OK, Catholics, let's settle this (for today, at least): Who do we worship?

Question

There have been a lot of feverishly repetitive posts lately asking why we "worship" Mary, the saints, and even the Pope (?). Truthful answers given have resulted in blocking the answerers ... the old childish game. So obviously the questions are rhetorical and insincere.

As one of those "honored" to be blocked by one fired-up questioner, I'd like to provide the opportunity for actual discussion that blocking tends to stifle.

Yes, I know ... this isn't the first time by a long shot. But new folks show up every day. So would any Catholics care to explain once again to those with granite craniums exactly WHO we worship -- as opposed to what it "looks like" to non-Catholics?

Of course, since this is (supposed to be) an open forum, anyone else is free to post their opinions too.

Many thanks to the first two answers for a much-needed laugh ...

Oh, DUH 2, don't stop there -- do explain latria, dulia, and hyperdulia, would you?

Answer 1

“There are several degrees of worship:

* if it is addressed directly to God, it is superior, absolute, supreme worship, or worship of adoration, or, according to the consecrated theological term, a worship of latria. This sovereign worship is due to God alone; addressed to a creature it would become idolatry.
* When worship is addressed only indirectly to God, that is, when its object is the veneration of martyrs, of angels, or of saints, it is a subordinate worship dependent on the first, and relative, in so far as it honours the creatures of God for their peculiar relations with Him; it is designated by theologians as the worship of dulia, a term denoting servitude, and implying, when used to signify our worship of distinguished servants of God, that their service to Him is their title to our veneration (cf. Chollet, loc. cit., col. 2407, and Bouquillon, Tractatus de virtute religionis, I, Bruges, 1880, 22 sq.).
* As the Blessed Virgin has a separate and absolutely supereminent rank among the saints, the worship paid to her is called hyperdulia (for the meaning and history of these terms see Suicer, Thesaurus ecclesiasticus, 1728).”

I do not know why some are opposed to this definition as it clearly states that the worship is Christocentric but allow me to try to explain it further.

Throughout history the Church has given special honor to the Blessed Mother. The definition is an attempt to differentiate the differences in the way the blessed mother is venerated and the other Saints with the adoration we as Catholics have for the incarnate Word of God, the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Saints are revered with “dulia” which is human reverence and devotion given because of their intercession on behalf of us and is very similar to the reverence given to friends who pray for us in times of need.

The mother of God receives hyperdulia which is also human reverence and devotion but with a deeper respect for her closeness to her son in intercession for our prayers. All prayer, whether it comes from a saint or from the blessed mother on our behalf, is totally and absolutely dependent on Christ.

What one should try to understand is that Catholic devotion to the blessed mother does not take away from our adoration of Christ but instead gives our adoration a better focus. This is not like idol worship which changes one’s focus from the true God but through imitation of her devotion we are focused on Him. Every saint by their life spent in devotion and service to God gives us encouragement and their prayers for us give us greater hope that we also will endure to final salvation as their example exemplifies.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph


JIM Petti,

In my more than 50 years as a Christian, 25 years as a Protestant minister and more than five years as a Catholic priest I have NEVER met anyone in the Church that thought a statue was God and worshipped it. Not even once!

Answer 2

It isn't that Catholics worship Mary, but they give the impression and appearance that they worship Mary. When a person sees the Pope kneel down on live television before a statue of Mary and spend time in prayer, that is a very strong impression that leads me to believe that he is, indeed, worshiping Mary. I know and recognize that Catholics do _not_ worship Mary, but the appearance that they do is hard to overcome. And that is why it is very easy to make a statement that Roman Catholics worship Mary. If the Catholics were smart, they would not express their religion is such a deceptive manner (and it is deceiving, otherwise, why would I make the statement that it sure looks like worship to me?). TDs expected from the Catholics Added: It doesn't matter what you asked for (and no, I don't know of any place in the Catechism where it says that Catholics are to worship Mary). I'm still left with that impression from observation.

Answer 3

For the billionth time, we worship God and God alone. I don't understand why people feel that we would HIDE it...if that was what we actually did. We fully believe, whole heart and soul, that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ. If we say AMEN to that, which translates to, I would BET MY LIFE that it is, in fact, the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, do you think we would be scared to say that we worshipped Mary, the Saints, or the Pope??? (if that were, in fact, the truth...but its not)

It is a bit malicious to keep spreading lies either knowingly or through ignorance. I don't claim to know more about Judiasm or Islam than a Jew or a Muslim, respectively, so it would be greatly appreciated if Christians who have questions about their Catholic Christian brothers and sisters, could actually just ask them, and accept their answers for what they are without mangling them.

I don't want to say that ALL other Christians do this. I have come in contact with many kind and open Christians and non Christians, who honestly ask about our faith w/o their preconcieved notions, and are actually not closed-minded. Then on the other hand, are those who want to take every opportunity to say "Catholics are not saved Christians, they follow a false Gospel which will lead to hell.." or something along those lines. I don't really think Christ ever instructed us to walk around condemning others. He taught us to love one another, and that is definitely not an act of love.

Anyway, why is everybody SO concerned with whether or not we worship Mary, the Saints, and the Pope? We don't! Everyone should be MORE concerned about the false gods that this entire world has been worshipping over God for so long now...namely: money, sex, and power. We could do a lot more good if we actually united with one another, like the brothers and sisters in Christ that we are, and helped those who are truly worshipping the false gods this world encourages us to do, rather than dwelling on a false concept of Catholics worshipping others asides from God, that SIMPLY JUST DOES NOT EXIST.

Thank you for posting this question and answer!!! May God Bless you and keep you.

Answer 4

Interesting email conversation I had today could give another perspective to this question ....
War going on - family member of mine suggested maybe virulent electronic communications are being propogated more today than other days to distract us from what is going on in the news?
I mean COME ON! How silly is it to suggest Catholics don't worship God or to suggest Catholics idolize (like non-Catholic Christians don't? that's me being sarcastic...)
um thought processing goes on from there -- and on and on --
But my point is -- I think the "feverishly repetitive posts" need to be reported as spam or something because I really think there's a strong case for arguing them to be propaganda.

:)

p.s. -- Kurt's network is "private" and I can see for your own network, BAC, that he's asked at least one question two times maybe more....
I propose we start a movement and if we answer anyone with a "private" network at all, it will be simply to say they are suspicious because they are very apparently hiding something. I really thing "we" are being infiltrated and this would be a good way to fight back.

p.p.s. I totally DIG on Raven's sarcasm LOL ROFL!! :)

Answer 5

We adore only God and we give only God divine honors. We venerate or honor(as in Honor your father and mother) the other members of the Body of Christ and show them respect ,especially the heroes of the faith who have give such example and are still prayer-partners with us even though they have gone on to union with God in the promised fulfillment. Honor in Greek 'time' or "duleia" is respect ,veneration or ,tribute is given to the Heavenly saints (and in a sense to all members of the body)and hyperduleia is given to our mother Mary since she is the Mother of our Family and the greatest of God's Servants. We invoke the saints as our prayer-partners for God is the God of the Living and the saints like Moses are alive in God

Latreia or adoration is given only to the Trinity and the Church has always condemned idolatry which is giving latria to a creature,any creature

Answer 6

We worship God, his Holy Word, Jesus Christ and the Spirit. We venerate those who are saints and Mary, who is considered the mother of all saints and Christians, due to Christ making this clear when hanging on the Cross for you and I.
Those who say differently is because of ignorance, those who say they used ot be Catholic and say differently they weren't, at least enough to truly know their faith, and those who could care less, pray for them, for they have never been, nor will they be exposed to such a beautiful relationship than that which can only be acheived with true love as its foundation, God bless us all.

Answer 7

God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Answer 8

We worship the triune God of the Blessed Trinity: God the Father; Jesus Christ, also known as God the Son; and the Holy Spirit, also known as God the Spirit. Three in One, and no others.

Answer 9

I'm a convert to Catholicism. Before I was Catholic, I too believed the lies about Catholicism. When I was about 18 I asked a Catholic acquaintance of mine if Catholics worshiped idols...he thought about it for a second and then said..."yes, I guess we do." I figured that was the truth...I mean I'd heard it from a Catholic right?

Well, fast forward 30 years and I find myself Catholic and now know that he was dead wrong. But a big problem, as one of the answers on here proves, is Catholics who do not know their faith. They are nominal in their commitment to God and to the Church. They do not know how to answer protestant questions and are absolutely defenseless against the attack of Bible fundamentalists.

So, for any of you who care to really know that truth, you must hear it from someone who KNOWS the Catholic faith and practices it. Not just someone born Catholic.

We worship God as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He alone is due worship. We are saved by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. We do not worship the Pope...nor do we believe he is infallible as a human being. Even as Pope, we do not believe that every word he utters is infallible either. We believe that when he speaks on faith and morals, by his office (the office established by Christ) he is prevented from erring by the Holy Spirit.

It's funny, fundamentalists believe that they are preserved from erring in their Biblical interpretations by the Holy Spirit but find it impossible to believe the Holy Spirit capable of doing the same for anyone Catholic.

Answer 10

Mostly God.

But on Mondays I worship a wooden St. Francis statue and on Fridays I worship a porcelain Mary statue. I pray mostly to the wood because it answers prayers better than porcelain does.

edit: wow, I presume from all the thumbs down that this answer went way over several people's heads. But for those who need things a bit simplified, my answer was completely facetious.