If Venerate is a transliteration of the word in Latin we get the translation Worship from, is it a sin?

Question

When someone Venerates an icon, saint, Mary, or any other object, aren't they just worshipping it?

Answer 1

First of all, "transliterate" means to move from one alphabet to another. "Gospodin" is the transliteration of a Russian word, for instance. The Romans used the same alphabet we use. No transliteration is necessary.

Secondly, when a word is taken from one language into another, it does not always keep the same meaning. "Gesundheit" in German means "health". In English, it's just something you say when someone sneezes. If I told you that your Gesundheit is the most important thing you have and you didn't know any German, would you have any idea what I was talking about? Venerate in English simply means to honor and revere. I believe it has a more specific meaning to Catholics, but it doesn't mean to worship.

Thirdly, pretty please, quit attacking Catholics? Discussing their beliefs is perfectly reasonable. Throwing up straw man after straw man is not.

Answer 2

The RCC does not worship Mary. But she has a "special position". The immaculate conception is a dogma, a cardinal point of doctrine for the RCC since 1854. This means: if you do not believe in it, you are not a catholic. Hello Tony Blair! "It was not until 1854 that Pope Pius IX, with the support of the overwhelming majority of Roman Catholic Bishops, whom he had consulted between 1851–1853, proclaimed the doctrine in accordance with the conditions of papal infallibility that would be defined in 1870 by the First Vatican Council." Wikipedia. Immaculate conception is part of the dogma, no way around that Officially the RCC does not worship Mary. They only worship God. That is a laugh of course. Many months ago I have proposed a bet here, but received no response: Anyone who claims the RCC does not worship Mary is invited by me to make a tour through South Italy and Spain. We will interview people in churches and see what they have most in their homes: the croos or the virgin. The person who loses the bet pays the bill. I only stay in better hotels (non US, non chains) and only go to better restaurants. I suggest 3 weeks. We could also go to Poland, but I do not like the kitchen there, though they have good hotels. The RCC do not worship Mary, they just encourage the people to worship her and then act as if they can not stop the simple people. Catholics have found out from a very early stage that irrationality is the key to the religious market .That is why they win from the protestants. That is why they migh lose from more more irrational denominations.

Answer 3

So now you're using etymology to prop up this argument? You're running out of straws.

My native language is not Latin, Greek, or Hebrew; it's English. As an English major and journalist I am aware of the origins, definitions and common usage of the words "worship", "adoration", "veneration", "respect", etc. Believe me, there's no problem here with distinguishing among them -- nor defining what it is I'm doing in prayer.

In fact, let's take "prayer" for an illustration. Its Latin origin is from "precarius", obtained by begging; "precari", to entreat. See anything there that indicates the begging or entreaty is solely of God? The English word "pray" is used rather often for earnest requests or supplications outside the context of religion. So is using the word "pray" in any context other than talking to God a sin? Hardly.

You'd be just as far from the mark if you were to mosey over to the Languages section and take folks to task for using phrases like "I worship the ground she walks on", admonishing them for using the word inappropriately. In fact, perhaps you should do so. There are many language specialists there who can explain to you, without religious bias, exactly how far off-base this is.

Or, you could give it a rest.

Answer 4

Worship...?

supreme honor and adoration (God) - latria
rendering veneration (saints) - dulia
special veneration (BVM) - hyperdulia

The word worship in sacred scripture as well as ancient profane writings an external reverence, a low bow,external honor (Gen.23:7; 27:29; 37:7; III kings 1:16).Not latria.

Veneration of saints relics -
Moses filled with reverence took the bones of the patriarch Joseph and carried the bones (relics) with him to the promised land where they were finally preserved (Ex.13:19; Ecclus. 49:18).Eliseus divided the waters of the Jordan with the mantle of Elias (IV Kings 2:14).
By touching Eliseus' bones a man came to life (IV kings 13:21).The woman in faith touched the hem of His(Christ) garment was healed (Mt.9:20).All kinds of diseases were cured by St.Peter's shadow and St.Paul's handkerchief (Acts 5:15; 19:12).

Graven Image ???
God did not forbid the making of images,Moses himself by God's command placed the image of two cherubs on the ark of the covenant (Ex.25:18) facing eachother;he also erected a brazen serpent of the same command which for many centuries was reverently preserved (Num.21:8),...

The walls and doors of Solomon's temple were decorated with many figures and carvings(images),and God himself solemnly consecrated the temple (III kings 6:29).

I wonder what people take as catholic history and teachings as oppose to the truth...?

Answer 5

Worship in early modern English meant any form of respect or honor and not just adoration,the giving of divine honors.
British judges are still called "Your Worship"

The worship of adoration given to anyone or thing other than God is condemned by the Catholic Church as gravely sinful, which anyone who reads the Catechism of the Catholic Church knows.Did you get your own copy of the CCC yet or read it online?

Is any respect or honor or veneration given to one's parents,country, teachers or elders the worship of adoration?

Is saluting a flag idolatrous worship? How about putting photos of family members in positions of honor/veneration in one's home?

Answer 6

Some people need tangible items in order to worship. Especially if they were raised in tradition and orthodoxy.
The Bible warns about idol worship and needless chants.
But that's between them and God. I can't be judgmental about how one worships.

Answer 7

It's best to call a spade a spade. 'Shovel' is understood in some parts of the country better, but getting into a semantics wrangle is tedious. Show me that metal object with a wooden handle that you stick into the ground, press on with a foot, then lift up with clods of earth/grass on it, and I'll call it a spade.

Show me a person on their knees in front of a religious object, praying (either with or without their eyes looking at the object) and I'll call that worship. I've got a very down-to-earth view on what constitutes worship. Only God (or gods if you're a polytheist) receives worship. Judges receive honor. Spouses receive respect. Parents receive obedience. Yes, God can receive all those too but the one thing that makes him God is WORSHIP. Prayer is a form of worship. If I was locked in solitary confinement perhaps the only form of worship I could carry out would be prayer. To pray to anyone is to worship that one. To pray to Mary or any Saints is to worship because those ones are dead and the only way to communicate with anyone in heaven is to pray to them. And to pray to them whilst looking at a statue of them compounds the matter. Or are Catholics going to say Hindus kneeling before their millions of idols/gods, praying, aren't really worshipping at all? Latin doesn't come into it.

Answer 8

No, they are being respectful, but that is not worship in and of itself.

Answer 9

Where did you study Latin????

Sorry, but "veneratus" and "colere" are two totally different words and roots.