Why do Catholics say that they don't elevate Mary to God-like status?

Question

When everything they do contradicts this, they even have a repetetive prayer to Mary. My question to you Catholics is what stops you from praying to Jesus our savior and mediator ? (honest question) Be blessed

yeah, that is great that you acknowledge God but, Mary can't do nothing for your salvation. Remember God said you can't have two Gods.

Answer 1

i really dont know cant answer that sorry....but i dont pray to mary cuz she's ok she was a virgin but she just gave birth to jesus and well God and Jesus are the ones that could forgive us and give us entrnal life not mary....

Answer 2

we only adore God. We give due honor to Mary as the mother

of God. Luke 1:31-51. Jesus himself Honor his mother

Matt !9:19. The rosary which u claim as arepetitive prayer

is actually a meditation of the Holy Gospel. Jesus himself

pray repetitively Matt. 26:44 Psalm 136 is also a good

example of a repetitive prayer. We never stop praying to

Jesus. It is an excellent idea to ask for the Blessed Virgin

Mary intercession. Remember James 5:16 the prayer

of a righteous person. Mary surely occupy this honor

being the mother of God. Even protestants have prayer

partner so why not just go directly to Jesus. He already
knows what u want.

Answer 3

You said "yeah, that is great that you acknowledge God but, Mary can't do nothing for your salvation. Remember God said you can't have two Gods." Of course you can't have two Gods, which is why it is silly to even suggest that Mary has been elevated to a "God-like status." IT just isn't true. If you want to post examples of how you think it is being done, then please do so. The thing about the "Hail Mary" is that it is derived from Scripture, I'm assuming that you don't oppose Scripture. The prayer itself is brings us to focus on the wonders of God. Why do you object to that?

There are plenty examples of praying directly to Jesus. Just go to a Mass some time, or Eucharistic adoration. You are quite mistaken if you think that Catholics don't pray directly to Jesus, the Father or the Holy Spirit.

Answer 4

"Why do Catholics say that they don't elevate Mary to God-like status?"
I'm guessing that the main reason is that it's because they *don't* (officially, I can't speak for individuals) elevate her to a god-like status.

"When everything they do contradicts this"
Actually, they teach that Mary is *not* to be worshiped. Why make a false statement?

"they even have a repetetive prayer to Mary"
Several, actually. Have you ever *read* these prayers? They ask for Mary's intercession with God. The most common, the "Hail Mary", asks Mary for only 1 thing: "Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death". Now, I don't know about *you*, but when I pray to God, I don't ask him to pray for me.

"My question to you Catholics is what stops you from praying to Jesus our savior and mediator ?"
I'm not Catholic, but (of course) the answer is "nothing whatsoever". Perhaps you should review some of those other Catholic prayers and see for yourself.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis. com/wheel/

Answer 5

The whole Mary question was a major hurdle for me in my journey from being a committed, active evangelical to entering full communion with the Catholic Church. As a Protestant, I think I tended to notice the excesses and the rather superstitious way in which many Catholics approached their religiosity, and this was a big turn-off. The whole Mary thing did indeed appear to be idolatrous, what with all the statuary and parades with people carrying her image aloft. But I finally was able to meet courteous and thoughtful Catholics who loved the Scriptures, recognized Jesus as the only mediator and savior - and who also had a rich devotion to His mother - loving her as He does, seeing in her an example of earthly humility and obedience and endurance through suffering that is admirable. When a Protestant, I often asked others to pray for me. Quite normal. Asking the Lord's mother to pray for us is pretty much the same thing, though she has particular influence. This is even completely Biblical - In First Kings, chapter two, you'll find the story of someone wanting to make a request to King Solomon, but the man chooses to ask the Queen Mother, Bathsheba, to present the request on his behalf, knowing "the king will not refuse you anything." Sure enough, when she enters the royal court to present the request, Solomon honors her greatly and pays special attention to the request she has brought to him. Bathsheba even has a throne beside her royal son's throne. Catholics see this as a 'type' that describes the royal relationship of Mary and Christ in the new Israel, the new Kingdom. Someone has already mentioned the Cana episode, so I won't repeat it. Good Catholics listen to their mother when she says, as at Cana, "Do whatever He tells you to do." Surely Jesus loves his mother, in complete fulfilment of the command to 'honor your mother and father.' If He loves and honors her, it is fitting that we do, also. It pleases Christ, her son, when we do.

Answer 6

Are you asking a question, or making a statement?

Don't be a garden variety heretic, please. Be nice.

Most of the ancient Christian churches (which include Roman Catholics) ascribe to the Blessed Mother a special devotion for her interest in assisting the lowly and those in great need. As the mother of Christ, Mary was seen at several points in the Bible interceding with her son, (the wedding feast at Cana, most notably) who's first inclination was to not assist some persons who's needs were not life-threatening, but were quality-of-life issues.

The repetitive prayers(the rosary) are specifically aimed at bringing the reciter's mind to a contemplative state, allowing the conscious mind to wander, and to allow greater understanding of some of the central mysteries of Christianity, as well as bringing about a state of mind that allows the person praying to better address the issues in which they ask for intercession. The rosary guides the thoughts of the person praying to use Mary's example of selfless giving as a means to evaluate their own perception of the divine mysteries. This is a great example of the old axiom "God helps those who help themselves."

The one thing we never, EVER do, is elevate Mary to anything approaching a God-like status. We pray to Jesus in the same fashion you do. One of the most saddening things to me is how little theological understanding and sometimes, respect, many Protestants have towards their parent faith. So many good things got lost in the Reformation as part of the price of revolution.

Answer 7

All of Catholic worship is centered around Jesus in the Holy Eucharist at Mass, where he is celebrated as our mediator, high priest, perfect sacrifice, and sovereign God.

What others fail to understand is that Jesus intends to bless and reward all who cooperate with his will, the very same way he has already rewarded his mom.

All those who successfully overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, according to God's grace, will rule and reign with him.

Mary already does.

Gabriel clearly explained her specific role when he asked her to be Jesus' mom. Look it up in the gospel of Luke.

Luk 1:31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
Luk 1:33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Anyone with any sense at all can tell from the passage above that Mary would henceforth be the queen mother of the royal House of David, and the queen mother of her son's heavenly kingdom as well.

Mary is the mother of the most high God. That position is not a divine one, but it does signify a "rank" that is even higher than that of the angels.

It's time you guys finally figured this out, so we don't have to keep wasting everyone's time.

Answer 8

Please get yourself a copy of the Catechism of the catholic Church at your bookstore or on the net and read what the Church actually teaches about Mary and the insistence of the catholic Church that man only has one mediator,Jesus, who alone is God and man. We haonor and ask Mary to pray fro and with us but giving her or any saint divine honors is forbidden as gravely sinful.

I do pray to Jesus as the One Mediator,One Priest, One Sacrifice, One Savior,One Redeemer and One Hope.

Answer 9

I don't know what might make anyone think that Catholics elevate Mary to "God-like" status . . .

American schools and government institutions have statues and pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Their portraits are displayed prominently in our federal buildings such as the White House and the Capitol, and there is even a building reminiscent of a Greek Temple containing an immense statue of Lincoln. For Washington, there is dedicated an immense obelisk, and by law, no structure in the Nation's Capital may exceed it in height. These men's pictures appear on our currency, and we have national holidays in memory of their birthdays.

Do we "worship" Washington and Lincoln?

No, of course not.

Nor do Catholics worship Mary, either.

Among Mary's first words in Sacred Scripture were, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your (the angel's) word."

Handmaid.

Servant.

We honor Mary because she is a mere human creature like us who represents the best of what it means to be an absolute world-class servant of God. World class in fidelity. World class in devotion. World class in faith. We aspire to imitate her in her human servanthood.

No servant is the equal of his master. The creature and servant Mary could never be considered the equal of the Divine Creator

Mary, the loyal daughter of the Almighty would recoil in horror if anyone offered to her the worship due to God alone. She would quickly whisper to such a person, "you are making a mistake. Worship of that sort is due to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, alone. Please don't forget that."

It is said among Catholics that "if you want to draw closer to Jesus, approach His mother. She knows how to lead you to Him."

Answer 10

It is not us Catholics who elevate Mary, it is Jesus Christ Himself who does this. Mary is who she is BECAUSE OF Jesus, not in spite of Him:

Mary is our Mother and Queen of the New Davidic Kingdom
John 19:26 - Jesus makes Mary the Mother of us all as He dies on the Cross by saying "behold your mother." Jesus did not say "John, behold your mother" because he gave Mary to all of us, his beloved disciples. All the words that Jesus spoke on Cross had a divine purpose. Jesus was not just telling John to take care of his mother.

Rev. 12:17 - this verse proves the meaning of John 19:26. The "woman's" (Mary's) offspring are those who follow Jesus. She is our Mother and we are her offspring in Jesus Christ. The master plan of God's covenant love for us is family. But we cannot be a complete family with the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Christ without the Motherhood of Mary.

John 2:3 - this is a very signifcant verse in Scripture. As our mother, Mary tells all of us to do whatever Jesus tells us. Further, Mary's intercession at the marriage feast in Cana triggers Jesus' ministry and a foreshadowing of the Eucharistic celebration of the Lamb. This celebration unites all believers into one famiy through the marriage of divinity and humanity.

John 2:7 - Jesus allows His mother to intercede for the people on His behalf, and responds to His mother's request by ordering the servants to fill the jars with water.

Psalm 45:9 - the psalmist teaches that the Queen stands at the right hand of God. The role of the Queen is important in God's kingdom. Mary the Queen of heaven is at the right hand of the Son of God.

1 Kings 2:17, 20 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom, the King does not refuse his mother. Jesus is the new Davidic King, and He does not refuse the requests of his mother Mary, the Queen.

1 Kings 2:18 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom, the Queen intercedes on behalf of the King's followers. She is the Queen Mother (or "Gebirah"). Mary is our eternal Gebirah.

1 Kings 2:19 - in the Old Testament Davidic kingdom the King bows down to his mother and she sits at his right hand. We, as children of the New Covenant, should imitate our King and pay the same homage to Mary our Mother. By honoring Mary, we honor our King, Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 15:13 - the Queen Mother is a powerful position in Israel's royal monarchy. Here the Queen is removed from office. But now, the Davidic kingdom is perfected by Jesus, and our Mother Mary is forever at His right hand.

2 Chron. 22:10 - here Queen Mother Athalia destroys the royal family of Judah after she sees her son, King Ahaziah, dead. The Queen mother plays a significant role in the kingdom.

Neh. 2:6 - the Queen Mother sits beside the King. She is the primary intercessor before the King.