Do all Roman Catholics deny they worship Mary?

Question

Alfonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) was a principal proponent of the Marianist Movement, which glorifies Mary. He wrote a book entitled "The Glories of Mary" which is famous, influential and widely read. In this book, de Liguori says that Mary was given rulership over one half of the kingdom of God; Mary rules over the kingdom of mercy and Jesus rules over the kingdom of justice. De Liguori said that people should pray to Mary as a mediator and look to her as an object of trust for answered prayer. The book even says that there is no salvation outside of Mary. Some people suggest that these views are extreme and not representative of Catholic Church teaching. However, instead of silencing de Liguori as a heretic, the Catholic Church canonized him as a saint and declared him to be a "doctor of the Church" (a person whose teachings carry weight and authority). Furthermore, his book is openly and officially promoted by the Catholic Church, and his teachings have influenced popes.

I'd love to hear from catholics about this info. I understand there is a movement called "Vox Populi" seeking to have the pope declare Mary as co-redemptrix?
Is this true?

Statues of Mary, parades to mary, prayers to Mary, ......you must admit sounds like worship. So why the petition being circulated to have her named as co-redemptrix?

To AnArdRI. I'm sorry , but I believe I am doing something useful. I've learned alot.
this is the Rand S section, isn't it?

Rich, I understand that people who can't defend their faith intelligently should not come to the Yahoo Answers Religion area! And not one of you even began to address my question about the movement withing the RC church to name Mary as co-redemptrix!!!! Still waiting to hear about that.

yes Christy, I agree it is good to understand the difference between respect and worship! I'm still waiting for someone to deny there is a movement withing Roman catholicism to make Mary co-redemptrix. If it's not true, I don't want to spread a rumor. I understand it's called "Vox Populi". Any Catholics heard of this? If so, please clarify their stance!

To "Silent Majority"..the book i referenced states Mary was given half of God's kingdom to rule over. Apparently this author is well respected by the RC church. Is this innaccurate?

"Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping, in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary."

How is this not worship?? Please explain this to me!!!

To Odd Job Man...you're right. There are several very knowledgeable Catholics who are usually on at another time of day. I am going to re-submit this question, and several others regarding Catholic doctrine. The reformation didn't happen for petty reasons!!

To fathermartin: I understand that you feel accused by my question. However, I think it's a case of catholics not being able to see the forest for the trees! The whole point of the temple curtain being torn at Christ's death was that man no longer needed ANY mediary except Jesus!!! What would be the point of exchanging the pharisaical system with it's stumbling blocks for the RC system who places the same emphasis on tradition over God's word?? None.
There is ONE mediator between man and God. Christ Jesus!! Not the BVM.

Robin, thank-you for the information. it doesn't change my mind about mary worship, but at least I know that VoxPopuli is not a rumor started to fan the flames of distrust.

Answer 1

Your tone is most respectful and you've obviously done your research,but nothing can conceal an obvious element of anti-Catholic bigotry or the propagandistic use of an obscure text that few Catholics have ever heard of. You obviously cannot grasp the difference between worship and veneration and given that any explanation offered by any Catholic as to the actual status of the Blessed Virgin would be like trying to describe red to a color-blind man.

Answer 2

Based on questions that you've asked earlier, it seems as if you have a real hang-up about what we Catholics believe, especially when it comes to Mary.

I suspect you'll try to argue me down, just like last night, but here goes anyway. Liguori's book (which I own and have read) was written in the style of the time, which was full of symbolism and would almost be considered hyperbole by today's more reserved standards. If you read other works written during the same time frame, you will find the same flowery language and use of metaphor. However, if there had been anything harmful to the Faith to begin with, the book would not have received an imprimatur.

I can't speak for all Catholics, but I do not now, nor have I ever worshipped Mary. Latria (worship) is reserved for God and God alone. Dulia (honor) is given to the saints in recognition of their holy lives and love of God. Since Mary was the first believer in a very real sense, we give her hyperdulia, or great honor. It's done in the same spirit as honoring your own mother or grandmother on Mother's Day -- a special recognition of the role that she played in bringing our Savior into the world. It is not worship, however, not by a long shot.

You're welcome to reply to this, of course, but I'm not going to bother editing my post in response. You've clearly decided that Catholics are a bunch of idolators who worship Mary, and at this point, trying to convince you otherwise is the equivalent of trying to teaching a pig to sing.

Answer 3

Not worship, but logic

Perhaps it might help if one considers that the "co" part is not to be seen as "equal"--not like, for example, a "co-star", but more in the sense of a "co-pilot". A co-pilot is NOT the one who pilots the plane. The co-pilot does not share the piloting in the normal course of events, but is there to back-up and handle problems FOR the pilot, if necessary.

Jesus is piloting the plane. Mary is there to handle things that come up--to reassure the passengers if there is turbulence, for example.

Mary is a creature, not a goddess. Mary could not be even IN the plane without Jesus, while Jesus could definitely be in the plane without Mary. . .but, together, not that this makes Jesus MORE, but Mary REFLECTS Him (just as we someday will either be perfect reflections of God's love, or damned by our own free choice), and this PLEASES Jesus.

Just as Eve participated in the fall by her consent and pride, Mary cooperates with the redemption of man by her consent and humility as handmaid of the Lord. She gave Jesus his body, and his body is what saved us."

Because Mary AGREED with the angel that she would let the will of God be done, it was granted that the means of salvation would come into the world through her being. By giving birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. So she CO-OPERATED or freely submitted to the will of God. In this sense she became a co-redemptrix for all of mankind by bearing and giving birth to our Savior who would die for the sins of the world.
Mary, became what Eve wasn't. The obedient virgin. So she became the New Eve and our Lord the Second Adam. And all Christians the the children of God. Truly, a beautiful truth.

Answer 4

I'm sorry that I am unable to answer your question through lack of knowledge.
However I was hoping that someone in that religion would answer sensibly without the bigoted remarks that have been written here for the most part. I would have been most interested.
Once again I am disappointed by the negative and dismissive attitude of some so called 'Christians'. Unfortunately the true Christians that do answer sensibly are obviously not on line at this time so it might be an idea to re-submit your question at a different time of the day.

Answer 5

I don't know what any of this business is about, but I don't worship Mary. Never have. I ask her to pray FOR me, frequently, because I know her Son took her into Heaven, and she is thus much closer than I to where I want to get.... but worship?

In a word, no.

The Catechism speaks of " the worship of latria, that is, the adoration given to God alone." I listen to that, and thus - do not worship Mary.

Answer 6

Please develop some subtlety in your religious understanding. When you hear a song about ever lasting love or walking a million miles, you argue that those offerings are impossible, no you look at what the writer is trying to say.

Everything said about Mary is said because she said yes to being the mother of Christ. She is not to be seen in competition with her son, she adores him and gave him to us so that we could see him and he could save us. Remember at Canna she said, do what he tells you to do.

We believe that he has a special love for her as his earthly mother. We like to think that we can approach her to ask him for us. It is this special relationship that is being expressed by Ligouri and Marion groups. From a cold outside point of view, it is easy to hear a heretical message but it is just the opposite for those being acused.

Answer 7

Catholics do not worship the Virgin Mary as a God. We venerate the Blessed Virgin. Praying to Mary is the equivalent of asking Her to pray for our souls. We pray to God directly for our souls, and indirectly through Mary as well... but we do not worship the Blessed Virgin.
In the prayer "Hail Mary", one of the lines state "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now, and at the hour of our death".

In other words, if we die with unconfessed sin... we have an advocate in Mary who will pray for our souls at the hour of our death.

Answer 8

I think it's defined more as holding her in a position of great respect rather than worshipping her as a deity (or some sort of idol).

Think of the way the way that Muslims worship Allah but hold Mohammed in a high position as his prophet. It's sort of the same situation - Mary is held high as the mother of God/the son of God, not as A god.

Answer 9

Well, there are some Catholics who will not need to deny it, simply because those special few will not be confronted with such an ignorant, preposterous accusation.

No one is asking you to worship Mary, so it shouldn't matter to you what we Catholics do. We are definitely aware of what we believe and whom we worship. You are obviously comfortable with your beliefs and we are definitely comfortable with ours. We will stick to worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in the eucharist.

Answer 10

Why is it that you wish to bear false witness against Christ's Church and His faithful? May the Lord have mercy on you.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph