Catholic's?

Question

Why do catholic's have a saint picked out for them to pray to and why do they pray to the mother of Jesus Christ to protect them and forgive them of the sin's. I don't understand being raised Christian oriented. I'm not being negative, I just really want to know because every religion has it's own's belief's. And please don't answer the question with a question, thank you.

Answer 1

Pastor Billy says:

1. Catholics are Christians, they are the first Christians

2. Why do non-Catholics read books and quote people like Billy Graham, David Jeremiah, and Robert Schuller? Catholics talk about the saints and ask them for prayers to God because the saints are Christians who are with God in heaven now and still form part of the Body of Christ. Catholicism teaches there is only one Church and that includes the saints in heaven especially Mary. We believe in the communion of saints (apostles creed).

3. Saints do not forgive sins only the power of God does this it is a false belief to assume Catholicism teaches saints can forgive sins.

4. see my questions and answers to get a better feel on what Catholics are dealing with when non-Catholics misrepresent the ancient Christian faith

Answer 2

Catholics believe that the Saints are more alive than you or I, and they remain a part of the Body of Christ, the Church. Paul wrote that not even death will keep us separated from the love of Christ. So, one form of prayer is to ask others to pray for us. Certainly this is true in all Christian denominations. Thus, Catholics ask the saints and Mary to pray for us, just as we would a family member.

Often times, we may ask the saints and Mary to pray for our protection, but we do not ask the saints or Mary to directly protect us.

The Catholic Church has never taught that Mary and the Saints have the power to forgive sins. Only God can do that.

Catholics are not required to ask for the intercession of the saints or Mary. Nor are Catholics required to choose a patron saint. Some saints are looked to as patrons of professions or specific causes, based on the Saint's life on Earth. For example, Paul is the patron of communicators and those in the Media. Joseph is the patron of fathers, husbands, and workers. Luke is the patron for doctors and health care professionals.

I hope that answers some of your questions.

Answer 3

We call it the communion of saints in heaven, on earth and purgatory. Here are some Biblical references to support this doctrine.

"‘And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not God of the dead, but of the living . . .’" (Mark 12:26-27)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely . . ." (Heb. 12:1).

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders 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).

Catholics do not "have to have" Mary intercede for us. We can, and do, pray directly to God. However, we also recognize that having someone provide intercessory prayer for us is very beneficial. Few people feel uncomfortable about asking their friend or neighbor to pray for them, especially in time of need; after all, two prayers are better than one. Mary is, and always will be, the mother of Jesus. As a mother, she has certain rights and privileges and this is why we ask her to intercede for us. Every prayer addressed to Mary is in reality a prayer asking a favor from God.

Answer 4

Catholic choose to ask saints to pray for them -- nobody is limited to just one saint and nobody has one "picked out" for them (unless you are named after a saint, and even then you aren't limited to just that one).

We ask Mary to pray for us and pray that JESUS will show mercy on us for our sins. We don't ask Mary to forgive us of sins. Salvation is Jesus' responsibility, not Mary's. We ask Mary to pray for us because the Bible says she intercedes for us (John 2) and that Jesus gave her to us to be our mother (John 19:26,27).

Catholics are Christians, too -- we worship the same Jesus that you do. We do things a bit differently because the Catholic faith is about 2,000 years old and if you are in an American protestant denomination, it's probably less than 150 years old. That sort of thing does make a difference.

If you want to read a really good book that describes the Catholic faith, try, "What Catholics REALLY Believe."

Answer 5

We do not ask Mary or any other saint to forgive our sins. Only God can do that.

The protection we ask our family and friends in heaven for is prayer.

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.

Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.

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.

Answer 6

I was born and raised Catholic. I still do not understand why I do pray to Mary but I think it is because it is easier for me to connect with a mother figure. I don't pray to the saints as much as the others. It is a confusing thing and I am still working it out. contact me if you have any more questions you would like me to answer about my views on my religion.

Answer 7

We pray to Mary and the saints for intercession (asking for help). We do not ask Mary for forgiveness of our sins because she cannot do that and it would be wrong.

Answer 8

Why is it that so many self styled Christians are so poorly educated? Never use an apostrophe to make a plural. It's a simple rule. Also, the possessive "its" does not have an apostrophe. Five unnecessary apostrophes in one short paragraph. You are obviously as ignorant of punctuation as you are of Catholic practices.

Answer 9

>>Catholic's

If only there was a patron saint of misused apostrophes...

Catholics do not pray TO Mary or the Saints. They only pray to God. Calling upon saints or Mary to pray FOR them, is another story.

Answer 10

Wouldn't you rather know God better than to try and understand the weirdness of a church who's leaders dress like clowns?

oops, that's a question

Sorry! I realize your q deserves something more serious. I my self am a clown by nature.
Does that make me equal to the Big Poop in Roam?

there I go again. bad bad bad boy.

So anyway, The leaders were deceived at an early age. when some of them finally realize how anti Christ their whole thing is, it is to late. It would be to much of an embarrassment to withdraw. So to save face, they continue the lie until they themselves believe it enough that they can go out and proclaim it to the masses.

It is really much more complicated than that and involves the god of this earth but I can't go into all the details right now.
Just stay away from them and don't ask questions about them.
Seek God through the open door; Jesus Christ! leave all religion alone. Visit non denominational churches in your neighborhood and don't stick to one until you're sure in who you believe (Jesus Christ)

Gypsy Priest