Do Roman Catholics Worship Mary?

Question

I drove past 2 RCC's yesterday. Both had statues of Mary with her arms spread out and 2-3 statues of children kneeling and bowing at her feet! Besides this being a graven image isn't this worship?
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The statues of the kids all had their heads bowed like in prayer with their hands folded also.

And isn't this breaking the first commandment?

Answer 1

Yes, we worship the virgin Mary as she is the mother of Jesus.

Answer 2

If you want to know what Catholics believe and do - I mean really, accurately know - pick up a cheap paperback copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism clearly states ...

"Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God ... Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God."

There is additional text, but the above direct quote from the Catholic Church's official teaching should suffice to show the Church's position on the subject.

Each Catholic church is named after a saint, who is considered the patron of that parish. Many are named after Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church where you saw the statues was undoubtedly named after Mary as she appeared to children. No other statue of Mary would have children kneeling before her, however since this represents an actual historical event, it is presented as it occurred.

As for "graven images", you should really reread your Bible. There is nothing in it that proscribes the making of images, but only the making and worshipping of images. And as I said above, the Catholic Church has that proscription thoroughly covered in its teaching. I also find it rather curious that the Pentecostal church down the street, which makes a great deal over "graven images" when it is convenient, sets up a manger scene in front of the Church at Christmas - a whole collection of graven images! But I'm sure they don't worship these images any more than Catholics do. So there is really no problem.
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Answer 3

>>Both had statues of Mary with her arms spread out and 2-3 statues of children kneeling and bowing at her feet! Besides this being a graven image isn't this worship?<<

Yes, the statues of the children are worshiping the statue of Mary (rolls eyes).

Answer 4

Yes they do, at least some of them. However the bible says that there is only one mediator between God and man and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. A mediator is the middle party between two other parties (in this case man and God) that brings into effect communication. Therefor, praying to Mary, is not biblical. She fulfilled her Godly purpose, when at the age of fifteen, she was chosen for the purpose of giving birth (by the Holy Spirit) (NO human male involved) to a savior. She had children after that. She did not stay a virgin and therefor cannot be referred to in that way. Yes, it is a graven image, and there is a history behind that. It does not mean that Catholics are condemned but a little confused in there bible facts. Teaching children to pray before the statue of a young girl is not at all biblical.

Answer 5

you're commiting a logical fallacy via making use of individual traits to a extra physically powerful class. that is not any longer proper if a Roman Catholic in Pago Pago steals apples - that does no longer imply that each and absolutely everyone Roman Catholics thieve apples. human beings get offended whilst they clarify their ideals to you, after which you say, "No, you're mendacity - i understand you worship Mary by using fact I observed a guy in Mexico worship Mary." There are over three times extra Roman Catholics in the international than the full inhabitants of u.s.. the percentages are which you will discover each possible perception and prepare represented someplace at a while. via the way, i'm no longer a Roman Catholic.

Answer 6

Roman Catholic theology teaches that one should honor Mary and the saints, while reserving the highest form of honor for Mary. Another words, the Catholic Church would say that they do not worship Mary.

However, Catholics are taught to pray to Mary and the saints for intercession on their behalf. But the Bible teaches that Jesus is our only mediator.

While I do not believe that the church intentionally teaches "Mary worship", unfortunately, many Catholics rely on Mary and the saints to grant their requests rather than God.

Answer 7

No, Catholics do not worship Mary.

We love, honor and revere her as our mother. When He was dying on the cross, Jesus turned to the disciple He loved and told him to take Mary into his home. As loved disciples of Christ, this is what we do.

We also remember how Mary interceded on the behalf ofd the wedding couple at Canna and ask her, in prayer, to pray for us and to intercede on our behalf.

To know whether the prayer to Mary is a prayer of intercession or worship, you would need to know the words of the prayer. Following is the most common prayer to Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Interesting that the person who has posted this was named to honor Mary

Answer 8

Mary's claim to fame is her Son Jesus Christ. as a mother she understands and wants all people to come to her Son Jesus for their salvation. Just like us - sometimes it takes your mother intervening before you listen.

Mary is not worshiped of her own accord for within the Rcc we know and are taught that without Mary saying yes to God and being the mother of Jesus Christ - she ws just a good Jewsih girl.

Answer 9

005.116 And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden?

005.117 I spake unto them only that which Thou commandedst me, (saying): Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt among them, and when Thou tookest me Thou wast the Watcher over them. Thou art Witness over all things. (QURAN)


-As Catholics worship Mary then there is no error in the verse as some people claim.

Answer 10

It is possible that it is worship; but it is not absolutely positively worship; it could be respect presently.

Answer 11

RC's revere the mother of Christ. We only worship God.