No. There is a distinction between prayer and worship. Worship is reserved for God and God alone, for He alone is the Perfect God. Prayer is merely communicating with those in Heaven.
Would it violate that commandment to pull out a portrait of your mother and call her on the phone? Why then would having a statue and a conversation with Mary? Would it be a sin to do so to ask your mother to pray with you or for you? Why then would it be a sin to do so regarding Mary or the other saints?
2006-12-07 18:47:33
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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If Catholics thought of Mary as being equal to God, then praying to her would be in violation of the first commandment.
But since Catholics DO NOT think of Mary as being equal to God, then praying to her is NOT a violation of the first commandment.
Is that clear enough for you?
2006-12-08 09:15:55
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answer #2
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answered by Sldgman 7
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Mary is not a goddess. The Catholic understanding is that the dead who are in heaven have access to God and can join their prayers with ours. Mary, the mother of Jesus, would have the strongest access and might be more persuasive that we could be. So some people would feel more comfortable addressing her than Almighty God directly. I'm not expecting you to accept the idea, just understand it. Mary has no supernatural power of her own. God still does the work.
2006-12-08 02:51:13
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answer #3
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answered by skepsis 7
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Good question. Prayer is simple communication on a spiritual level. You should also include the Greek, Ukranian, Russian, and Eastern Orthodox Churches with their prayers to Mary.
God also commanded us to honor our father and mother. Mary, the mother of God (Jesus Christ), is our spiritual mother when Jesus said to John, "...behold your mother..." Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ is the "new Adam" for the new creation (spiritually). As such Mary is the "new Eve". Even Jews who have converted to Christianity have come to recognize this.
2006-12-08 02:49:54
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answer #4
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answered by Search4truth 4
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We do not worship Mary as a God, we HONOR her as the Mother of God. We ask her to pray for us just as I would ask a friend or loved one to pray for me. We see in the Bible at the Wedding feast at Cana that Jesus is obedient to His mother. So we ask her to pray for us like we might ask our mother to ask our dad for permission to do something. God honored Mary above all creatures by making her the mother of His Son. By honoring Mary we are following the example of God Himself. Mary's special privileges were given to her by God, not men.
God bless,
Stanbo
2006-12-08 02:58:03
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answer #5
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answered by Stanbo 5
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You, like many other people in here, are ignorant to the truth of the Catholic faith. It is estimated that what you think you know about the Catholic Church is 85 percent inaccurate, if you want the truth about the Virgin Mary, I suggest you go here,
http://www.catholic.com/library/mary_saints.asp
2006-12-08 02:56:22
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answer #6
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answered by L 2
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I am an atheist and I would pray to the Mother mary if I thought it would give me an advantage at craps...
2006-12-08 02:44:34
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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I think a lot of this influence comes from when the pagans merged with the Catholics back in the days of Constantine. Many pagan ways and traditions are still practiced in the Catholic church today. Many of these pagans were largely goddess worshippers, so the emphasis on Mary may have come from them.
2006-12-08 02:48:35
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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I don't understand why they regard her as infallible yet the Bible says that "all" has fallen short of the glory God. "All" sinned. Mary included.
They have a lot of practices that are not biblical.
2006-12-08 02:48:23
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answer #9
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answered by mx3baby 6
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and you think we owe you an explanation? even if we explain several times that we don't, our explanations don't sink into your thick head. personally, i'm sick and tired of all your stupidity. you think you know better just because you're reading the Bible, but you don't even understand it at all. cut the crap already. stop being self-righteous, it's not amusing.
2006-12-08 02:48:52
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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