I was born and raised Catholic, and since childhood I have never been comfortable praying to Jesus or Mary or the saints, in fact it feels evil. I have since kept a relationship with GOD and GOD alone, but now that my Priest, my Church and My parents know this is how I feel, they beleive I am under attack form SATAN. I think that they sound crazy. Everything I have experienced praying to GOD only has been good, but when I pray to Jesus or anybody else it feels wrong!
2007-03-04 07:20:01 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pray to God, the Almighty, through His son, Jesus. The Bible says no one can come to the Father unless they go through the son. Christ is the way to the Father! Christ will make your petitions known to God.
2007-03-04 07:49:27 · answer #1 · answered by Marie 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well praying to Mary and the saints is wrong. But Jesus is God. I was also confused for many years about praying. Do I pray to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? I was told a few things by a few people to clear it up. You pray for the Holy Spirit to help guide you in this life. You pray to Jesus to have Him plead with the Father to forgive them. And you pray to God about things you need. Well I dont quite get that different denominations and all. I think if you pray to God that is all that matters. I start all my prayers out Heavenly Father who are in Heaven. Or dear Lord. I dont think it matters how you address God just that you do with reverance. Repent and be baptized. Im not here to give you a lesson but another thing you may want to look at is baptism. Baptism is an immersion the Catholic church doesnt do that. I would abandon the Catholic church and look for a Bible believing church. If you read the Bible you will see many practices in the Catholic church which God disagrees with. Amen and Peace out...............
2007-03-04 07:29:08 · answer #2 · answered by powerliftingrules 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think about it historically for a moment. If God created Man, then a direct connection exists from creator to created, and most would say this is the connection they feel within their internal experience, this closeness and connection to God.
If this is true, then why would you need the Church? You already can reflect on your connection to your creator and derive inspiration, happiness, a sense of awe, and all the good stuff from within. The Catholic Church has a history of manipulating information to maintain control (Galileo, Joan of Arc, countless unnameables, etc.) and what better way to maintain control then to take a historically verifiable person who was preaching God's Word, and use him as a leash.
Basically, I am not saying the messages of Bible or Jesus are wrong exactly, simply that it has been used (probably justified to themselves somehow) by those who manipulated it to their own ends. Several hundred years of this (remember when you could buy your sins away for silver?) and you have an established tool of control. Thus you have a wedge between you and God. If God had wanted everyone to read and follow the Bible to the best of our choice, we would be born with it in hand.
Intent is what matters. If your intent is honored worship of God, who could possibly say you are not genuine and being lead by the devil?
2007-03-04 07:45:02 · answer #3 · answered by neuralzen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know alot about Catholicism, however, I do know what the Bible tells me..
The Bible says that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. And that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father.
It also goes on to say that we baptize in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you read more in the new testament, you'll find out the name is Jesus Christ.
Yes, Jesus was a man, and is our savior. But He is also the Father and Holy Spirit. Don't feel wrong praying to Jesus because the God you pray to is the very Son (or body) himself!
2007-03-04 07:41:31 · answer #4 · answered by Adam R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't let your priest or your parents get you down. Your relationship with God, is your relationship, not theirs.
One of the reason for the protestant reformation was the dispute on the way prayer was done. Catholic-praying to someone other than God for intervention on their behalf, such as praying to Mary or one of the other saints and asking them to ask God to do something for you.
If you want to talk to God, do it. Besides if you are a Christian, you believe in the trinity, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, right? If you pray to Jesus, you are praying to God.
Again, your relationship with God is your relationship. Not anyone else's. Just keep praying, it does work.
2007-03-04 07:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by Cotton 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the disciples ask teach us to pray Jesus gave us what became known as the Lords prayer.
There are those that want to call it a formula for prayer, and that's fine. The point is we were taught to pray to the Father.
Not to Jesus, Mary or any of the Saints.
Only to the Father.
2007-03-04 07:50:59 · answer #6 · answered by drg5609 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Catholic, I'm actually Pentacostal, but I've always thought it was kind of silly to pray to Mary or any of the Saints; because when they were actually alive, they were just humans, like you and I. However, Jesusand God are one in the same, so in a way your always praying to him. So stick to praying to God (and Jesus!) Because only He can really help you will what you need, and only He really knows you.
God Bless!
2007-03-04 07:30:46 · answer #7 · answered by scapulagirl1990 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being raised Catholic doesn't mean anything. It is a label. You are saved by faith, not by a label.
If you ready the Bible, you will see that Jesus is God the Son. Mary is another sinful human being like the rest of us. You SHOULD feel uncomfortable praying to her. Jesus is God, so you should NOT feel uncormfortable praying to him.
Trying finding a church that will teach you the bible. Check out the link below.
2007-03-04 07:29:15 · answer #8 · answered by Carl 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is God. Don't you believe in the Trinity? If you feel uncomfortable praying to Mary or the Saints then don't do it. But how can you feel evil if you pray to Jesus?
2007-03-04 07:54:59 · answer #9 · answered by cynical 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't base your faith on feelings. You are going through a dark night of the soul. This is a normal experience for people who are seeking God on a deeper level. Mary and the saints are there to help us like a friend helps us by listening and encouraging us.
If you are more comfortable praying directly to God, GREAT!
Your friendship with God will help you in ways you will discover.
Some people like praying to God as Jesus because they can picture Jesus and not God. This is good for them. Continue to find your own way and don't worry. You are in good company.
2007-03-04 07:26:31 · answer #10 · answered by Mary W 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a Baptist, I don't understand why you pray to Mary or the saints...Jesus died for our sins, and you pray through him to God. The main focus is on God (the trinity), not humans. I'd suggest trying a protestant church. Lutherans are pretty close to Catholics (church service-wise), I believe.
2007-03-04 07:27:28 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋