Catholics, is Mary for people who are afraid to approach Jesus directly?

Question

This is a followup to my last question, based one one of the answers that was given. I cited the Salve Regina and asked why we need Mary's mercy. One answer said, in part:

"The fear of God's severe judgment, the fear of Jesus as a mighty figure sitting at God's right hand, has led people to flee (figuratively) to Mary as one who is all mercy and has nothing of judgment within her. It's just like a child running to his mother when he fears his father might whip him."

The thing is, I can't accept this notion, and I cannot believe that the Catholic Church would endorse it. Jesus' incarnation was an act of mercy, and Mary as the Mother of God points us to that mercy and kindness. Mary wants us to see Jesus in those terms; and she is, I think, saddened by the idea that some would come to her because they are afraid to go to her Son directly.

What say you?


The question I'm referring to is here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AktmNrZwJ2vEuODABBZJo13ty6IX;_

Anti-Catholic answers are not welcome here. Please stick to a thoughtful analysis of the question I am asking. Thanks.

Answer 1

I don't accept it, either, but I can see how some would feel that way. It is not what we are taught, if our catechesis has any substance to it (though the doctrinal soundness of such varies widely, unfortunately). Individual motives based on emotions aren't something the Church can control, though.

I do know that many people are intimidated by God the Father and are grateful that they can peek at Him, figuratively speaking, from behind the Son's robe. But this is quite another thing.

Devotion to Mary sometimes develops the habit of turning to her first, but it also should develop a deeper relationship with and love of her Son because that's always where she points us. However, if someone is whispering in her ear (so to speak) with the intention "please pass this on to your Son" not acknowledging that all prayer ascends to Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- or takes it to the extent of relying exclusively on Mary -- there's some gentle correction needed by those who teach the faith.

Answer 2

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Jesus is the One and necessary Mediator and that thereis no meriton man'spart( including Mary) in God's sight(para2007-80 for Jesus infinite merits are all-sufficient,complete and perfect.

The Salve Regina,although a venerable liturgical hymn,is just a liturgical hymn and not a dogmatic constitution orinfallible pronouncement.
Many liturgical pieces( the Byzantine Akathist comes to mind) contain"poetic exaggeration and can be less than theologically precise.
When translated into the vernacular , the Salve could be put into the genitive(" Mother of mercy,of Life ,of sweetness and of Hope" which would mean Jesus).
Part of "ecclesia semper reformanda' (ever reforming Church) is the examination of liturgical and popular prayer texts that they may communicate what they are supposed to express.

Jesus is God and Man and the perfection of Mercy(as shown in the Catholic devotions of Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart) and Mary is not the incarnation of God. All my trust is in the Trinity and especially in Jesus,God Incarnate.I do go directly to Jesus and Ido go directly to the Father through jesus in the Spirit,but i also go directly to Jesus through the whole Body of Christ, the heavenly Church as well as the Earthly.

The Church does not teach that mary is more merciful than jesus for only God is infinitely merciful.. You are right that the Church does not want people to be afraid of Jesus and "avoid'going directly to Him.

Some people project their family experiences in which the mother is often kinderand more merciful than any male "power figure".

Jesus is the Lord and Judge but He is also infinitely all-Just,All-Merciful and All-Good. God is Love.

Answer 3

Sorry I couldn't read your original question as the URL is no longer valid (at least that's what the message said when I clicked on it). Anyway you are correct in your assumption (AND HOPE) that the Catholic Church does NOT endorse the idea of turning to Mary because one is afraid of going to Jesus Himself. The very Sacrament of Reconcilliation (confession) is based on going to Jesus and asking for forgiveness of our sins. Mary is venerated as the Mother of God (Jesus). Catholics turn to her for help in certain matters as we do the saints. As we ask our friends in this world for help we also ask Jesus himself. But also as in this world doesn't the matter get a wee bit more attention if we also ask the Mother of our friend, and other mutual friends to mention it to them! There have been visitations of Mary to this world (ie. Lourdes, Fatima, Guatalupe, etc.) so it is clear that She is taking a personal interest in our (mankinds') well being on behalf of Her Son, so isn't it also then logical to believe that She would also intercede for us to Her Son?

Answer 4

I never understood the problems that Protestants have with Mary -- until I realized that they think that Catholics pray to Mary and the saints. When I've pointed out to them that Catholics do not pray to them -- but ask Mary and the saints to pray for them -- I get a response like "Oh -- we pray directly to God ourselves."

My response to that (and to you regarding the fear of God's judgment) is that Catholics also pray directly to God. I then ask them if they ever asked a mother, friend or grand-parent to pray for them. They always say "Yes." I then ask why it is OK to ask your own mother to pray for you -- but not to ask the mother of Jesus to pray for you. They are usually dumbfounded at that point.

Answer 5

Holy Mary mother of God is a great blessing given to a person who lived and died. There is no reason in the given in the Bible to pray to her or any other DEAD person Only Jesus and the Father. And we are to ask for things in Jesus's name

Answer 6

i reject this notion aswell, it is not Catholic, just remember that there are people who claim to be Catholic who are not informed in Catholicism, the same can be applied to all people who claim to be christian and are christian only by name. the person may have been tongue tied so to speak and misrepresented what they intended to say. the blessed mother brings us to christ, she doesn't serve to keep us from him in any way.

for those who read the catholic book, hte bible wrongly here is the scriptural basis from our book to help you out.
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/

you don't have to like what you read but atleast take time to see where from scripture the catholic church gets what it believes from its own book.

Answer 7

It has to be considered, and I believe rightly so, that praying to Mary is showing a complete lack of trust in God, in whom we are supposed to trust in.

There is no righteousness in Mary to be given, but only through Jesus Christ may one claim the propitiation for sin.

This is true in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

I think that what you are saying about the sadness of Mary to be true. Jesus said that Moses himself would accuse the unbelieving Jews, and I believe it to be the same for Mary, who was taken in error to be in a position to intercede for those who would use her in a place where only God can be.

Answer 8

yes. although i can't for the life of me find this doctrine of the church anywhere in the Bible!

i though it was Jesus who said "I am the way, truth, and life. Nobody comes to the Father except through *me*"!

He also said things like "come to me everyone who's weary and weighed down, and i will give you rest... my [backpack]'s easy and my burden is lite". He constantly asks us in the Bible to come to Him, and says he's gentle, and demonstrates He's loving and will directly forgive our sins if we ask Him!

Doesn't at all seem like the Jesus our Church tries to convice us is real.

I suggest you read a Bible. Apparently the King James Version is the best for this kind of study.

Answer 9

Nope.
Mary was for the mother of God.

Answer 10

no.

mary is there as a surrogate for a goddess figure, present in the pagan roots from which christianity sprang


EDIT one of the problems of this forum seems to be that it is ok to claim the bible as historical fact yet somehow illegal to place it in a philosophical and historical context with other systens of belief; it is disappointing in the extreme that religion seems to encourage a belief that one's faith sprang from some magical instant with no historical precursors