Catholics, please answer!?

Question

I'm in no way trying to disrespect your Belief, but could someone tell me why ya'll pray to the saints and mary? That's why Jesus came and died for us he is the bridge between us and God, Praying to the saints and mary is a form of false idol worship, because they have taken the place of Jesus in your belief. so I guess my question is why do you have to pray to all the saints and say three hail mary's, when really all it takes is praying to mary's son, Jesus, the one who died for us, to get your answer? Mary and the saints can't save anyone only Jesus can do that, I'm just wondering.

Answer 1

And we agree with you - prayers are only answered by God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Worship and Glory are for God and and God alone.

So, where does that leave Mary and the saints? Saints are nothing more than people who have been recognized for having lived especially good lives, lives pleasing to God. Yes, the Vatican has an official list and yada yada yada, but the entire concept came from the people. These are simply men and women who have died who we look to as examples of faith. Mary, who was a very model of obedience to God, is kind of "head saint." But she isn't God or divine or anything like that.

So, why do we pray to them? Well, part of that is lazy speech on our part. Catholics ask Mary and the saints to pray WITH us TO God. Why we do it boils down to tradition and, in my opinion, psychology. Have you ever visited a loved one's grave and "talked" to that person? Or have you ever wondered what your deceased grandmother would do in your situation? It's kind of like that.

Saints were weak, flesh and blood humans like the rest of us. They knew struggle and "real life" and still put God first in their lives. So many Catholics find it easier to identify with these people when trying to sort out their prayers. For me personally, I pray to Jesus quite often, but when I was scared for my sister's difficult pregnancy, I wanted a women to bounce ideas off of. (I love Jesus with my entire being, but he never had a uterus, if you know what I mean.) So when I'm "praying to" Mary, what I'm really doing is mentally talking out what it is that I want to say to God. Then I turn around and say it TO God.

Some people see this as a crutch. I figure that prayer is prayer, whatever its form. If you can take an issue straight to God, then do so! If you're like me and need to rationalize it out first, I need the crutch. *shrug* Whatever works.

Answer 2

We pray for Mary and all the saints to help intercede for us. We pray to Jesus, and God derectly. Catholics believe Mary and the saints are alive in heaven with Jesus. And then I explain that the word 'pray' use to have the common meaning of 'to ask'. So praying to Mary and the saints is just like if I asked someone here on Earth to pray for us. I emphasize that we only worship God and that we're not required to pray to Mary or the saints. Some say they only take their prayers to Jesus -- and I point out again if they ask someone here on Earth to pray for them they're doing just what we do when we pray to Mary and the saints The 3 Hail Mary's is part of the Rosary and we use it as a form of medataion.

Answer 3

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 4

us catholics agree,jesus is the only way and the only one that saves. however we talk to the saints and to mary as our mother as we are all one in the body of christ,the saints and the blessed mother are more alive than even we are,they help bring us closer to jesus. they intercede for us,they don't answer our prayers,we never taught that. it is no different than asking a friend/relative to pray for you or a loved one. there are many ways to explain this,i think these sites can articulate it better than i can so if you are interested check them out,it will cover other areas of the catholic church that you are confused about

www.scripturecatholic.com
www.catholiceducation.org
www.salvationhistory.com
www.fisheaters.com
hope this helps and god bless,sorry for not going into more detail but these sites cover the issue very well.

Answer 5

You DO understand, don't you, that simply because YOU believe things are a certain way that doesn't make you right? Yes, we know you've been told over and over and over again about Jesus and how he died and all that, but the fact that you were told all those things does not make them true. Can you understand this? Is it within your ability to comprehend? Catholicism has been around longer than your particular flavor of fundamentalism, and so perhaps you might want to consider that you simply DONT have all the answers. When you speak as if you do, you end up sounding naive and foolish.

Answer 6

Revelation 5:8, where John depicts the saints in heaven offering our prayers to God under the form of "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints." But if the saints in heaven are offering our prayers to God, then they must be aware of our prayers. They are aware of our petitions and present them to God by interceding for us.

Some might try to argue that in this passage the prayers being offered were not addressed to the saints in heaven, but directly to God. Yet this argument would only strengthen the fact that those in heaven can hear our prayers, for then the saints would be aware of our prayers even when they are not directed to them!

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and pleasing to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1–4). Clearly, then, intercessory prayers offered by Christians on behalf of others is something "good and pleasing to God," not something infringing on Christ’s role as mediator.

We ask them to pray for us, we don't pray to them for salvation. Just like asking your friends to pray for you. No way have they taken the place of Jesus - that's just another misconception (or outright lie) told about Catholics.

Answer 7

Have You read Matthew 7:1-5 Especially in the Amplified Version of the bible ?
Jesus' own words to all His followers.

Answer 8

I am not Catholic presently; but I believe I can tell you the scriptural foundation for praying to Mary.

The brother of Solomon (Adonijah I think) asked the mother of the king (Bathsheba) to ask the king (Solomon) for something on his behalf. This is a similar idea as asking the mother of the king (Mary) to ask the king (King Jesus) for something on the behalf of person XXX.

Answer 9

When Catholics pray to Mary and the other saints in Heaven they are not bypassing Christ, whom they acknowledge as the sole Mediator between God and man. They are going to Christ through Mary and the other saints. They are asking Mary and other saints to intercede for them before the throne of Christ in Heaven. ``For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.'' (James 5:16). How much more availing is the unceasing prayer of the sinless Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ! St. Paul asked his fellow Christians to intercede for him: ``Brethren, pray for us.'' (2 Thess. 3:1). And again: ``I beseech you therefore, brethren, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the charity of the Holy Ghost, that you help me in your prayers for me to God...'' (Rom. 15:30). Christ must particularly approve of our going to Him through Mary, His Blessed Mother, because He chose to come to us through her. And at Cana, He performed His first miracle after a word from His Mother. (John 2:2-11).

Answer 10

I'm Protestant, but have asked Catholic Christians this question before myself. The answer I got is basically, on praying to the saints, that it's like asking others to pray for them. They do know they can go directly to God -- and do that -- but also want to ask these others to pray for them; they say it's just like asking other friends to pray. I ask them to pray for me and they ask me to pray for them; they say asking the saints to pray is no different.

By the way, I've noticed that Catholic Christians (yes, there really are those who are saved by grace through faith, just like the rest of us Christians are, and prefer to be Catholic) tend to answer this question differently than 'traditional Catholics' who mainly rely on ritual and tradition -- instead of a saving personal relationship with Jesus -- for their religion.