Know, beforehand, that I do not intend to offend anyone. I am only asking this to truly know more about the Catholic faith.
Question: Is it a sin to not have the Virgin Mary, the illustrations of the Biblical characters, the cross and, well, many other "things" that are considered sinful to Protestant Christians?
2007-12-29 11:51:38 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not sure I entirely understand your question, but I'll try to answer.
It is not a sin to not have these things. Most of the things that Protestants call 'sinful' are merely tools that Catholics use to enrich our/their faith. I had a Protestant tell me that they thought it would be hard to be Catholic, because there are so many restrictions. I see it the exact opposite way. There are so many opportunities to experience God in the Catholic Church, that it far surpasses any Protestant service I've ever attended.
I don't really know how you could not 'have' the Virgin Mary. There's nothing to have. She is our spiritual mother, and it is right to show devotion to her, just as Jesus did.
2007-12-29 12:13:29 · answer #1 · answered by zauberflote44 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Protestants don't consider illustrations or the cross to be sinful. However, they don't approve of the way Catholics pray to the saints. On the other hand, Catholics distinguish between worship of God and veneration of the saints. To them it's a different thing.
2007-12-29 12:34:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Membership in the Militia means complete dedication to the Kingdom of God and to the salvation of souls through Mary Immaculate." -Pope John Paul II
"We have an advocate in Mary that the father, Son, and Holy Spirit cannot say no to. It is impossible for them to say no to her! -Fr. Stephan Scheier
Pope John Paull II has 'dedicated himself and his Pontificate to Our Lady.' He bears the letter "M" for Mary in his coat of arms. And his personal motto, which is embroidered on the side of his robes in Latin is the following: "TOTUS TUUS SUM MARIA", which in English translates to: "MARY, I'M ALL YOURS."
For those that think the "Totus Tuus Sum Maria" is a fictitious proclamation of Pope John Paul II, see this excerpt from a Los Angeles Times News Article.
"By awarding the Virgin a central place in the cathedral's narrative, the archdiocese is keeping faith with a long, if fluctuating, Catholic and Orthodox tradition of devotion to Our Lady, a tradition enjoying a resurgence under Pope John Paul II. (The pope's personal motto, "Totus tuus sum, Maria," or "I am all yours, Mary," reflects his belief that the Virgin intervened to save his life from an assassin's bullet in 1981 so that he could help defeat European communism.)"
2007-12-29 12:19:02 · answer #3 · answered by Big R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If these things are not sinful for Catholics, they are not sinful for ANYONE.
2007-12-31 02:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, in fact the sin is HAVING these items.
2007-12-29 11:58:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Huh? I don't understand the question.
2007-12-29 11:56:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋