im not anti-catholic. i understand the idea of asking mary and the saints to pray for us but it seems that catholics pray as much to mary as to god. the rosary for example is mostly prayers to mary with a few "our fathers". mother theresa said that we should always pray to god through mary and the catholic church refers to mary as "co-mediatrix" with jesus. i would appreciate it if some catholics could shed some light on this for me. thank you.
2007-10-26 17:18:41 · 15 answers · asked by metaxas 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes.
(Source: Me. Former Catholic for 30+ years)
2007-10-26 17:23:31 · answer #1 · answered by he_returns_soon 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A few Catholics probably do put too much emphasis on Mary. These are also part of the small minority that use the term "co-mediatrix." Co-medatrix is not Catholic doctrine.
Mainstream Catholicism directs almost all prayer directly to God through Jesus Christ and only occasionally asks our friends and loved ones on Earth or in heaven to pray for us.
You can find people who take the emphasis away from God and toward other peripheral things in all groups, like those who constantly talk about the end of the world or protest at the funerals of soldiers killed in combat.
With love in Christ.
2007-10-27 18:27:41 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just do not understand how and why Protestants are so hung up on this. I have only been on this forum for a couple of weeks and this question comes up over and over again, and the Catholics in the forum reply over and over again that we simply do not worship Mary. I just don't know what we have to say or do to make people understand that we do not worship her, we do not pray to her (we ask her to pray for us - just like you would ask your friend or your mother to pray for you) and we do not hold her as equal or above God the Father/Jesus/Holy Spirit in any way.
We think she is the ultimate Christian example, a person who was infinitely faithful to Christ - from the moment the Angel Gabriel approached her and asked her to give birth to Him (yes, the Angel did ask her - she could have refused) to the day she encouraged him to perform his first miracle at the wedding to the day she stood at his feet while he bled on the cross, to the day the Holy Spirit came down on her and the Apostles at Pentecost to the day she breathed her last breath on earth. She never doubted, never refused. She was a good and holy person who is to be held up as an example for us to follow.
The Church does not proclaim her co-redemptrix or co-mediatrix, although there is a movement among some to have her recognized this way, it is not the Church's teaching.
And yes, she was entirely human, not divine in any way and she did need to be saved. Jesus saved her before she was born when he chose her to be his mother and protected her from the stain of original sin in her Immaculate Conception (people think this refers to Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit, but that is incorrect - it refers to Mary's conception by her natural parents, spared from original sin).
Even so, Mary is no where near the central figure in our faith that non-Catholics perceive her to be. As one of the other answerers pointed out, we recognize her more by comparison because the others take the opposite extreme of completely disregarding and disrespecting her - calling her a "vessel" and comparing her to Hitler (sinner just the same). Surely you must know that these comments are not pleasing to Jesus. You wouldn't like it if someone treated your mother like a doormat - it is downright shameful.
So, to answer your question, no, there is not too much emphasis on Mary. She is first among the saints and we treat her as such. No more and no less.
2007-10-26 18:04:15 · answer #3 · answered by Myth Buster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not Catholic but based upon replies and questions I have seen on here I think that they do. Mary was a Christian no different than me or you. She sinned and she needed a savior. I imagine she is in Heaven but I don't think she holds any special place there. As to the co-mediatrix the Bible is clear that there is only 1 mediator between God and man. That mediator is Jesus.
PaulCyp - You say we ignore Mary like that is a bad thing. She plays no role in our salvation. She brings us no closer to God. Why should we put any emphasis on her?
2007-10-26 17:25:48 · answer #4 · answered by Bible warrior 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God chose to send Jesus into the world through Mary, so it seems as though God set the pattern for all that was to come later.
See if you can put too much emphasis on that.
2007-10-26 22:04:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely : no doubt about it! And there is no justification for it. The Catholic Church made her a saint and she is by far it's most important one, but nothing in the Bible or any Christian record I know, or any Protestant belief justifies it.
In fact this "Mary-worship" was and still is and always will be a main Protestant objection to Catholicism. Still, please don't put me down as anti-Catholic : I love the Catholic church.
2007-10-26 17:34:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, a common belief when Christianity was formed is that Mary was also sinless, that is why she was chosen to give birth to the pure and sinless son of God. That belief has been almost lost to history because the writings weren't included in the bible. It was esteemed by Gnostic Christians (but was popular with the masses) and therefore excluded from the bible in their attempt to eradicate competing Christian beliefs. It survived in the rituals of the Catholics though (the original Christians of modern times).
2007-10-26 17:27:41 · answer #7 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To say that Catholics put "too much emphasis" on Mary is to suggest that Protestants put exactly the right emphasis on Mary, by completely ignoring her, or worse, attacking her. Intercession is the calling of every Christian. Christians ask other Christians to intercede. Don't you? Some like to say that Mary is dead, but that is unbiblical. Jesus said those who follow him "will never die". Therefore Mary and the other saints are fully alive. If they interceded for us while on earth, is it likely they will STOP interceding for us in heaven? The Rosary is in fact a meditation on the life of Christ. The term "co-mediatrix" doesn't imply equality with God. Mary is co-mediatrix only in the sense that others are co-teachers or co-healers with Christ, sharing in His ministry, but always subservient to Him. Some would say that Mary plays no role in our salvation. I would say that giving us our Savior was a pretty significant role in our salvation, but again, a supporting and subservient role, not an equal role by any means.
2007-10-26 17:24:34 · answer #8 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
...too much emphasis on the BVM ?
The battle of Lepanto,Pope Pius V asked all catholics to pray the rosary to aid us to victory against overwhelming odds by a formiddable opposition the Turks which we won !
The survival of the church through the russian,french,spanish and mexican revolutions is because of marian devotion !
and countless other miracles I need not mention...
The BVM is venerated,honoured and is holier than the angels and saints collectively this has always been catholic dogma, which the Supreme Pontiff spoke ex-cathedra and she is extolled for her part in the salvation of man,but divine worship and adoration is reserved for God and God alone !!!
By her purity she pleased God by her humility she conceived him...
Is this a normal woman I wonder...?
Question : regarding the salvation of the human race;why does she have a part in our salvation ?
Answer : [for neo-modernist catholics,protestants and biblical literalist]
She had to give God her consent(free will)in order to take flesh of her ;for her to conceive.
When God gives a grace or cross it is up to us to accept or refuse...
Regarding the Rosary /2nd glorious mystery,the ascension of Christ in to heaven and 4th glorious mystery,the assumption of the BVM in to heaven.
Q : What is the difference ?
A : Christ rose by his own power,BVM rose by the power of God / Christ.
Do catholics worship Mary as a Goddess,or I dare say put too much emphasis on Mary,NO !
Do you keep photos of loved ones ?
Is this idolatry ?
No,it is a reminder of people you love,think of and in honour of.
Catholics have statues,relics and pictures in honour of our loved ones,"heroes" of those who died in the stench of sanctity in service of God.
As for praying to a stone carving believing it to procure special powers is a little bit fruity wouldn't you think ?
Find out what the Church teaches before making assumptions.
God bless,
JMJ
2007-10-29 03:33:13 · answer #9 · answered by BORED II 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People say the Rosary, normally, at most once a day.
I know many of us pray to God atleast once an hour, i know I do.
2007-10-26 17:26:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are instructed to not pray to the dead. I tend to agree there is too much emphasis on Mary (and other things). Christianity is about Loving one another as Jesus loves us.
2007-10-26 17:24:51 · answer #11 · answered by Wire Tapped 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋