2006-09-03 10:41:42 · 22 answers · asked by TenaciousT 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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 communication, not worship.
The Hail Mary prayer simply recites Bible passages (the Word of God) and asks Mary to pray for us:
Hail Mary Full of grace, the Lord is with you. (These are the words the angel Gabriel said to Mary, a Bible quote.)
Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. (This is Mary's cousin Elizabeth's greeting, another bible quote.)
Holy Mary, (The angel Gabriel said Mary was full of grace and Elizabeth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said Mary was blessed.)
Mother of God, (the Bible says Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, God the Son)
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. (A simple request to pray for us.)
Amen.
With love in Christ.
2006-09-03 16:38:10 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not like Catholics JUST worship the Virgin Mary and the Saints, we believe that Mary is our Mother and she deserves to be worshipped, she is Jesus's mom, wouldn't you want your mom to take a little credit if you got famous? She did bring you into this world ya know... :)
2006-09-03 17:45:11 · answer #2 · answered by p8ntbll6 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Catholics do not worship the Virgin Mary. They revere her. There is a difference. A very large difference.
2006-09-03 17:44:29 · answer #3 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
WE worship the Virgin Mary because:
1. She is the chosen one to conceive and give birth to Jesus our Saviour.
2. She was appointed by Jesus to be the Mother of the Church
3. She, as Jesus' mother, is the fastest way to communicate with Jesus. Jesus cannot refuse His mother.
4. She has done so many miracles in the past and has done so many apparitions to call for the conversion of sinners
5. And so much much more.
2006-09-03 17:47:02 · answer #4 · answered by Busy Diyosa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm catholic and we have a prayer for the Virgin Mary. This is because she's the mother of God. There is nothing wrong about it. I dont know why people criticize catholics for it?
2006-09-03 17:46:21 · answer #5 · answered by #125 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We Catholics DON"T worship Mary, we worship God. Mary is honored highly, but not worshiped.
2006-09-03 17:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They do NOT worship Mary, they respect and adore Her as the Mother of our Saviour and ask Her for intercession on their behalf, seeing as She is so close to God. Much closer than any of us are!
2006-09-03 17:45:39 · answer #7 · answered by LindaLou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for the last time people
catholics DO NOT worship the virgin mary
i dont know why people think this and go on about it but it is NOT true
2006-09-03 17:43:53 · answer #8 · answered by Ðêù§ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They worship God, I think they use Mary as mediator. Why, I cannot answer you.
2006-09-03 17:45:08 · answer #9 · answered by Redeemed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow what a repeat thread!
Anyway, the RCC passed a canon that allows them to pray to dead people. That is when people started praying to Mary.
I only pray to Jesus. I am a oneness Christian.
2006-09-03 17:44:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋