What is the appropriate place for Mary and the Saints in Christendom?

Question

From a survey of my non-Catholic friends, and of the questions regarding the Catholic-Christian "debate" on these boards, it seems that the single largest stumbling block non-Catholics and ex-Catholics have to understanding Catholicism is what some say is undue worship of Mary and the Saints.

Should Mary and the canonized saints be honored at all? Of what form should this honor take place?

And if all graven images are forbidden, then why do we allow the existence of art museums and the construction of statues on public land?

Serious question, so serious answers only, please.

Answer 1

Before Jesus Christ died for our sins and opened the gates of heaven there were no saints in heaven. Therefore there are no Old Testament writings that would mention them.

Very few of the new Christians died before most of the New Testament was written. Therefore there is little in the Bible about asking saints to pray for us.

However the last book of the Bible does talk about the saints in heaven praying.

Revelation 5:8: Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.

Revelation 8:3-4: He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.

The Holy Spirit guided the early Church in many things not explained in the Bible including how does the Body of Christ (believers) living on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) living in heaven. We are still one Body.

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.

And prayer to the saints is optional not required.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Mary and the Saints should be taught in Sunday School as admirable people. It should never be forgotten that Mary was called "Blessed among women". But the idolatry is wrong. As for Art museums, they are not churches -they are secular - last time I looked I did not worship that Rodin sculpture - I admired Renoir's "Breakfast of the Boating Party" too, but I never worshipped it as the divine word of God - just perhaps the greatest work of art by MAN. Big difference.

As far as the canonization process goes, some need to be removed and others added, because now you have an "Academy Award" setup where nobody is going to ever agree to the full list. Why bother? God knows the true Martyrs, and most would agree to Joan of Arc, etc. So it's a Vatican mind-game IMO.

Answer 3

No woman has even been blessed as Mary was blessed, but she is not a goddness and should not be worshiped or prayed to. She should be revered and loved. She is a saint (see second paragraph).

The word saints in the Bible applies to all of the children of God who follow the path of His Son (or try to; no one can do so perfectly). Those in heaven are all saints and only God decides that.

The commandment about graven images has two parts to it. Most people forget to add the second part, which tells us that we are not to worship images. There is nothing wrong with pictures or figures, art as you say, unless you're worshipping it or praying to it.

God bless.
†

Answer 4

Mary was the chosen vessel for our Lord Jesus Christ. She is in no way 'special' or to be worshipped. She is a fallible person just like the rest of us.

The saints are christians...not statues....and are not to be worshipped or prayed to. That's idolatry.

Christ is the center of a christian's worship.......whereas a system seems to be the catholic theme rather than a Savior

Scripture is clear: Do not call upon the dead. Mary cannot hear us and is not to be prayed to. If she were here today she would deflect the glory away from herself and give it to the One who deserves it.....God.

There is but one mediator between God and man...the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5)

Mary is not a mediator.......Jesus is.

Answer 5

Well, we don't worship paintings do we? Nor do we vow allegiance to a statue of a pigeon in the park !
Some people feel this way about Catholics, but Catholics are Christians. I personally don't believe Catholics are worshiping the saints, just honoring them and their faith.
I would be more worried of the widespread idolization of money, which crosses all denominations, faiths, and societies.

Answer 6

As for Mary and the Saints, - honored and worshipped and prayed to and prayed with are all different things.

As for graven images, they will give you answers about its being okay to make graven images, just not to worship them, even though thats not what scripture says.

Answer 7

In fact, ANY worship of Mary and the other saints is absolutely forbidden in the Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly defines idolatry as "giving to any creature the singular worship and adoration reserved for God alone", and further states that idolatry in any form is incompatible with a life of faith. What many non-Catholics seem unable to appreciate is the vast difference between worship and simply honoring someone.

We honor those individuals who played major roles in the history and development of our nation. Why would we not honor those who played similarly essential roles in the history and development of our Church and our faith? And who other than the Savior Himself played a more essential role than the person who brought Him into the world for us?

The other major point of confusion is the vast difference between "prayer" and "worship". Certainly worship is a form of prayer. But prayer, in its essence, simply means asking someone for something. In Old English versions of the Bible, the word "pray" is used many times in situations where a person is simply speaking to another human being, not to God. "I pray thee" means "I ask you". I know of no scripture that says we cannot talk to anyone but God, or that we cannot ask our friends and families for favors, including intercessory prayer, that is, asking them to pray for us. Therefore there is no reason to refrain from asking (praying) the saints in heaven to likewise intercede on our behalf. If I pray for my family and friends here and now, as an earthly sinner, is it likely I will STOP praying for them once I reside before the throne of God?? And no, the saints are not "dead". Jesus Himself said that those who follow Him "will never die". I believe Him. Do you?
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Answer 8

"Should Mary and the canonized saints be honored at all? Of what form should this honor take place? "

No we are to respect Mary and the other saints, but in no means are we to pay reverence to them. We are to only give reverence and worship to God through his son Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Answer 9

A Catholic bestows so much love and honor on the Mother of God that it is difficult for a non-Catholic to understand. And yet non-Catholics would give their own mother or wife flowers or gifts on a special day to show their love or speak words of endearment or appreciation. Is it wrong then when we show our love and appreciation to the Woman who bore Our Saviour and endured all with Him? After all Christ gave us this loving Mother as a parting gift from the agony on the cross!

He has given Her so many priviliges that She is called the 'Mediatrix of all grace'. We rush to Her for help not to worship Her, but to get the powerful help that lies in Her Hands waiting to be bestowed on us Her precious children. All the power She possesses comes to Her from God and She executes the will of God more perfectly than anyone else.

As for Saints , again, Catholics dont worship them. We ask them to pray for our spiritual and temporal needs just as we ask our earthly brothers and sisters to pray for us when we are in need of prayers. For the saints are not dead but alive in Heaven and hear us and help us by their powerful prayers to God.

Coming to graven images Catholics dont worship the statues in church. Worship is only for God. We are a visual people and crosses, statues of Mary and the saints help us to better remember them and focus better so the mind doesnt wander while in prayer. Dont people keep pictures of their loved ones in their wallet or look with pride at their national flag? Can that be termed as worship? And as you said why build statues on public land? Would that be called worship?

Lastly, I dont think we should lessen the love and honor we shower Our Lady with or all the prayers to the saints to intercede for us, just because people raise eyebrows. Give to the Mother of God her due honor and to the saints the place they have in our hearts lest God be displeased.

Answer 10

There should be a much larger role acknowledged in protestant Christiandom for Mary and Mary of Magdala and some of the other Biblical women as well. We do consider the apostles as Saints and they are a vital ingredient in protestant Christiandom. As for later coming Saints...I am not sure how I feel about that.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Answer 11

I have one answer... The Priesthood of all believers... according to Paul, we are all to be referred to as saints, Christ died for his church and we do not need any other being to do our interceding for us then this perfect, being of the Holy Trinity.
"there is no righteousness no not one" so therefore why should they get our praise when many were only doing what the Lord Jesus Christ has Commanded us to do.

Lastly "HAIL MARY" is this a sign of respect? or is it veneration or synonym of worship...