For many Protestants the Catholic beliefs about Mary are sometimes the biggest roadblock to their embracing the faith. Kimberly Hahn, wife of Protestant convert to the Catholic faith Scott Hahn, once said her three biggest impediments to entering the Catholic Church were "Mary, Mary and Mary." This is not uncommon among modern day Protestants. They often find the four Marian teachings of the Church foreign to Scripture and also as somehow taking away from Christ. It may shock many of them to find out just how far they have drifted from their Protestant roots. The fact is that the Protestant reformers upheld the traditional teachings of the Church concerning Mary even after their departure from it. One need only examine the beliefs of Martin Luther so we may see just how much Protestantism has evolved away from the original beliefs of the reformers. Keep in mind that Luther, the spark that ignited the Reformation, was the same man who claimed that Scripture alone should determine Christian doctrine. Through Scripture alone, he affirmed his Marian beliefs.
Mother of God
"St. Paul says 'God sent his Son born of a woman, ' These words which I hold for true, really sustain quite firmly that Mary is the Mother of God."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 7, pg 592
"This article of faith- that Mary is the Mother of God- is present in the Church from the beginning and is not a new creation of the council but the presentation of the Gospel and the Scriptures."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 7, pg 572
"It is certain that Mary is the Mother of the real and true God."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 24, pg107
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Perpetual Virginity of Mary
"It is an article of faith that Mary is Mother of our Lord and still a virgin."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 11, pg 319
"......knew that she was to become the Mother of the Son of God, she did not wish to become the mother of the son of man, but remained in that gift."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 11, pg 320
"Undoubtedly, there is no one so powerful that, depending on his own intelligence, without Scripture, he would maintain that she did not remain a virgin."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 11, pg 320
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Immaculate Conception
"....so that while the soul was being infused, she would at the same time be cleansed from original sin...............And thus, in the very moment in which she began to live, she was without all sin."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 4, pg 694
"God has formed the soul and body of the Virgin Mary full of the Holy Spirit, so that she is without all sins, "
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 52, pg 39
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Bodily Assumption of Mary
" There can be no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in Heaven. How it happened we do not know."
Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 10, pg 268