I just get really confused when Catholics say that they worship and believe everything about Jesus yet you have saints and more than one "virgin" that u worship or give tributes to. God is a jealous God and when u give worship to something else isn't that taking glory from Him?? And also just becuz some people were good and God used them that doesn't mean u should give them any tributes after all they were just people not God's son.
2007-07-27 08:01:58 · 14 answers · asked by **tu<3nina** 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
i don't mean to make fun...i am just curious. i grew up in a Christian home and i now serve as a youth pastor and i was just wanting more info for class because i myself am not sure about this subject. Also how can u ask ur saints and Mary to intervine for u if that is wat Jesus' job is?? He is the way to the Father is he not??
2007-07-27 09:58:51 · update #1
Thanx JY u answered my question. And ur statement is totally true!!
2007-07-27 10:00:40 · update #2
Well I have a catholic friend and he doesn't worship saints but he says that they pray to saints because they are in heaven close to God, which is blasphemy. But anyway praying to your saints is like saying God doesn't hear your pray when you pray right to him. Yes we tell each other pray for me because of such and such. But we don't pray to them and than have them pray to God. See the difference? you do but don't want to admit it, catholics are very stubborn trust me. But no interscession is needed John 14:6 Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
2007-07-27 08:16:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
You are a little confused. I am a catholic and I know of only one virgin, that is Mary, the mother of Jesus. As far as the saints go we catholics do not ''Worship'' anyone except God Almighty. We may ask the Saints to intercede on our behalf as they, through good works, are close to God. I hope this clears things up a little for you.
2007-07-27 15:16:43 · answer #2 · answered by kayrat48 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We Catholics do not worship saints. We do not worship anybody except for God. We ask saints to pray for us to God in the same way that you might ask your friends to pray for you.
All Christians worship God as a king, of sorts, the king of all creation. Imagine for a moment that God lives in a castle and sits upon his throne in a huge throne room.
Protestant theology would tell you that throne room is empty. There is no beautiful music played in tribute to the king. There are no carpets on the floor, or tapestries on the walls. There are no courtiers present in the throne room. The king who sits upon this throne is so jealous that he doesn't want any of these things around him, because he doesn't want his visitors to think about anything but him for even the smallest instant.
Catholic theology, on the other hand, believes that the king sits upon his throne and wants visitors to enjoy the sound of beautiful music made in tribute to him. His throne room is beautiful, decorated with art that depicts the good things he has done for those who follow him. There are many courtiers in the throne room, people to whom the king is close, his friends. Visitors are encouraged to speak with the king's friends, to learn about why they are his friends in the first place, and to emulate their good example. If a visitor brings a petition to the king, he might enlist the help of a couple of the king's friends. These friends have the king's ear, and their support might make the king more amenable to the petition.
So, which king is more worthy of admiration, the jealous king, or the one who shares music and art and the companionship of his friends? Whose petitions are more likely to be granted, those brought by a solitary person to the jealous king, or those brought by several of the generous king's friends? Which king is more thoroughly glorified, the king who only listens to one voice, or the king who listens to the voices of his visitors joined with the voices of his friends? For that matter, which king is more glorious, the one who sits alone in a barren hall, or the one who sits in a beautiful hall and shares its treasures with his friends and visitors?
In the Catholic Church, we do not believe that God is like the first king, so insecure that he cannot see the difference between worship accorded only to him and respect accorded to the saints. We believe that God is generous and kind, so long as we do not confuse worship and respect.
2007-07-27 17:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by nardhelain 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We do not--repeat--do not worship saints. However, we do admire them as examples of living and conducting themselves as God would want us to act here on earth. Yes, we can look at Jesus as an example, however, He and his mother never sinned. They are great examples--but not realistic for us to be because we are sinners. Why do we pray to saints? Because they dealt with this world at one time--we are now in this chaos and they could pray for us. They are there to intercede. Just like you asking a friend to pray for you. Saints are our friends who've been through the mill. We do not pray to statues or pictures as idols--just when we see them we are reminded of their saintly life. You might be doing the same thing when you look at a picture of someone who has passed on and you remember how great they were and wonder if they are looking after you from the other side. Yes, they are. Saints are too. Hope this helps in understanding us Catholics.
2007-07-27 15:19:47 · answer #4 · answered by IRENE THE BOOKIE 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You must be real new to these forums to thnk that catholics worship Mary and the saints. There are literally hundreds of answers that will tell you that Catholics do not worship Mary or the saints.
Either that or this is yet another of numerous slams against the Catholic Church that is thinly disguised as a question.
2007-07-27 15:14:48 · answer #5 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You seem to have an unclear view of Saints. Catholics do not worship saints. Just like you could ask somone to pray for you, Catholics ask the eternal spirit of a saint to pray for them.
Part of the 'Hail Mary' (if I misquote, I apologize. It's been years since I was harassed by Nun's with rulers) is "Hail Mary, full of grace, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death. Amen" Obviously not a prayer to Mary, but a request for her intercession.
2007-07-27 15:13:00 · answer #6 · answered by Rusty Knight 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i struggle too with the catholic 'saints'.... as if 'men' can nominate those who are called 'saints' .... isnt that God's job? and how do we know they even are in heaven? if they had never surrendered their lives completely to Jesus Christ, but only went thru rituals that appeared to be 'christian'... are then even IN heaven?
I think we need to be very careful and pray only to God in the name of Jesus Christ... because we know with no doubt that Jesus is there in heaven with the Father.... humans who have died may or may not be there... and I wouldnt want my 'prayers' being 'lifted up' by people in the other place... yanno?
God alone deserves our praise, prayer and attention. His servants are so numerous, Abraham, Isaac, Elisha, etc etc.... they are all great and did wonderful things... but we dont pray thru them ... for their service for men is over...
2007-07-28 12:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Catholics worship God alone. We honor the saints because they are friends of God who are in heaven and behold the face of the Father. They did the will of God while on earth and are good examples of Christian living. For more, read: http://www.catholic.com/library/Saint_Worship.asp
2007-07-27 15:07:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have a Catholic friend and he says that like Mary (Jesus' mother) is NOT worshipped by them, but they give her a high place as she was Jesus' Mother. I don't know if that helped any but.....
2007-07-27 15:10:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
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.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946
With love in Christ.
2007-07-28 00:08:50 · answer #10 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋