Why do Catholics worship Idols? and why do they pray to Mary?

Question

In John 14:6 Jesus states "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

and i wanted to know why it is catholics see it to be okay to pray to Mary and other saints.

Whether Mary or the saints are prayed to or whether they are petitioned for their prayers, neither practice is Biblical. Prayer is an act of worship. When we pray to God we are admitting that we need His help. Directing our prayers to anyone other than God is robbing God of the glory that is His alone. Another way Catholics "venerate" Mary and the saints is by creating statues and images of them. Many Catholics use images of Mary or the saints as "good luck charms." Any cursory reading of the Bible will reveal this practice as blatant idolatry (Exodus 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 John 5:21). Rubbing rosary beads is idolatry. Lighting candles before a statue or portrayal of a saint is idolatry. Burying a Joseph statue in hopes of selling your home (and many other Catholic practices) is idolatry. Any time we ascribe something that belongs to God, to someone else it is idolatry. Only God is worthy to "..receive glory and honor and power.." (Revelation 4:11)

Answer 1

I ask myself the same question everyday. But watch out they are going to tell they only use them as intermediate to pray to God .Which of course its false and its a sin. Cuz Jesus said IAM the intermediate. And not anybody else. If they say they dont worship either its false .Because Ive seen in person and on Tv when its the Virgin Guadalupe B-day People come and light up candles bow in front of them and give them reverence and pray to them. There is a lot of churches in Mexico where the center and main focus of the church is a certain Saint... sin sin sin if you got any questions email me.. praise the Lord!

Answer 2

We don't worship idols.Making and honoring religious statues were ordered by God in Ex 25:18.
We don't worship and adore Mary . We adore only God. The Saints in Heaven are conscious Mk 12:26 and they are prayer-partners with all the members of the Body of Christ.

Answer 3

Catholics do not 'worship' idols, in fact they simply ask the saints and martyrs to help them, just as you might ask a friend to help you in your religious study or daily struggle.

I'm not a catholic (I'm not even christian), and I'm sure others here will have a more technical (and better) explanation, but I do know for sure that catholics, like other christians believe in 'father, son and holy spirit'.

The various saints, including Mary, are revered for their love of god and honour of the way of Jesus. Many suffered greatly in order to follow their religious path, and this faith is rewarded within the church by them being honoured and looked up to as examples and friends.

Because god can sometimes seem very distant to people, it is helpful to many people to know that others who are very much like the ordinary person, also had trials and problems, but got through with the help of their belief.

Whether you believe this or not, it is not that hard to understand and respect.

Best wishes :-)

Answer 4

Catholic worship only Jesus Hail Mary is a intercession prayer to Jesus the Catholic Church was the first Church





































jesus

Answer 5

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, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

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 6

Catholics don't worship idols. Whereever did you hear such nonsense?

For Catholics, they use an intercessary to go between themselves and God. Since the Virgin Mary is the Mother of Jesus, she has God's ear more so than any other saint. Thus, they ask her to intercede much of the time.

Other than that...why not go read some Catholic theology books to sate your curiosity?

Answer 7

we don't worship idols or pray to Mary. have you asked someone to pray for you?do you have pictures of loved ones that you look at,maybe reminisce over? then you are guilty of the same thing. i am fairly sure if you read the q and a of the catholics on this section you would see the multitude of times we have addressed this same tired misconception. there are many explanations here are some sites that should cover this adequately.
www.scripturecatholic.com
www.ewtn.com
www.fisheaters.com
www.catholiceducation.org
www.newadvent.org

god bless and hope this has helped.

Answer 8

1) Catholic worship is expressly limited to the Holy Trinity only.

2) Statues and Icons are like family portraits - images of family members who have died and who we wish to remember.

3) Statues and icons are NOT worshiped.

4) No catholic prays TO the Blessed Virgin Mary. We say "Mary, pray for US" - asking for her intercession.

Answer 9

You sound like a religious bigot. They don't worship idols; that's a slur. They pray to Mary as an intersessor. I don't see why fundamentalists should be permitted to come on here and say such things; I'm Jewish,and I wouldn't tolerate it directed at my people. You're just a religious nut and a low-down bigot.

Answer 10

<> there isn't any idolatry practiced interior the Catholic Church. <> Catholics DO prayer to Jesus/God/Holy Spirit. (Why pass away out the Holy Spirit? he's God too!) Intercession to Mary, any saint for that rely, isn't idolatry because of the fact Intercession would not signify an act of worship. Idolatry in easy terms happens whilst something/somebody, different than God, will become the item of worship. that would not ensue interior the Catholic Church. <> there isn't any "Hail mom Mary". there is "Hail Mary, crammed with Grace. The Lord is With Thee." those are the words of the angel who visited Mary, and advised her that she could undergo the Son of God Jesus. it is all interior the Gospel of Luke. "Blessed artwork thou between women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb," are the words of Mary's cousin Elizabth - additionally interior the Gospel of Luke. so as that's what that is all approximately. that is Biblical. <> The King Jesus merits a likeness in His Church, this is why there's a crucifix in Catholic church homes. yet you fail to grant a logical reason Catholics could forget approximately on the subject of the Queen mom Mary? you notice, in historic center jap Monarchies, that isn't the king's spouse which will become queen - that's the king's mom. <> back, no.