Non-Catholics who say we worship Mary...?

Question

I'd like for you all to go to ONE mass at a Catholic church and recognize our crucifex at the altar and tell me what other denominations has a crucifex as Jesus. I'd like you to go to ONE mass and tell me that we worship Mary. Tell me we don't worship Jesus. Why the ignorance? Over ONE prayer

Me Y I don't think you're being truthful here

latinold, praying for miracles? no. praying for ourselves and loved ones. yes. also, when Gabriel said the lord is with thee, that's when it's proven the God is with her

Answer 1

Anyone who fails to understand Mary's unique place in the Christian faith cannot help but fail to understand their own, as well .. and many of today's Christians are woefully ignorant of the facts of this matter.

Mary is the ultimate Christian.

She cooperated with the grace of God better than anyone who ever lived ... or will ever live.

Mary accepted her part in the most important mission that God has ever assigned to any human being, and she perfectly accomplished that mission, with the help of his grace, for the eternal benefit of all.

This makes her the epitome of faithfullness, and the impeccable first, best, and eternal disciple of her son, Jesus Christ.

When God needed flesh with which to incarnate his son, he requested it from Mary.

Both of them shared Jesus with us, and gave him up to death, for the purpose of our salvation.

Every privilege that God granted the Blessed Virgin during her earthly life was not for her, but for us, so that we might be saved by the sacrifice of her son, who was the perfect Lamb.

And without a sinless human mother, that Lamb could never have been spotless enough to atone for the collective sins of all mankind, while also destroying Satan's evil dominion.

To put it very simply ... Mary chose to cooperate with God in his redemptive plan. She did this by donating her flesh, and pledging her very existence, without qualification, to serve God's purpose alone.

Freely doing this, she contributed more to the Christian faith than anyone who would ever walk the earth, except for her very own son.

For all this and more, we owe her a debt of gratitude, and we owe her the same high honor and reverence that we know Jesus also affords her.

Those with any sense at all can see this, and also reallize that doing so takes nothing away from God, for God is always glorified when his creation admirably performs his will.

For our sake and for Christ's, Mary will always be the Mother of the Lord, closer to him for eternity, than anyone else could ever be.

Her mission perfectly accomplished, along with that of her son, she presently enjoys the rewards that God promises to all those who overcome the world through his grace, and her blessed soul will forever magnify the Lord, just as the scriptures most explicitly state:

Luk 1:46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.
Luk 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luk 1:48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Luk 1:49 Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name.
Luk 1:50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.
Luk 1:51 He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
Luk 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble.
Luk 1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Luk 1:54 He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy.
Luk 1:55 As he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

The "Hail Mary" prayer is equally scriptural:

Luk 1:28 And the angel being come in, said unto her:

** Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. **

Luk 1:39 And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.
Luk 1:40 And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth.
Luk 1:41 And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.
Luk 1:42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said:

** Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. **

Luk 1:43 And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

** (Mother of the Lord = Mother of God.) **

The rest of the Hail Mary prayer simply acknowledges Mary's God-given holiness, and the traditional role of the Queen Mother of the House of David, which is to intercede with the King, for the needs of the people.
See 1st Kings 2:19.

Catholics rightly understand that Mary serves in this role today, according to the express will of God, as explained here:

MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS (Official Catholic Church Document)

40. Hence the revered Mother of God, from all eternity joined in a hidden way with Jesus Christ in one and the same decree of predestination,[47] immaculate in her conception, a most perfect virgin in her divine motherhood, the noble associate of the divine Redeemer who has won a complete triumph over sin and its consequences, finally obtained, as the supreme culmination of her privileges, that she should be preserved free from the corruption of the tomb and that, like her own Son, having overcome death, she might be taken up body and soul to the glory of heaven where, as Queen, she sits in splendor at the right hand of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages.[48]

Worship Mary? Nonsense!

Rightly give her what she is due, just as God has already, and strive always to emulate her, in God's holy name, with the help of his grace.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P12MUNIF.HTM

Answer 2

I'm not saying this about all catholics, but for some, she is a false Idol. Anything taking away from Gods glory is a false idol. Mary should not have any prayer said to her, not even one. She cannot hear those prayers. And why do priest say when you go to confession, not that anyone should have to confess there sins to any man, because God is the only one who can forgive, say this many numbers of hail marys and you will be forgiving. Is that really how it works? Also about the crucifex. You will never go to any other christian denomination, and see Jesus hanging on a cross. Jesus is Alive! Yes he died for us, but that is not the end, he rose again! That is what should be celebrated.

Answer 3

It's not that non-Catholics say or think that Catholics worship St. Mary. It is a fact that Catholics DO worship Jesus' mother.
To begin with, the Hail Mary calls her "Mother of God" and asks her to intercede before God when we die. To assume that Mary was conceived without sin is heresy because only Jesus had an immaculate conception (according to the Bible).
When people light candles to a statue or figure that represents someone and ask for miracles or to be an intercessor before God or Jesus is plain IDOLATRY.
If you believe (as a Catholic) in the Holy Trinity, you have to accept that there is Father, Son and Holy Ghost. There are no others among them to do their jobs.
No one can add words to God's Word. Mary was a mortal woman whom God chose for a very special mission; she accepted it and went all the way. She aged and died when she was supposed to but she did not go straight to heaven. She has to wait, like the rest of the mortals, for Judgment Day for her verdict. Undoubtedly, she will receive her reward then and not before that.
There are only three (men, not women) who have ascended to the presence of the Lord without Judgment: Enoch, Elijah and Jesus. That is in Genesis and the Gospels.
Another thing: the word is CRUCIFIX. Going to mass is not a convincing proof of what you argue against worshiping Mary. It's one more of the Catholic dogmas.

Answer 4

To say that Catholics worship Mary because of that one 'Hail Mary' prayer is not the full extent of the accusion. Catholics may worship many, worshiping God does not limit how many are worshiped as long as Catholics do not put the others before God.

Answer 5

i'll pass....what possible difference does the difference in 'crucifix styles' make in the issue of whether or not catholics 'worship mary?'...is THAT what is important to you spiritually- "my crucifix is better than yours?" get real, please!
Christ taught us how to pray, and to whom to pray...how can you pray to someone you don't worship? either you ARE worshiping the person you are praying to...in which case you are forgetting the whole 'no other Gods before Me' thing...or you're NOT worshiping them, but merely trying to communicate with the dead, which is also prohibited, so you tell me...which is it? idolatry/blasphemy, the 'black arts', or simply following along with what some people in rome tell you you must follow? because it's not found in any of Christ's teachings...

Answer 6

The reason that there is this misconception over this fact is that Mary does not have a large part in most other Christian denominations. At least that's what I can tell from what I have seen.

Answer 7

Greetings Lauren,

Allow me to correct some of your erroneous knowledge about Catholic beliefs and practices. The Church does preach Christ crucified as St. Paul taught us to do and that is why Jesus is on the cross. that does not mean that we do not celebrate the fact that He is risen, we do.

Mary does hear our prayers as part of the communion of Saints and the cloud of witnesses that surround us all. As part of the Church Triumphant we ask her to pray for us just as one might ask you to pray for them . She does this out of her love for humanity. As a saint she is very much alive.

The Bible does not forbid but instead endorses confession to priests as part of devotion and part of the Sacramental duties of priests to the faithful. I hope this helps you not to make future errors as I know you did not intentionally violate the commandment to not bear false witness against others.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 8

The Bible teaches us that we shouldnt communicate with the dead. Mary is dead. Jesus is alive. Jesus sits in the mercy seat. He says who is my mother? Then he looked at his deciples (in front of mary) and said these are my brothers, sisters and mother. He showed no favor to Mary, he gave no indication that she should be above all others. He said no man would be greater than John the Baptist. But, he didnt say anything about Mary.

Answer 9

I am a Catholic. Will all you non-Catholics please pray for me?

Okay, now if I can ask you to pray for me, why can't I ask Mary to pray for me?

We don't worship Mary. This "one prayer" you speak of says, "pray for us now, and at the hour of our death. Amen."

Answer 10

It isn't just the "Hail Mary" prayer. I've known Catholics who ask her to ask Jesus to do something for them.

Answer 11

For beginners, Jesus is not on that, or any other, cross. The representation of Him in any fashion is contrary to Biblical law.
And just what IS all this "Hail Mary" business? What is all this business about HER resurrection? What is all this business about her "eternal virginity"? What is all this business about beads and necklaces and such? And the statues that are prayed to and such. I'll tell you what it is: ITS PAGANISM and IDOLATRY. It is the antithesis of faith and Christianity.