2006-08-19 08:03:16 · 13 answers · asked by jeepdog85 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Episcopal Churches.
The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.
Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.
As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.
With love and prayers in Christ.
2006-08-19 16:39:40 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok so, I've been to a catholic school even though I'm not catholic myself and yes they did pray Mary, Saints and Angels to. I've read some people saying that they don't pray her but only ask her to intercede, that's also a prayer strictly speaking.
I have a catholic friend who would rather pray Mary than God because the closeness he felt with Mary he did not feel with God. Like some children are closer to their mom than they are to their dad many catholics have that sort of relationship with Mary, how it all started out is a long story....
Now should they do it. I believe no, claiming that they do it because they believe in the communion of saints doesn't seem to be a very solid argument otherwise they would also pray to all the living saints around the world but they don't. Is it because they assume that while the person is living he cannot hear prayers but as soon as he dies he somehow gets the "power" to hear the prayers of people all over the world as they pray to him?
Don't they do masses for the dead because generally they assume the dead are not yet accepted in paradise but even then somehow they are still closer to God then we are so we should pray them? So it does not seem very logical to me but rather like many catholics used to say , "...I found things this way so I still do it the same way..."
Also it's an obligation for catholics to pray Mary but it's not an obligation for them to pray their deceased ancestors or friends... is Mary more of a saint than those saints is she closer to God?
Also I understand some people do pray their deceased relatives to ask them for protection and guidance etc... but I'm not sure that is in conformity with official catholic teaching and yet you don't hear the official catholic authorities saying anything about it either.... I suppose they consider that those people are only asking for intercession.
As for the 10 commendments banning it, well Christians live by Christ's commendments not the 10 commendments we were not imposed the sabbath for instance.....
As for the magnificat isn't it Mary's praises to God? Elizabeth's hymn to Mary (Hail Mary), yes but there is no prayer part in it.... she wasn't asking Mary to do anything for her.... the "saint Mary mother of God pray for us poor sinners.... " part was added, it's not in the bible only the first part is in the bible and it does not contain a prayer..... think about it....
I don't think praying to Mary is the example Jesus left for us.
2006-08-22 10:11:32 · answer #2 · answered by mjasmin_ht 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which commandement are you referring to? The first? Mary is not God nor do we equate her with Him. She is His creation. She is to be honored. Do you know that the first miracle Christ performed was at her encouragement? And that the Hail Mary and the Magnificant prayers come straight out of the Bible?
2006-08-19 08:10:39 · answer #3 · answered by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you ask someone to pray for you sometimes?
Well there's the answer.
Besides, she and the saints are not dead they live in Christ, do you remember: he who believes in me will have everlasting life.
The 10 commandments also tells us to honor our parents, don't you think Jesus would do as much?
The only way to the Father is through Jesus, that's true and Jesus said so Himself.
How did you get to know Jesus?
Through your parents? some friend? the bible?
How than could that be different than to get to know Him through His own mother who gave birth to Him into this world long before the books of the new testament were written.
2006-08-19 08:12:35 · answer #4 · answered by carl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea. Jesus told the Apostles, the only way to the Father is by me. He didn't mention Mary or any of the saints. I am a Christian, by the way.
2006-08-19 08:15:30 · answer #5 · answered by stullerrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the Catholic people cause us Christians know not to pray to anyone else but God! But I guess the Catholics take it different!
2006-08-19 08:10:33 · answer #6 · answered by just want 2 kno 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No body prays to Mary, they ask her to intercede for them.
2006-08-19 08:08:30 · answer #7 · answered by Yen 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Catholic's dont believe in reading the Bible,they blindly obey their priest's and whatever the Pope says.To a catholic the Pope,IS GOD!
2006-08-19 08:17:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Their wires crossed in the switch box !
2006-08-19 09:08:44 · answer #9 · answered by Tinkerbelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a Roman Catholic thing, not born-again or prostestant ritual.
2006-08-19 08:11:37 · answer #10 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋