Praying to Mary and the Saints: May I please clarify some things?

Question

I have seen some comments about prayer to the Blessed Virgin, such as "when did Jesus tell us to pray to Mary", and other such simplistic observations. I wish to ask some questions to shed some light on your reasoning:
1. When did Jesus tell the Apostles to write the New Testament? He didn't, according to the Bible.
2. When did Jesus specifically say, "Just accept me as your personal Lord and Savior, and your salvation is guaranteed?" He didn't, according to the Bible.
3. When did Jesus say the Bible, not the Church, was the ultimate authority? He didn't, according to the Bible.

My point is that there are Biblical "principals" on which Christian teachings are based. Not everything is “specifically” stated in black and white in the Scriptures. For example, the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible but most Christians believe in the Trinity.

So, what about prayer to Mary and the saints in heaven?

Those in heaven pray with us and for us, as in the book of Revelation when John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8).

A prayer is a request. When we pray to Mary and the saints in heaven, we are asking them to pray for us, the same way non-Catholic Christians ask their friends or family to pray for them.

Question: When you ask your friends or family to pray for you, does that take away from Jesus or his role as mediator? Of course not, and neither does praying to our brother and sisters in heaven. Because he is the only God-man and the Mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Tim. 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim. 2:1–4). In particular, we should ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed, for "[t]he prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects" (Jas. 5:16). The family of God transcends death: You are still a Christian even when you are in heaven, and you can still pray for your brothers and sisters when you are there.

Does this make things a little easier to understand? Any comments or questions?

Here are some links that you may find helpful:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Praying_to_the_Saints.asp

Answer 1

May I make the following suggestion to avoid some confusion; add that according to scripture the mother (Bathsheba) of the king (King Solomon) was asked by another party (Adonijah?) to ask the king something. The decision was not the king's mother, but the kings. Many 'outsiders' get the impression that a person prays to Mary for her decision; not for her to take it to the king for the king's decision.
Our confrontations are not with each other (fellow human beings; brothers & sisters Gen. 20:12) but with Satan and his principalities etc (Eph. 6:12).

Answer 2

IM a former Catholic Not because of theology.I have found a church that does more for the poor the sick and the earth then in one day then the Catholic church in my town does in a year. Its not about theology its about Bored and asleep preists and members. I have found many misconceptions of what catholcism is. Old habits are hard to break at one time KKK was as much against Catholics as they are against Blacks and Jews. It is simple racism and Bigotry.
People who are not or who have not been catholic should keep there Misinformation and half baked ideas to themselves.

I dont worship a BOOK> The Bible tells me not to. I worship God and the holy spirit .If the book goes against the Holy spirit and what we know in our hearts. WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES> then we go with our hearts after prayer and discusion with other people who seek God.What about slavery and apartheid. Many used the bible to justify that. The same people who attack Catholics probably think thats ok too.
If praying to The blessed virgin opens ones heart to the spirit then pray pray and pray some more. God isnt a petty vindictive and childish God. Some people think so. They worship a book not God.
Its about what moves People what keeps them awake what keeps them helping the poor the opressed and the sick.
Just my opinion.

Answer 3

Jesus gave the Disciples/Apostles and other followers the duty of spreading the Gospel and His teachings. Why wouldn't it be written down? To compare this to praying to Mary or the saints is a great stretch when Jesus is the ONLY mediator between man and God. And in a practical sense, think for a minute, how peaceful would "eternal peace" be, if for eternity you had to listen to the prayers of millions of people (most you dont even know) night and day and go to Jesus and tell Him "Will you grant so and so this request?" Why would you want to burden "Blessed" people (as you say) to such an eternity?

Answer 4

Thomas, How dare you ask a query like this in this holy talk board. You dropped multiple Catholics to their knees with a criss-go. they're going to be grabbing their rings and repeating ineffective repetitions now interior the eyes of God till he's weary of their many words. do no longer you you think of this is telling something that nowhere interior the Bible are we taught something approximately Mary's place interior the church. She exchange into with the ladies human beings and he or she would not even have place of preeminence there. Mary Magdalene gets greater interest. i'm no longer a Mary-hater. I merely have self belief she has greater effective issues to do marvelous now. If she ought to intercede for you, it can be a one-time necessity. as quickly as linked to Jesus we are continually linked and there is not any different connection. P.S. earlier somebody deletes me, you're able to besides understand that now "Father" or the different such titled chief can substitute for Jesus, the two. WE DON’T PRAY TO ANY SAINTS IN HEAVEN SAINTS IN HEAVEN DON’T PRAY FOR US WE DON’T PRAY TO all people everywhere WE DON’T permit all people PRAY TO US we've ONE FATHER in the international WE PRAY to a minimum of one FATHER IN HEAVEN

Answer 5

Great explination I couldn't have said it better myself. Another thing about praying to the Blessed Virgin we were given the Hail Mary for a reason. That proves that its a good thing to pray for her intercession as well. Hopefully someday I'll be able to explain things about the Catholic faith as well as you can quoting scripture.

Answer 6

I think you clarified this very well. I am a Protestant but my grandparents are Catholics. I have never seen anything sinful about praying to Mary or the Saints. I have tried to explain it to friends before but I was never sure if I was getting it exactly right. Thank you for the clarification.
God Bless

Answer 7

They are blinded by their hate.

First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Answer 8

I understand that you are trying to clarify things but you should really ask a question.

Answer 9

Thank you. I hope that non-Catholics, Catholic wannabes and uninformed Catholics read your post wiht an open mind and heart and see the truth you have posted.

Answer 10

more evidence of cherry-picking....now you can pick stuff thats not even written in it and state that it's "implied"


gotta love christian logic.