Is praying to Mary & the saints, like Catholicism teaches an act of false worshi

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   Greg Seredaposted 12 years ago

   Is praying to Mary & the saints, like Catholicism teaches an act of false worship?
   
   The Bible teaches us to worship God only (Ex. 20:3-5; Rev. 19:10); but the Roman Catholic Church teaches its adherents to pray to Mary and the saints. They even bow down to statues and pictures of them when they pray to them. Is this idolatry and false worship?

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   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   There are how many religions all over the world? Only one religion is right and each is a different version of each other. So there are plenty of false worshipings. Catholicism might be one but so might be the Christian religion along with evolution. You just never know.

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   Jo_Goldsmith11posted 12 years ago

   Yes, absolutly! Praying to Mary is not a good thing to do. She didn't *die * for our sins, and praying to her is another form of the false teachings of the catholic church.

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      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      But wouldn't praying to Mary not really be worshiping but perhaps asking for her strengths? A woman will have more strength for another woman due to the experiences women have that a man can't. And visa versa

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good point. I would like to add that she was never resurrected, either. She's still sleeping in the grave, awaiting resurrection at the second coming of Jesus; so praying to her is futile.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No, Mary did not die for our sins. Her son, Jesus did that. People who have a devotion or special feeling toward Mary ask her to relay their prayers to God. That is not required by the Catholic Church. It is a practice that developed and some follow.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Try not praying to Mary in the Catholic Church and see what happens. You'll be branded a Protestant heretic and excommunicated...

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      Felipe717posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Larry: Prayer by definition is a form of worship to a deity. So no one should pray to Mary or the saints.

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   Joe Cookposted 12 years ago

   Yes praying to Mary and the Saints is false worship - well pointed out and entirely unbiblical.  In addition I would also say that according to the Bible, Jesus himself said 'Why do you call me great? None is great but the father himself' - in other words worship God the father not Jesus - a fact which evangelical churches and Christians seem to completely bypass.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You are correct in that it is God the Father who answers prayers. The saints, Mary and Jesus are not worshiped, they are intercessors. The Catholic Church is the most recognizable church in the world and the target of the most inaccurate claims.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ..." - 1 Timothy 2:5
      
      Jesus is our only intercessor. Mary cannot be an intercessor.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Greg: You are now playing word games. There is a big difference between a mediator and an intercessor. Mary and the saints seek intercession. Only Jesus can be a mediator between God and Man. So your statement starts out correctly, but ends in error.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Really? I just looked up "intercessor" on thesaurus.com and do know what definition it gave me? "Mediator". As I suspected. So can both me and the thesaurus be wrong?

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      From a Bibical standpoint, yes, you both can be wrong. Also, a thesaurus gives words of similar meaning and not definitions. This like might help, http://theplaingospeltruth.com/articles … ation.htm.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      First you said there is a big difference between a "mediator" and "intercessor". Now you just admitted that they're similar. They're not only similar, they're practically the same thing.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Greg: We did not read the same quote. At this point, we are going to have to agree to disagree. The space allowed here does not support a back and forth discussion. I wish you well and hope you find what you are seeking.

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   Felipe717posted 12 years ago

   Yes it is. One of the names Catholics have for Mary is Mediatrix meaning she has a part in granting salvation and that grace comes through her from God which is completely false. We only have one mediator in Jesus Christ just as it says in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Your definition of Mediatrix is wrong. In that role, Mary plays a part in delivering prayer requests to God. Mary is looked up as being the greatest intercessor next to Jesus, in asking for God's help on behalf of others.

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      Felipe717posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      From http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marya4.htm they talk about Mary and it states, "This fits well with the words of the Popes, who call her the administra of grace, meaning that she administers or dispenses it."

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The Catholic Church even goes so far as to say that salvation was impossible without Mary's immaculate conception. In other words, she lived a completely holy life which enabled Jesus to do so. I'm sorry, that's just plain blasphemy.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Greg: You are in error about the Immaculate Conception. That is a church doctrine that says that Mary was born without the stain of original sin. Since she was born that way, Jesus was born without that stain and that is what made salvation possible.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That's the same thing, really. Just in other words. She was sinless, which enabled Jesus to be sinless. Do you actually believe that?

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   loveofnightposted 12 years ago

   To give my view on this question I pulled a quote from one of my Hubs to share.
   
   "Variety is the spice of life
   There are so many different people on the planet, so many different beliefs.Each and every one of them bring their own blessings to the planet, all we need do is except their differences to see. Allow yourself to agree to disagree, allow your mind to see the beauty that is always before us."

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      How a person worships is a free choice. Giving incorrect information about any church, as many are doing, is just wrong. The Catholic Church does not practice idolatry. Only God can answer prayers. Do not confuse decorations as a way to explain faith

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   ii3rittlesposted 12 years ago

   I am not saying this to judge the beliefs of Catholics, BUT, Catholic beliefs are essentially Christian beliefs mixed with paganism. The bible also says not to cut down a tree, bring it in your home and decorate it in gold and silver...Hmm, what does that sound like? Most holidays are made to appear as Christian/Catholic but they are pagan. Its all about marketing and false teachings.
   
   The Roman Catholic church was established to bring pagan beliefs into a mostly (at the time) Christian population. It was their way of introducing pagan rituals in a way not to offend Christians... Yet, most Christians celebrate and even live pagan lifestyles without even knowing it. Mission accomplished I guess.

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      loveofnightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well stated facts, a good share indeed.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely right. After I became aware of these facts for myself, I began seeing Catholocism in a completely different light.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I would like to know how many in this thread have actually attended a Catholic Mass that was not a wedding or funeral. I wonder how many have ever asked a Priest questions or even check the many online sources about Catholicism. Many here are wrong.

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   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   The basic question is incorrect. The Catholic Church does not teach the practice of praying to Mary or the Saints. Catholics are asked to honor the role of Mary, as mother of Jesus and to remember the saints. Upon our death, in the Catholic and Baptist church, we all become saints. The Catholic churchdoes canonize certain saints because of events that happened as a result of the people devotion to that saint and his intercession.  However, all prayers go to God. Granted, some Catholics mistakenly pray to Mary or the Saints, probably as a tradition handed down through families. Catholics ask Mary and the Saints to act as intercessors. There is a part of the Catholic mass that says, "And I ask  the Blessed Mother, all the angles and saints and you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the Lord our God." Thus it is intercessory prayer, which is something I first learned about as a Baptist before converting to Catholicism. Some people stand in front of statutes when they pray. Others sit on a bench in a cemetery where a loved one is buried. The prayer is to God, with others acting as intercessors to help deliver your message. As a converted Baptist, who is now a Catholic, I pray to God. However, there is no idolatry involved in intercessory prayer. If you ever asked anyone to pray for you, you have taken part in intercessory prayer. I cannot imagine any Church service where at sometime, the pastor says, "Let's all pray for _____________ in their time of need."  I did a Hub on this and got extensive comments. You can find it in my sub domain.

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      Motown2Chitownposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Very well said.    It's such a difficult subject to explain to those who are not Catholic, and I think you explained it beautifully!

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Motown2Chitown:
      Thank you for understanding what I was trying to convey. I will be the first to admit that Catholics do not do a good job explaining their devoting to Mary. It was when the word intercession was used that I began to understand.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In my Catholic First Communion I was given rosary beads and taught how to "pray" the Hail Mary and Our Father "prayers". Yes, the Catholic Church does teach people to pray to Mary, no matter how they word it.

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Greg Sereda:
      You have to listen to the words and not just say them. You did not like being a Catholic. That is your right. Just get the facts right. There is a devotion to Mary by the church, not worship. There is a difference.

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      Greg Seredaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The devotion is a form of worship, brother. It stems from the Pagan worship of Isis.

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   Ceegenposted 12 years ago

   Yes, it is.
   
   "Your answer is too short. Please make it longer."

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      Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Catholic Church teaches its adherents to pray to Mary and the saints. They even bow down to statues and pictures of them when they pray. The Church does not teach this. Some Catholics just do it--big difference. Baptist say don't drink. Many do.

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    Sterling Mathisposted 12 years ago

    Jesus makes it very clear that NO man gets to the father but through him. Even jesus himself had to pray to his father, not marry nor the saints. He says countless times that he only does what he sees his father do so we should follow his example. We go to God in prayer because he states the all human flesh will fail you. "I am a jealous God"

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       X-Conposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Good point.

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       Larry Wallposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       You are absolutely correct. Asking saints or Mary for intercession. Mary was still alive when Jesus walked the earth. So, no one prayed to Mary or asked her intercession. Naturally, Jesus being part of the Holy Trinity, would pray to his Father--God.

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