When I was a catholic....?

Question

I was told that I had to pray to mary and sing songs to her and ask her to intercede on my behalf, because mothers are more likely to stand up for their Children.

When I became a Christian, I learned that Jesus is the only one who intercedes on my behalf. That He loves me so much that not only did He die and defeat death for me, but he also stands before The Father on my behalf.

My friends claim that the catholic church does not worship mary, but it seems to me that they do.

What is your take on the whole subject?

insert creative name...

I do believe that the saints lift us up.. but is it right to PRAY to them and SING SONGS to them?

Answer 1

i am catholic. There is ALOT of emphasis on Mary in the church. Whether that is good or bad is up to the individual opinion.
Facts are Facts

Answer 2

You were told wrong.

Catholics are not required to venerate the saints, pray the rosary, sing songs to Mary or the saints, or ask their intercession. Most do, but the degree to which they do so is a matter of personal devotion. It is encouraged by the Church, and taught by the Church, but one can still be 100% Catholic without uttering a single Marian prayer, praying a single rosary, or having a single icon/statue/picture of a saint or saints in their home.

So now you have no need to post anti-Catholic arguments based on Mary and can concentrate on the other points of Catholic dogma -- the ones that form the foundation of our faith, and belief in which is necessary in order to be Catholic -- instead.

Answer 3

Yes, I am a training Catholic. I do suppose unhealthy whilst, at Christmas and Easter, all the ones "two times a 12 months" Catholics pop out - however then I discover that it might be worse. It might very good be feasible they do not pop out in any respect. It's convenient for any individual, who attends Church each and every week, to visit Mass on Christmas, Easter, and Holy Days of Obligation. I in general marvel simply how a lot more tricky it's for persons, who do not attend Mass normally, to get out and move to Mass a couple of time according to 12 months. We can not assume it, due to the fact we all know what we might be lacking. I do not feel those "two times a 12 months" forms can totally admire what it's they are lacking. If they did, they might be at Mass greater than two times a 12 months. I am proud to be Catholic, so it is all of the extra disappointing whilst I see persons taking an "oh hum: perspective closer to their vocation as lay Catholics. All we will fairly do approximately it's pray, and wish that they instance we set will, one day, encourage them to begin dwelling the Catholic tradition all 12 months circular.

Answer 4

you became a Christian the same time you became a Catholic.

and no, they don't worship Mary.

according to the bible, saints can intercede -"and the bowls were filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones, and went up before God" -Revelations

and whoever told you that you had to was incorrect. you don't have to, but you could.

lets break down the prayer Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee(how Gabriel greeted Mary)

Blessed art thou amongst women(what Mary's sister said to her, and then became pregnant.)

and blesses is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus
Holy Mary, mother of God(Jesus=God, she's His mother)

pray for us sinners(again, in revelations it tells of the prayers of the saints)

now and at the hour of our death, amen

Answer 5

everyone religion has it's own ways of worship, &
some are different then others because of how they got started , I would not say that Catholics
FULLY worship Mary, but I do know they pray to her instead of God, I was brought up to pray to God as the Our Father says, so that is what I believe & do .

take care

Answer 6

A lot of people are under the false impression that anytime we pray to Mary we are engaging in worship. That simply just isn’t true. Prayer can have many different forms and uses. On Sunday morning, at Mass, our prayers are for worship and adoration of God. In the case of Mary and the saints, our prayers are requests. See the difference? “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…” means the same thing as, “Mother Mary in heaven, please ask God to help me. I’m going through some really hard times.”

People say, “Why should I pray to Mary when I could just pray to God?”

Prayers to Mary or any other saints are not requirements. They are simply our family in heaven. We ask our family here all the time to pray for us. That’s called intercession. “My mom is sick. Could you please pray for her?” There’s no difference. Prayer to Mary or other saints is not worship. It’s simply asking our relatives in heaven to pray for us.

Here’s a great link: http://catholic.com/library/mary_saints.asp

God bless.

Answer 7

I was Catholic, too. We not only used to sing to her and pray to her but we had to pay a dollar to light a candle in front of her statue. They claim they don't worship her, just pray for intercession. But as you said, we have but one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ. And even if they didn't worship her (which they do by the fact that they have made her like Jesus by her supposed immaculate conception and ascension into heaven) even if they do just pray to her, that is heresy because that's saying that she is ominpresent, able to hear everyone's prayer. That is an attribute that only belongs to God alone.

Answer 8

We dont worship Mary, we ask for her intercession. Christ performed his FIRST miracle cos' Mary asked him to. Mary is also a symbol for motherhood. She is a shining example of a mother's undying and unconditional love (she was with Jesus while he was dying on the cross). Its funny how people see the Catholic church as misogynestic b/c of our stance on abortion...but we're the only Christian denomination that gives Mary credit and devotion for giving birth and raising our Savior

Answer 9

In order to understand the Mary question you must understand history. When the Catholic church wanted to convert pagans they circumvented the Goddess problem by substituting Mary. It was easier for them to get pagans to pray to Mary instead of the Goddess. That is how Mary was elevated to a godlike power.

Answer 10

I don't believe that you were told you HAD to, and even if you were, the person telling you that was incorrect. The Catholic Church does not teach that anyone HAS to pray for the intercession of Mary or the other saints.