P: ¿Existe algún fundamento bíblico para la devoción a María?

Q: Is there a biblical basis for devotion to Mary?

Why did the first divide while the latter reunited?

¿A qué se debe la separación de unos y la reunificación de otros?

I did not always like Ecclesiastes. For many years, I found this biblical book of reflections, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, disenchanting. God doesn’t speak directly in the book and it has a dark, almost melancholy tone. I felt as if Solomon was saying, “Can’t win, don’t try.” When I shared my complaints about Ecclesiastes with my pastor at the time, Father Jack Shrum, he told me simply, “You need to read it again.” It took me a while to do it, but I’m glad I did. 

En cierto momento de mi carrera en la escuela de gramática, estudié las Siete Maravillas del Mundo Antiguo: las Pirámides de Egipto, los Jardines Colgantes de Babilonia, el Templo de Diana en Éfeso, la Estatua de Júpiter en Atenas, el Mausoleo de Halicarnaso, el Coloso de Rodas y el Faro de Alejandría en Egipto.

At some point in my grammar school career, I studied the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the Statue of Jupiter at Athens, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus at Rhodes, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria in Egypt.

These biblical commandments probably sound familiar: Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not commit adultery.