Why do Catholics?

Question

I am Catholic and I am sick of having to defend my religion. I was not taught all of the details about why we do what we do. I was taught that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and that because He died on the cross for me, my sins shall be forgiven. But why do we have a special prayer for Mary. And why do we baptize babies? And why do we have to confess to a priest? All the help I can get will be appreciated.

Answer 1

WOW...Ok well
1. Why pray to Mary: Because it's easier to talk to your mother than to your father (generally speaking). What that means is people understand Mary is the MOTHER of GOD - so they know how mothers are sometimes an easier touch when you've done something wrong, and want to be forgiven. Mary has a special place in heaven for doing what GOD wanted - no questions asked. There are thousands of examples of the importance of Mary.
2. Confession: To relieve the burdens of daily life, the minor and major mistakes made when dealing with our neighbors. The priest is not "there" in the confessional, the priest is well a "microphone" (if this ws the past he'd be a carrier pigeon or something - see?) to GOD, for human understanding we need feedback. Priests listen then comfort the person. You can confess to anything - but you will not get the feedback and your human senses will tell you things like "no one heard you". Being human a priest can understand the temptations a person is under, and CAN relate to the confessor. REALLY.
3. Babies are baptised because in the beginning babies died often, sometimes minutes after birth. To ease the pain of the parents the church baptises babies so their souls are "saved". This practice is also a bonding of families and communities to a new person.
Understand that your questions were answered thousands of years ago, to meet the questions of the time. People were/are scared of GOD, so they talk to Mary. People died very young, and children even more so, mothers/families needed comfort.
Today there are answers to many questions that had NO answers just a few years ago. Comfort in dark scary times is very important. Knowing family and children are taken care of by GOD (after death) helps the living - live.
As an older Catholic, I can say that people still give me a hard time for policies of the ancient past. I tell them what details I know, good people instead of killing talked to new people and converted their "pagan" ways into a Catholic way of life. Because the pagans the Saints and priest met had very simular rules of living in their community: No killing,stealing, control of lust, importance of family, the feeding and care of the less fortunate (poor) the conversion was easier. There was a convert to my belief or die policy - well it still being used TODAY! Very sad - but true.
Being Catholic will be easier in time, but also tougher because you will understand more, which will put you into positions where you will know right from wrong before others. Stay faithful and involved, so GOD can complete his plan on Earth.
Also have fun, it sounds like your young - travel far if you can, question everything, make adults work - don't just accept what adults say - have them prove it once in a while. And, well... as there is confession - do something to confess ONCE - say yearly HA HA.
Hope I helped a little

Answer 2

I don't know much about the catholic religion because I was born into a lutheran church but I know that they drag things out a little bit more than the lutheran's do but they have the same beliefs as lutherans and baptists but the catholics believe more in mary than they do Jesus which as I have been taught is not right because Jesus is the one that died for our sins. Lutheran's and Baptist's also baptize babies and we do that to make sure that they are protected by the lord. I don't know why you have to go to confession because Lutheran's and Baptist's don't, it is just part of your religion. Hope I helped a little, but I don't know a whole lot about the Catholic religion.

Answer 3

Well, lesee, Catholicism is guilty of breaking two of the Ten Commandments.

1. Idolatry - We are commanded not to worship idols or graven images and yet Catholic churches are awash in them. Statues of saints, Jesus, Mary, etc.. Stained glass windows. Paintings. What part of that commandment don't you understand?

2. Worshipping other deities - Mary being first and foremost. And then there are the hundreds of saints within the Catholic pantheon. I worship and revere God the Almighty and no one else.

As for confessing to a priest, why do you need to go to a fallible man with a collar to tell all your sins to and ask for forgiveness. You need to be praying to God for forgiveness, not a man.

And that's not even getting into the atrocities committed by the Catholic Church over the centuries which I won't get into here.

You don't have to defend anything. It's indefensible. But it's not your fault. You were born into this religion and will probably die in it, too.

If you have entertained thoughts of seeking another church, they were immediately squelched by family, especially when Grandma threatened to cut you out of her will.

Answer 4

Yes, I am a practising Catholic. I do suppose dangerous whilst, at Christmas and Easter, all the ones "two times a yr" Catholics pop out - however then I observe that it would be worse. It would very good be viable they do not pop out in any respect. It's effortless for anybody, who attends Church each week, to visit Mass on Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days of Obligation. I frequently surprise simply how a lot more problematic it's for humans, who do not attend Mass most of the time, to get out and pass to Mass a couple of time consistent with yr. We cannot assume it, due to the fact we all know what we might be lacking. I do not suppose those "two times a yr" forms can utterly respect what it's they are lacking. If they did, they might be at Mass greater than two times a yr. I am proud to be Catholic, so it is all of the extra disappointing whilst I see humans taking an "oh hum: perspective in the direction of their vocation as lay Catholics. All we will particularly do approximately it's pray, and desire that they illustration we set will, at some point, encourage them to begin dwelling the Catholic tradition all yr circular.

Answer 5

I am a Catholic that has been searching for answers to a trillion piece puzzle and I will continue my search for answers till I die. I will list some reference books that will help but to start with your immediate questions. Mary, the MOTHER OF GOD, holds a special place in human history and creation. In SCRIPTURAL TYPOLOGY Jesus is like Adam (Romans 5:12-21) in that He started a new creation. Mary is, in the same way, the NEW EVE because she shared in God's creation of a "new creature" to save mankind and as such is the CO-REDEMPTRIX. Simply put, prayer is communication to the spiritual realm, which Mary has passed into, and Mary is our spiritual mother while Eve is the physical mother of mankind. The disciple John was not the brother of Jesus and yet, when Christ was on his cross, Christ asked John to "behold his mother". This shows Christ had no brothers or sisters because it would have fallen upon them to care for Mary. The "HAIL MARY" is a scripturally based prayer.

In the Gospels people confessed their sins to the baptizer before being baptized. This is the process of repenting. Also, the apostles had baptized entire families which children and babies were a part of. Repenting is an ongoing process for the sins commited after someone has been baptized. Confessing sins to God has its problems: the sinner is not humbled or puts forth the effort to examine thier conscience like someone going before a priest; a priest gives advice or counselling in the confessional on how to avoid the near occasion of sin especially when it has become a habit; and the apostles themselves were ordained to forgive sins and passed this on down thru APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION.

I would like to suggest some movies to enrich your understanding of the faith as it has for me: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY, THE SCARLET AND THE BLACK, JOAN OF ARC, and many others.

Answer 6

First off you need to take an open minded look at the Catholic faith and the things that they do. Idols like rosary beads, and crosses that you kneel down to, Do you not realize these are idols. And secondly you never have to pray to Mary. Save your prayers for god. And thirdly well confess your sins to whomever you wish, you never have to go to a priest to admit your sins, Did you not read in the bible that man has the power to forgive sins!!!!!!

Answer 7

You have too many questions to answer without giving links. So here is a good start for you:

Catholic Answers
http://www.catholic.com/
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
Compendium OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Questions and Answers about the Catechism)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
Teachings of the Catholic Church
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/teaching.htm
Expert Answers to Catholic Questions
http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/conference.htm
http://forums.catholic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
Catholic Website Reviews
http://www.catholicculture.org/sites/sites.cfm
Catholic Online Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.com/
Crusades-The Real History
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/118/52.0.html
The Real Inquisition-Investigating the popular Myth
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/madden200406181026.asp
Catholic convert websites
http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/
http://www.catholic-convert.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=32
Quick Questions about the Catholic Faith
http://www.newadvent.org/library/almanac_thisrock91.htm
This Rock Magazine Quick Questions
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9705qq.asp
This Rock Magazine Quick Questions
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0404qq.asp

Answer 8

Try looking for a book on the Catholic Apologetics...maybe do an internet search using that keyword. You can also find the answers to many questions in the book The Catechism of the Catholic Church. (might be able to search that too) You probably have more questions than can be answered here.

Answer 9

We baptize babies due to eveyone is born with original sin, and Baptism removes original sin. Also to bring your child into the christain family. God for gives your sins, but you need to confess and repent for your sins. Mary is the Mother of God, and a saint, she will pray for you when you say the rosary

Answer 10

Yes, exactly. When it comes right down to it G-d is the one that you will have to answer to in the end.
I was born and raised Catholic and could not understand why either. As I got older none of it made sense.

I have since converted to Judaism and everything makes so much more since.

You should look into what you think is right in your heart. But remember it comes down to just you and G-d.