to these statues of May crowning gives Mary honor she deserves?
gold, silver, stone and wood. Modern Babylon, the Roman May, Mary's Month, Marian Coronation.
Catholic Church, does exactly and precisely the same to honor its 2001 MAY PROCESSION AND MAY CROWNING.
statues of Mary, Jesus and what it calls Saints.
The May Crowning Festival has pagan origins!
Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying,
Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation May Day
of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird. in medieval and modern Europe, day (May 1) for traditional
Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of springtime celebrations, probably originating in pre-Christian
her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed agricultural rituals. Though local usage varied widely, these
fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed celebrations commonly included the carrying in procession of
rich through the abundance of her delicacies. trees, green branches, or garlands; the appointment of a May king
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come and May queen; and the setting up of a May tree or Maypole.
out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and Originally such rites were intended to ensure fertility to the
that ye receive not of her plagues. crops, and by extension to cattle and human beings, but in most
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath cases this significance was gradually lost, and the practices
remembered her iniquities. survived merely as popular festivities.

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Source: Encyclopedia Britannica Online entry on May Day. Guadalajara, is said to be
dressed in crimson (a reddish
purple) with a blue mantle,
and is believed to have
Baruch 6:6 For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand miraculous powers of
an account of your souls. protection against storms and
Baruch 6:7 For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and plagues.
themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and
they cannot speak.
Baruch 6:8 And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay:
so do they take gold and make them up.
Baruch 6:9 Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads; Baruch 6:35 They
whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and cannot deliver a man
silver, and bestow it on themselves. from death nor save
the weak from the
Crowned statue of Mary The jewel encrusted crown on the statue mighty.
in the Notre Dame du Cap, of Baruch 6:36 They
Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal. cannot restore the
Canada. blind man to his sight:
nor deliver a man from
distress.
Baruch 6:37 They
shall not pity the
widow, nor do good to
the fatherless.
Baruch 6:38 Their
gods, of wood, and of
stone, and of gold, and
of silver, are like the
stones that are hewn
out of the mountains:
and they that worship
them shall be
confounded.

Baruch 6:71 By the

purple also and the
scarlet which are
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 are carried
upon
shoulders,
declaring
to men
how vile
they are.
Be they
confounded
also that
worship
them.
Our
Lady of
From the "Be Not Afraid" series of videos, Copyright ©1993,
Apostolate for Family Consecration Fatima at
Christus
Rex.

Also, please visit this page at the Basilica of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C., which has a
nice photo of Mary, Mother of Mankind. In particular, please From the book
note the candles at the feet of the statue. "Miraculous Images of Our Lady",
by Joan Carroll Cruz -Copyright © 1993,
TAN Books and Publishers, INC.,
Rockford, Illinois 61105.
This is the crowned statue of
Our Lady of Zapopan, said to
be the second most venerated
image in Mexico after Our Baruch 6:10 Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they
Lady of Guadalupe. On dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots,
October 13th, 2004, Zenit they adorn their gods.
News reported that over four Baruch 6:11 And these gods cannot defend themselves from the
million Catholics rust, and the moth.
accompanied the statue in a 5 Baruch 6:12 But when they have covered them with a purple
kilometer procession, a garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house,
tradition that began in the which is very much among them.
year 1735. The 13-inch
statue, the patroness of Statue of Peter photo from Our Lady of Guadalupe photo from
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 "Rome in Colour" "Miraculous Images of Our Lady", At left is a
copyright by Casa Editrice Lozzi, by Joan Carroll Cruz -Copyright © candlelight
Rome, 1993,
00165 - Via della Lungara, 5. TAN Books and Publishers, INC.,
service
Rockford, Illinois 61105. with a
crowned
statue of
Mary being
carried in
procession
in Fatima,
Portugal.
Virtually
everyone in
the crowd
is holding a
candle.

Baruch
6:18 They
light
candles to
them, and
in great
number, of
Crowned and dressed statue of which they
Crowned and dressed statue of Peter
Our Lady of Guadalupe, cannot see
in St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican.
Caceres, Spain.
one: but
they are
like beams
in the
house.

Baruch
6:25 And
having not
the use of
feet they
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