don't take it offensively, i'm just curious, she gave birth to the "messiah" and was supposedly a virgin, when the bible just mentions that she is "very young"
i don't understand, help me do so, so that i'm not so ignorant to this particular sect of religion...
2007-03-02 04:04:57 · 20 answers · asked by nuklear16301 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i apologize if i insulted anyone out there, i didn't know, i didn't ask the question for an open-ended page of insults, i just didn't understand, so i asked the question, okay, i get it, no one worships, her, but i did ask noone to get offended, i apologize if anyone did, but know i have a little more insight into the religion, please excuse my ignorance. but i am still curious on your answers, so please, if you have something to add, feel free.
2007-03-02 04:20:05 · update #1
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the Mother of God {Jesus is God), and that she, like Jesus, was sinless, otherwise she would not have been qualified to give birth to Jesus.
When Mary died, she was immediately raised up bodily and spiritually to heaven, as the sinless being that she was. And she, like Jesus, is constanting making intecessory prayers for all christians throughout the world. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church. I share these Catholic facts to help educate people, and with no negative, judgmental or harmful intentions. I am Buddhist, harming others is not my way.
We all should respect the beliefs and teachings of all religions, while respecting their free will, and as we do - we will acquire peace of mind, and will also communicate more effectively with others in life.
Catholics do not worship Mary, but are thankful to her, for giving mankind Jesus, similiarily Buddhists do not worship Siddhartha Gautama
{The Buddha), or his statue, but are Thankful to him for his teachings, but do not pray to him.
2007-03-02 05:05:32 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do not worship Mary. They believe that Mom may have influence on her son, and so they implore Mary to intercede on their behalf.
You are to be commended for asking that question in such a respectful manner.
Even though I am no longer a Catholic, I studied and prayed happily as a Catholic for 18 years. I can attest to the fact that it is a rich tradition, with much wisdom to teach, and that Jesus will not ignore you if that's where you happen to come from. I never did see why Mary needed to be a virgin, but then I also find it hard to believe that God created sex, made humans the horniest creatures on earth, and then found it so horrible and disgusting that he would damn people for it. I suspect that belief stems from men's frustrated desire to control and possess their offspring and that fact that people of old seldom bathed. Imagine that smell! It would make you feel pretty evil all right.
2007-03-02 12:19:23 · answer #2 · answered by Nowpower 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the people should call you Mary more bless then other women.
Do Catholics worship the Blessed Virgin Mary?
Some non-Catholics make the false claim that Catholics worship the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For this statement to be true, then the Church must be telling us to do this.
Therefore, if the Church is telling us to do this, then it must be written somewhere in official Catholic Church documents.
I have repeatedly asked the people who make this false charge to please show me the official written Catholic document which directs us to WORSHIP the Blessed Virgin.
The only reply I have ever received to that request was a quote from the Papal Encyclical 'Lumen Gentium':
LG 50. "...The Church has always believed that the Apostles and Christ's martyrs, who gave the supreme witness of faith and charity by the shedding of their blood, are closely united with us in Christ; she has always VENERATED them, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy angels, with a special love, and has asked piously for the help of their intercession."
Now, where in this quote does it say that Catholics WORSHIP the Blessed Virgin Mary?
The plain truth is that it does not say that unless you think to VENERATE someone, means to WORSHIP them.
The simple truth is that NOWHERE in Catholic literature will you ever find a document which directs Catholics to WORSHIP her. You will, however, find many documents which say we VENERATE her.
Here is what the dictionary says regarding the words venerate and worship:
Venerate: "To regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference."
One of the 10 Commandments is "Honor your Father and your Mother." Do you honor your father and mother? Do you respect them? These are the things Catholics do for their parents, and for the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Worship: "The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or sacred object."
Do you worship your parents? Certainly not, and neither do Catholics worship theirs. However, it is perfectly alright to venerate them and for Catholics to venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary.
2007-03-02 12:09:37 · answer #3 · answered by Linda 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They don't. Catholics reserve worship for God and God alone.
They do pray to Mary and the Saints, to remember their example and reminders of how to live a Christ-filled life, and ask these saints to pray for them.
For most Catholics, praying to a saint is no different than picking up a phone and calling their mother while looking at a photo of her, and asking her to pray for some need. The only difference is that the mother is still tangible and alive, while the saint is Alive in Christ.
2007-03-02 12:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Catholics do not worship Mary. They never have no matter what other groups have said.
She is venerated as Jesus's Mother.. the Mother of God. She has appeared in many places like Mexico, Portugal and France to name a few, where many miracles of healing both physical and spiritual take place there.. All these miracles come from God.
Mary is our Mother too. Jesus said from the cross to John, "Son behold your Mother" and he took her into his home.
She is one way of bringing people to Jesus,Her Son.
2007-03-02 12:31:22 · answer #5 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm going to skip the "Catholics don't worship Mary" lecture and attempt to help you with your basic question. They feel Mary is important for her role in beginning Christianity.
It's no different than focusing on Jesus over God, nor is it any less logical than "worshipping" any other entity.
2007-03-02 12:09:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Be careful how you word that. Some Catholics will react very violently to that wording.
Catholics believe (incorrectly) that Mary can speak to Jesus for their souls. This is directly contrary to the Bible which states that Jesus is the 'way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me'. (John 14:6) 'Me' meaning Jesus.
They also believe that because she bore Jesus, she is kind of a goddess, almost....even though Mary states that Jesus is HER Lord and Savior, and would almost certainly be upset that people worship her today.
2007-03-02 12:09:03 · answer #7 · answered by Liz 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
We dont worship Mary. We worship Jesus Christ God Almighty. We honor Mary as the Mother of God
2007-03-02 12:07:54 · answer #8 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Repeat after me: "Catholics do not "worship" Mary." Again: "Catholics do not "worship" Mary."
WE RESERVE WORSHIP FOR God alone! The Holy Trinity.
We say that Mary was "Blessed among women" because that's what the angel said to Her. She said it Herself - "all generations shall call (her) blessed."
2007-03-02 12:08:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Catholics do not worship Mary.
2007-03-02 12:08:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋