Many non-Catholics wonder about what is considered idolatry among Catholics, please tell me your opinion on the question below.
Is it considered idolatry to do the following:
Pray to Virgin Mary in addition to Jesus or to pray to saints? What about praying to a rosary or even praying to a statue of a saint, Virgin Mary, etc.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you considered it idolatry? If so why, if not then why?
2007-01-16 08:48:50 · 20 answers · asked by PrettyWifey 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
Idolatry is divine worship given to an image, but its signification has been extended to all Divine worship given to anyone or anything but the true God.
By definition, a Catholic praying before a crucifix to the true God or a Non-Catholic Christian praying before a cross to the true God is not idolatry.
By definition, a Catholic asking a saint in heaven to pray for him or her in front of a statue of that saint is not idolatry.
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 living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
With love in Christ.
2007-01-17 17:10:14 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Praying to Mary and the saints is not idolatry because the prayers to Mary and the saints are not prayers of worship as the prayers to Jesus are. The prayers to Mary and the saints are us asking them to pray for us and with us as we pray to God.
We do not pray TO a rosary. The Rosary is a series of prayers that are prayed while reflecting on events in the life of Jesus. The beads are a means of keeping count of the number of prayers prayed.
We do not pray to the statue, but to the person who is represented by the statue. the statue is just a work of art and is not necessary for prayer. A person can pray to Mary and the saints without any statues being around. Statues are just nice to look at.
2007-01-16 10:15:56 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a practicing Catholic I hope you will read the following and learn the truth. Whenever the bible references: statues, idols and/or graven images concerning worship the latter is speaking about the myriad of PAGAN DEITIES that littered both of the great ancient cities; Rome & Greece. Additionally, it is very important not to take the Bible out of context! During pagan Rome practically every corner a pagan temple was erected to a particular lesser god (deity); Venus, Mercury, Mars, Ceres etc... Remember, Jesus and the Apostles would walk thru these large cities and see all of the above nonsense, pagan gods being "worshiped" all day long, the latter is a sin! (the above is in direct opposition to the 1st Commandment). A graven image is a god that DIRECTLY opposed the true and authentic GOD/Jesus. The statues we view in the church today were never even allowed in ancient time, any person making the latter statues would be immediately executed. Around AD400 Roman emperor Constantine finally allowed Christianity to become the favored religion among the Roman people, the Catholic religion founded in AD33 was now allowed to openly practice the belief. Churches began to be built and the formulation of the bible (many letters) into a book became a focal and important aspect for study. Finally, it is important to understand that the statues we view today at all catholic churches of the Blessed Virgin Mary along with the Saints and Prophets are seen as: "Visible witnesses that God has taken human flesh and made it a part of His overall plan" The above statues are not graven-images since in no way do they oppose the teaching of Jesus Christ, in fact they support the latter! It is important to also understand that as Catholics we do not Worship these beautiful statues but rather ask while praying to Jesus that they may assist us also in prayer; hence the term "Intercession; Revelation 5:8 (elders = saints) & (Holy ones = mankind on Earth). Today, when visiting Rome one will still see a few pagan statues, the church specifically asked that they should not be destroyed since they are to be viewed as terrible mistakes of the past. Within our mind as we walk by these pagan statues we note an internal overtone: "we actually prayed to that nonsense" Sadly, far too many non-catholic churches through poor biblical study continue to fail to note the above. God bless'
2016-03-29 00:33:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because it isn't worship. Mary always, always, always points the way to Jesus Christ. When a Catholic prays to a saint or Mary we are simply asking the saints to pray with and for us. We see in the Bible that the dead Christians in heaven can pray about the events here on earth (Revelation) and we see also that the dead saints can see us and are concerned about us (Hebrews). We don't worship saints. Any one who doesn't think they need intercession from any one but Jesus should never ask a parent, friend, pastor or any one else to pray for them again.
2007-01-16 08:57:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No more than speaking to another person is idolatry. An idol is someone or something that you worship. Catholics only worship God.
A statue or a picture of a saint is just that. It has no power. It is not worshiped. When you look at a picture of your friend of family member, are you worshiping them? When you speak to them, either in person, or on the phone, is that worship? Of course not.
Statues and pictures are symbolic of various Biblical personalities, but they are only representations, just as a photograph is.
2007-01-16 09:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by iraqisax 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Jinenglish68. We ask them to intercede for us in front of God. We don't pray TO rosary nor TO statues. We acknowledge that God is the only One to be worshipped but we do have His saints as intercessors (more voices to ask a favour on your behalf). Many people don't know the words to our prayers, if they would take a minute or so to read them, they would understand that it's nothing like idol worship.
2007-01-16 09:06:34 · answer #6 · answered by DonPiano 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, catholics pray to Mary simply as if you are asking your friend to pray for you. It isnt Idolatry at all
2007-01-16 08:55:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
1. No where in the bible does it instruct us to talk to other dead people or saints that passed away in the past.
2. The bible says that there is only one mediator between man and God and its Jesus Christ. Jesus came to this earth and suffered for us greatly .. Mary's Suffering does not compare to Jesus' suffering. Besides she is a sinner just like you and me. In order to be a mediator or forgiver of sins she had to live a perfect life and she didn't.
1 Timothy 2:5
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus"
Romans 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
2007-01-16 09:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by talent4god 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i'd like to add to this question. i'm non catholic and genuinely want to know. why pray to mary and the saints to "forward" your prayers to Christ? Why not just pray directly to Jesus or God?
2007-01-16 08:55:30 · answer #9 · answered by jmprince01 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are not praying to Mary and the Saints for help. They are praying for Mary and the Saints to put their prayers at the feet of Jesus. As if that was idolitry is up to you.
2007-01-16 08:52:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋