Not trying to start something - I really want to know?

Question

Even though I went to a Catholic high school I never understood this. Why do Catholics pray to Mary (Hail Marys) if it says in the Bible:

"I am the way the truth and the life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME." -- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

Why waste your time praying to Mary when you could just pray to Jesus and God? Can you explain that part to me please?

Answer 1

It's called intercession, where you pray to the saints (Mary being one of the most important), so that that person will intercede on your behalf.

Here is what the Catholic Catechism (the most important book of doctrine for the Catholic Church) says about this type of prayer:

"2634 - Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners. (Cf. Rom 8:34; 1 Jn 2:1; 1 Tim 2:5-8). He is "able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."(Heb 7:25). The Holy Spirit "himself intercedes for us . . . and intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."(Rom 8:26-27).

2635 - Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy. In the age of the Church, Christian intercession participates in Christ's, as an expression of the communion of saints. In intercession, he who prays looks "not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others," even to the point of praying for those who do him harm.(Phil 2:4; cf. Acts 7:60; Lk 23:28,34).

2636 - The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely.(Cf. Acts 12:5; 20:36; 21:5; 2 Cor 9:14). Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of preaching the Gospel (Cf. Eph 6:18-20; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thess 5:25) but also intercedes for them (Cf. 2 Thess 1:11; Col 1:3; Phil 1:3-4). The intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries: "for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions," for persecutors, for the salvation of those who reject the Gospel (2 Tim 2:1; cf. Rom 12:14; 10:1)."

That's why the Hail Mary prayer ends "Holy Mary, Mother of God PRAY FOR US SINNERS, now and at the hour of hour death."

Both Catholics and Orthodox pray this way, and clearly make it a point that you are not worshiping these people, just praying to them to pray to God for you.

Answer 2

Well perhaps you could answer this question ... Why do ask your friends and family to pray for you, if it says in the Bible:

"I am the way the truth and the life; NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME." -- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

Oh, I see .... asking others to pray for you isn't bypassing Jesus, but rather, increasing your prayers to Jesus through the intercession of others! OK, so now you know why Catholics ask Mary to pray for us. Obviously Mary is not equal to Christ (Neither are your friends and family). Obviously we do not worship Mary by asking her to intercede for us (just as you don't worship your friends and family by doing so).

And before you bring up that tired old objection, "Mary is dead", recollect that Jesus said those who follow Him "will never die". Therefore Mary is alive and well, as are the rest of the saints, and in a perfect position to continue the prayers of intercession they offered for us while they were still on earth.

Answer 3

This started about a coupled hundred years after Jesus died... people began to be venerated for the life they lived here on earth - mostly extreme ascetics. There are writings by church fathers that tell of these mostly men living in caves, not eating, having Kings, and other world leaders consult them for their "higher knowledge"... anyways, that of course carried over to biblical figures. They believed that these saints were conduits to God and Jesus. You could appeal to them for help in asking God/Jesus to forgive you or help you wiht something. And it is still practiced today.

Answer 4

Your right. There is no need to pray to mary. Mary was an important person in the sense of her role in the plan of God. But she is in no way above christ.

sincerly, katie

I just wanted to say that your wrong gaelicspawn.


Jesus is our intercession to God. We can speak to God through Jesus not through Mary or whoever else. Jesus died on the cross so that we might have a relationship with God. Not mary.

sincerly, katie

Answer 5

Pray the Lord's Prayer and know that God is God.

Answer 6

Just as she was dear to Jesus, she is dear to us. Jesus said to one of his apostles while he was on the cross, to take Mary as his own mother. Thats why she is considered the mother of the Church, by tradition. Its just catholics that continue to follow this tradition. And clearly you dont have to, and thats why we are all righteous in the eyes of God.

God Bless.

Answer 7

If you want to take everything in the Bible absolutely literally--regardless of the loss or additions of connotations, words, and phrases in various translations over the last two millennia--then why aren't you stoning people who commit adultery to death? Why doesn't your father have several wives, a dozen concubines, and herds of hundreds of sheep, goats, and cattle--with slaves tending to them? Or is it un-Christian to leave well enough alone and let other denominations of Christianity worship as they see fit and leave the nitpicking to people with nothing better to do with themselves?

Answer 8

You-re going to start a fire, but I'm on you're side. And It was also in the bible not to worship idols of any sort, paintings, murals, etc... It was never in the bible that Mary would appear, and the painting was also proved to be hand made.

Answer 9

the Catholic church had to compete with other religions, most of which had a mother-goddess, so they substituted Mary for the goddesses, to bring the 'heathen' into their church. it makes sense, really, cause how can one have a father, without having a mother?

Answer 10

I dunno?

Why do some mega churches have rock bands during worship? I don't remember seeing electric guitars in the bible?