Why do Catholics pray to Mary and worship statues of her? Isn't that idolatry?

Answer 1

They scream and cry and yell and jump up and down swearing they do NOT worship Mary --------but they do.

They even sing to her "" HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD!""


YUK== that is BLASPHEMY!

She was the EARTHLY mother of Jesus. (period > )

Answer 2

It certainly would be idolatry if it actually happened. Seriously, are you naive enough to think that a billion intelligent people WORSHIP plaster??? Or marble??

The Catholic Church absolutely forbids idolatry in all its forms. You can find this teaching in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Church defines idolatry as "giving to any creature [obviously that would include Mary] the unique honor and reverence that belongs to God alone".

Catholics honor Mary because it was by her voluntary cooperation in God's plan of salvation that we have a Savior. That's a pretty exceptional contribution, don't you think? We honor past presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Yet what are their contributions to mankind, compared with bringing the Savior of mankind into the world? So yes, we do honor Mary. And no, we do not worship her. That would be idolatry. And yes, we do talk (pray) to our Christian brothers and sisters in heaven, asking them to intercede for us, just as we talk to our Christian brothers and sisters on earth, asking them also to intercede for us. Do you suppose Christians forget how to pray when they enter heaven? As for statues, they are simply visual reminders of people who are special to us, just like the pictures of our families on the wall at home, or in our wallets.

Answer 3

They don't pray to statues. they have reverence for mary-which is not "worship", because she was a holy person, and the mother of Jesus. Statues are just symbols to help one understand the person, not an idol. If you wear a cross, do you worship it? No, it's just a reminder. Mary is a reminder to strive to live a holy life, as are the saints. Mary is also to acknowledge that women can be holy too, not just men.

Answer 4

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.

We also do not worship statues of either the Cross or Mary.

We worship only the one true God, the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

They don't worship statues, they simply use them as a symbols of the divine, in the same way that all Christians use the cross. No one actually prays to the cross itself, but use it as a symbol to aid in their prayer.
As far as Mary goes, it is kind if similiar. Catholics do not pray to Mary and the saints, they pray through them. This is very different from Protestant Traditions, but Catholics see Mary and the saints as people who are already in heaven and can therefore be prayed through to pray, in the end, to God. Catholics of course pray to God, but they may ask Mary or a saint to also pray for them to God. Its just a way of getting more prayer going towards God. The saints and Mary are with God, but are not divine like God, so sometimes they can act like an intermediator for prayer and they can help you with whatever it is you are praying about.
One important distinction is that Catholics do hold very seriously the idea that no one but God deserves prayer and worship. Like I said, Catholics do not pray to but through the saints and Mary. Also, Catholicism says explicitly that you do not need to pray through Mary or the saints. God can hear all your prayers and He is the one with all the power so there is not a necessity to pray through anyone, it can just help along your cause at times. Catholicism, like all Protestant traditions says that prayer should only go to God and that nothing is truly divine, but Him. The Catholic Tradition of praying through saints and Mary is a greatly misunderstood practice as most see it as worshipping others beside God; some see it almost as a type of polytheism, but this is not the case. I find that its greatly misunderstood and after studying Catholicism deeply its something that I see people get confused about with the religion alot. Its a bit hard to understand, but if you think about it and read about it you can get a better understanding.

Answer 6

To pray to a person is unscriptural. Roman Catholics have many wonderful attributes and beliefs but some, such as praying to persons, are unscriptural, I believe. Jesus is our advocate and that is all we need, same as confessing our sins - no need for a man in between. But God decides, not me.
This is a practice of the "church". made by man not God and is misguided and serious - prayer is sacred.
The statues are from another time - and are a bit bizarre.

Answer 7

A lot of the Catholic admiration for Mary is misunderstood. For example, the "Hail Mary" ends with "Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us." Catholics ask Mary to pray for them just like they might ask their fellow parishioners to pray for them.

Also we since we believe God honored Mary by choosing her as the mother of Jesus, we honor her as well.

Answer 8

It was explained to me recently that Catholics ask Mary to pray with them and for them. They don't worship her.

Answer 9

Since vatican 2 ..... when the pope named Mary a co-redemptress with Christ... basically stateing she has the same authority to forgive sin as Christ himself. Which is obserd. Prior to vatican 2 yes they still had the statues and they still prayed to her for intercession... but it has become more acceptable and more prominate since vatican2

Answer 10

My Catholic neighbor tells me they pray to Mary because as a mother she is closer to her son, like most mothers are their sons, and can petition him on our behalf and yes it would be idolatry. As Christ says he is the mediator for us and God and we are not in need of another.