Why do non-catholic christians think that catholics don't want to pray to Jesus just mary?

Question

just because they ask mary for help doesn't mean they don't pray to God, God can only answer prayers God is only worthy of praise... personally i barley ask a saint for help in pray all my prayers are directly to God don't buch us up into one category if a catholic wants to pray let them it doesn't conclude that they don't love God or get distracted from him all devotion to a saint leads one closer to God in my opinion..... anyways my question is why do you think we can't pray to God even though that is what most of are prayer and are only source of worship is ... the whole mass is a prayer/worship of God to us it is the highest form...thanks and God bless:)

Answer 1

Catholics believe that the ultimate destination of all prayer is God. However, in addition to praying directly to God, we can also ask other Christians to pray on our behalf, and we can pray on behalf of others. Most if not all Protestants do the same. Any living Christian can offer prayers of intercession on my behalf, and since Jesus said that those who follow Him will never die, that includes the saints in heaven. So, if I have something important on my mind, I will pray to God about it, and I will ask my fellow Christians, both on earth and in heaven to pray to God about it as well, on my behalf. This does not take anything away from God that is rightfully His. Rather, it multiplies the prayers directed to God regarding my special need.

Answer 2

Some Protestants believe that, because Jesus is the one and only mediator between us and the Father, that praying to anyone else is a violation of the First Commandment.

What they fail to understand is the difference between praying to Jesus as the one Mediator, and offering intercessory prayer to Mary or the other saints.

I always tell them that the mere fact that Jesus is the one mediator doesn't mean there cannot be intercessors.

If they continue to persist wrong doing, I ask them if they've ever said, "I'll pray for you,". No one has ever said "no." I then point out that they have engaged in intercessory prayer and that, clearly, no violation of the First Commandment took place then, so why is there a violation in parying to Mary and/or the saints?

Answer 3

Umm............there's no such thing as a "non Catholic Christian". Catholisicm is the system that developed Christianity. Protestantism is simply the branch of the church that don't agree with it's arcanum. To claim differently is like saying chevrolet is not general motors, or hamburger is not a cow. The Catholic church was originated by Peter and developed into form by the followers of Paul's doctrine. Based of course on the philosophy and teachings of Jesus. Protestsantism was started hundreds of years later by Martin Luther, a lawyer. That's just plain old history, not opinion. I'm neither Catholic or Protestant, so I have no dog in this fight.

Answer 4

first of all i am a protestent and i am fixing to marry into an all catholic family and i don't believe that they don't love God, i believe that every religion has its own quirks. I personally ( and i am NOT speaking for anyone else) do not understand catholism. for me what should be a 15 min wedding ceremony is turned into an hour to an hour and a half ceremony in a catholic church. and because i am not catholic my soon to be marriage really isn't reconized in the catholic religion. I believe that our body is our temple and we should be able to pray as we want to. the way i pray is between me and God. and only God can let me pass through the gates of heaven. No one else can.

Answer 5

Protestants believe that the ONLY way to commune with God in prayer is through Jesus Christ. Praying to anyone else is pointless, and trying to use anyone but Jesus Christ to access God is pointless. No one else is sinless, and can approach God for us like Jesus can.

We believe we can confess our sins to God, through Jesus Christ. We don't need any other mediator, according to the Bible. We believe we can study the Bible ourselves, with the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Yes, there are some divisions in our two faiths, and I'm sure we all respect one another's freedom of choice, but I would rather we dwelled on the similarities of our faiths and all of us glorify God with our lives....like your Mother Teresa. What a Christian she was!

Answer 6

Jesus is absent or taking care of the mostesst important matters to start listening to your complaints. All we do is ask ask ask, then we give money to some church and think we are going to be heard. The Virgin Mary is always available and may no answer to your prayers, but neither Jesus or any God.

Answer 7

It works like this:

I happen to have the authority to dispense funds to support the work of the Family Ministry Department in my church.

I have assistants, who I respect, and who spend quite a bit of time staying in touch with all the needy people in our parish.

When an assistant asks me to provide money or other types of help, I listen to them as they make their case, and then I usually, but not always agree to do it, because I trust their experience, dedication, and judgment in the matter.

I could do much of the work myself, but it's better to allow others to become involved in doing God's work, too.

Better for me. Better for them. Better for those who need help.

In this way, one simple request for assistance might result in scores of people getting happly involved in doing God's work ... with all of them being blessed by God, in the process.

I have no doubt that God works the very same way in heaven, as it's simply common sense.

This is the practical basis behind the very ancient Catholic belief in intercessory prayer.