why do prayers begin with holy mary mother of god,instead of god
2007-03-15 08:53:54 · 11 answers · asked by syydinger 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Uniqueness of Mary as the Mother of God
Gen. 3:15 - we see from the very beginning that God gives Mary a unique role in salvation history. God says "I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed." This refers to Jesus (the "emnity") and Mary (the "woman"). The phrase "her seed" (spermatos) is not seen elsewhere in Scripture.
Gen 3:15 / Rev. 12:1 - the Scriptures begin and end with the woman battling satan. This points to the power of the woman with the seed and teaches us that Jesus and Mary are the new Adam and the new Eve.
John 2:4, 19:26 - Jesus calls Mary "woman" as she is called in Gen. 3:15. Just as Eve was the mother of the old creation, Mary is the mother of the new creation. This woman's seed will crush the serpent's skull.
Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23 - a virgin (the Greek word used is "parthenos") will bear a Son named Emmanuel, which means "God is with us." John 1:14 - God in flesh dwelt among us. Mary is the Virgin Mother of God.
Matt. 2:11 - Luke emphasizes Jesus is with Mary His Mother, and the magi fall down before both of them, worshiping Jesus.
Luke 1:35 - the child will be called holy, the Son of God. Mary is the Mother of the Son of God, or the Mother of God (the "Theotokos").
Luke 1:28 - "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." These are the words spoken by God and delivered to us by the angel Gabriel (who is a messenger of God). Thus, when Catholics recite this verse while praying the Rosary, they are uttering the words of God.
Luke 1:28 - also, the phrase "full of grace" is translated from the Greek word "kecharitomene." This is a unique title given to Mary, and suggests a perfection of grace from a past event. Mary is not just "highly favored." She has been perfected in grace by God. "Full of grace" is only used to describe one other person - Jesus Christ in John 1:14.
Luke 1:38 - Mary's fiat is "let it be done to me according to thy word." Mary is the perfect model of faith in God, and is worthy of our veneration.
Luke 1:42 - "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." The phrase "blessed are you among women" really means "you are most blessed of all women." A circumlocution is used because there is no superlative in the Greek language. Note also that Elizabeth praises Mary first, and then Jesus. This is hyperdulia (but not latria which is worship owed to God alone). We too can go through Mary to praise Jesus. Finally, Catholics repeat these divinely inspired words of Elizabeth in the Rosary.
Luke 1:43 - Elizabeth's use of "Mother of my Lord" (in Hebrew, Elizabeth used "Adonai" which means Lord God) is the equivalent of "Holy Mary, Mother of God" which Catholics pray in the Rosary. The formula is simple: Jesus is a divine person, and this person is God. Mary is Jesus' Mother, so Mary is the mother of God (Mary is not just the Mother of Jesus' human nature - mothers are mothers of persons, not natures).
Luke 1:44 - Mary's voice causes John the Baptist to leap for joy in Elizabeth's womb. Luke is teaching us that Mary is our powerful intercessor.
Luke 1:46 - Mary claims that her soul magnifies the Lord. This is a bold statement from a young Jewish girl from Nazareth. Her statement is a strong testimony to her uniqueness. Mary, as our Mother and intercessor, also magnifies our prayers.
Luke 1:48 - Mary prophesies that all generations shall call her blessed, as Catholics do in the "Hail Mary" prayer. What Protestant churches have existed in all generations (none), and how many of them call Mary blessed with special prayers and devotions?
Gal. 4:4 - God sent His Son, born of a woman, to redeem us. Mary is the woman with the redeemer. By calling Mary co-redemptrix, we are simply calling Mary "the woman with the redeemer." This is because "co" is from the Latin word "***" which means "with." Therefore, "co-redemptrix" means "woman with the redeemer." Mary had a unique but subordinate role to Jesus in salvation.
Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2 - the word "saints" (in Hebrew "qaddiysh") means "holy" ones. So Mary is called Holy, the greatest Saint of all.
Luke 2:35 - Simeon prophesies that a sword would also pierce Mary's soul. Mary thus plays a very important role in our redemption. While Jesus' suffering was all that we needed for redemption, God desired Mary to participate on a subordinate level in her Son's suffering, just as he allows us to participate through our own sufferings.
Luke 2:19,51 - Mary kept in mind all these things as she pondered them in her heart. Catholics remember this by devoting themselves to Mary's Immaculate Heart and all the treasures and wisdom and knowledge contained therein.
2007-03-15 09:00:19 · answer #1 · answered by Gods child 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you actually ever attended a Catholic Mass? Studied with a Catholic who knows what their faith is all about? Read anything that wasn't printed by some hate-monger or misinformed fundamentalist?
If so, you would know that the "Hail Mary" is only one of the many prayers of the Catholic church and by no means the central one. We acknowledge that Mary is a beautiful role model and the mother of our Lord.
But worship and the focus of our prayers is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God Alone is worthy of our worship, and anyone who tells you that we worship Mary has no idea of what they're talking about.
2007-03-15 09:01:33 · answer #2 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because Mary was/is holy and is being asked by our prayers to intercede for our petition.
Remember, all religions are a spin off of the original Catholic Church with it's roots directly to Jesus Christ.
2007-03-15 09:00:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of different prayres. There is one to God "Holy Father" and to Jesus as well as the Apostle's creed. The prayer to Mary is only one among many prayers.
2007-03-15 08:59:29 · answer #4 · answered by cynical 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is one line (not the beginning) of one prayer. Maybe you should look at a Catholic prayer book and ask about something that is really in there.
2007-03-15 11:28:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't. There are some prayers "to" Mary, but all of them ask Mary to pray with us and for us TO God.
There is a prayer called "The Litany of Saints" where we ask holy people who have gone before us to pray for us to God. That one traditionally begins with "Holy Mary, Mother of God - Pray for us. Saint Joseph - Pray for us. Michael and all the angels - Pray for us." etc etc. But again, it is all prayers TO God.
2007-03-15 09:01:12 · answer #6 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I never get that either. Mary is not holy, otherwise she could have taken Jesus's place on the cross. They believe that Mary is an intercessor to God. This has never been Biblically verified.
2007-03-15 08:58:57 · answer #7 · answered by an ambassador for risen Christ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most prayers are directed toward God.
A few prayers ask the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints to pray for us.
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 here on earth to pray for you. Or you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints is communication, not worship.
The Hail Mary prayer simply recites Bible passages (the Word of God) and asks Mary to pray for us:
Hail Mary Full of grace, the Lord is with you. (These are the words the angel Gabriel said to Mary, a Bible quote.)
Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. (This is Mary's cousin Elizabeth's greeting, another bible quote.)
Holy Mary, (The angel Gabriel said she was full of grace and Elizabeth said she was blessed.)
Mother of God, (the Bible says Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, God the Son)
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. (A simple request to pray for us.)
Amen.
With love in Christ.
2007-03-15 16:21:29 · answer #8 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't understand that the ONLY way to God is though Jesus. They think they can ask Mary to talk to God for them. Catholics do much of what they believe based on tradition, NOT the Bible! Keep praying to Jesus. No saints, or relatives of Jesus can help you!
2007-03-15 08:57:58 · answer #9 · answered by LP 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
They don't. The only one that has that phrase is the rosary, which is meditating on the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Trolling today?
LP, you really shouldn't speak when it's obvious you are completely ignorant of Catholicism.
Ciao
2007-03-15 08:58:07 · answer #10 · answered by SpiritRoaming 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋