I'm not trying to pick a fight, or anything....it was just always something that I have wondered about. Also, why is it that Catholics feel they can only be forgiven through the aid of a priest, and not by use of the faculties that God has given us...where in the bible does Jesus mention that specific requirement? If it isn't mentioned, how/why did that belief originate? Again, not trying to pick a fight...just would like to know what people think. Thanks in advance for not condemning me to hell ;o).
2006-08-29 18:12:05 · 18 answers · asked by ♥austingirl♥ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I suppose my question may sound inflammatory, but I am sorry, to an outsider that is how it looks. That's why I am asking, so perhaps I can understand what is intended.
2006-08-29 18:32:32 · update #1
I was Catholic. I'm non-denominational now. I agree that it is not right to pray to Mary, the saints, etc. While these were good people to be honored (especially Mary!), God specifies that you pray to no one else but Him. Remember religions are man made institutions which are imperfect. Pure worship of God and His word is what people should pay attention to. Forget religion.
2006-08-29 19:06:13 · answer #1 · answered by nikki sixx 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
OK, first of all, the Catholic belief is that we do not worship saints. We merely ask their intercession. Remember the Wedding at Cannae (sp?) where the wedding party throwers asked Mary to ask Jesus, yeah, it's basically like that. Also, it's like when Paul asks the church he writes to to pray for him. Same kind of concept. Also, in Revelations/THe Apocalypse of St. John:
And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel" (Revelation 8:3-4).
As to confession, Christ says to the Apostles,
'Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:22-23)
If you have anymore questions about Catholicism, feel free to message me through Yahoo! ( just click on my icon, or something). Despite mt icon, I am a very level-headed, open-minded sort of person.
2006-08-30 01:32:35 · answer #2 · answered by el_cid_el_bivar 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
catholics are not worshipping mary. mary is to be respected. catholics believe that once a person dies if they were a good or saintly person they are already in heaven with God. especially if the church has made them a saint. They believe by the person being in heaven that they have the ability to hear our prayers the same way that Jesus can and are able to take a message to him it is called intercession. The same way if you say to your friend to pray for you because you are sick or something you can ask a saint to take this message to God for you after all they are up there praising praying and worshipping God all the time. So they take a message to God for you and it is suppose to get there more quickly and not sit around in his inbox as long.
2006-08-30 01:19:47 · answer #3 · answered by snail 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can't speak for anyone else, though as a former catholic, I can't recall ever worshiping the saints or the virgin Mary. Rather, I've always looked to them for inspiration and as examples of faith. As for confession, I believe as long as you feel remorse and repent for your sins, you will be forgiven, through a priest or not. Though confession is always good for the soul, wether through a priest or a friend.
2006-08-30 01:22:18 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't "worship" per say. We pray to our patron saints as well as Mary. As for the foriveness thing. We are taught that the only way to receive absolution from our sins was to go through the priest. I, however, find that ridiculous as well. I haven't been to confession in years. Something about the priest chuckling at one of my sins made me realize that if I'm truly sorry for what ever it was I did, God will forgive me.
2006-08-30 01:20:16 · answer #5 · answered by Hollynfaith 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being back in those days "idols" did not mean celebrities or athletes, it refers to golden statues of images of cows and falcons and any other object someone might worship for good luck or prosperity. This was a common practice with the Egyptians, that's where the pyramids and all that stuff comes from.
2006-08-30 01:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by Cherry_Blossom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are different versions of the commandments. The Catholic version does not specifically forbid idol worship. It merely says not to have any other strange gods... and it's #1.
The Bible itself could be considered an idol.
2006-08-30 01:22:35 · answer #7 · answered by Tom D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
+ Saints +
Catholics do not worship saints. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist 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.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946
+ Confession +
The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."
When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.
Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1422 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm
With love in Christ.
2006-08-31 01:14:36 · answer #8 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We don't worship Hail Mary.
We believe that Jesus, God, and the Holy Saint are one.
Read the Hail Mary prayer to know when Catholics "speak" to Mary, what they say:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
PRAY FOR US sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
you see, we ask her to pray for us,
same as you ask a friend of yours to pray for you if you have an exam tomorrow.
2006-08-30 01:28:33 · answer #9 · answered by Líbano 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are right, but you are confused, we don't worship the statues themselves, the statues are something to let us have a visual image of jesus and mary and the other saints, but we don't really worship these statues. Its kind of like when you are away from your family and you keep on looking at the pictures of your loved ones, because you want to see them.
good luck.
2006-08-30 01:24:58 · answer #10 · answered by john 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋