I went to my beloved bro- in- law's funeral this week, and it was my first time at a Catholic funeral. I noticed that all reverance was paid to the Mother Mary, in all prayers and symbolism, and statues to her likeness were abundant in the Catholic church. I was raised to render the son Jesus, as my only saviour. What is their basis on the all praises, going to the Mother Mary, rather than the Son?

 

Truthfully? ................. Im probablly giong to get hammered for this. Mary needed a savior too. There is absolutely no need to pray to her. Yes she was blessed but that is as far as it goes. As far as their basis I havent the foggiest. Personally I think its demonic.

 

Sorry to hear of your loss Greg.

 

My sympathy also, Greg.

I'm no expert on it, but I think that and other minor things are what caused the protestant churches to be born about 500? years ago. I'm protestant, but I have no problem with Catholics, I think they are saved people.

marc

 

I think think they pray to idols ,not god.

 

No Catholics do not pray to idols....

The Church absolutely recognizes and condemns the sin of idolatry. What anti-Catholics fail to recognize is the distinction between thinking a piece of stone or plaster is a god and desiring to visually remember Christ and the saints in heaven by making statues in their honor. The making and use of religious statues is a thoroughly biblical practice. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know his Bible.

 

Although raised in that tradition, I am not a Catholic, but this passage from Luke might give some indication why Catholics (and all Christians) hold Mary in such high regard:

LK 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

LK 1:29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

LK 1:34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

LK 1:35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."

LK 1:38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Like all Christians, Catholics believe Mary to be the birth mother of Jesus, impregnated by the Holy Spirit in some miraculous way. When added to the long-held Catholic belief that you, I, and the dearly departed saints (which includes all those departed who are saved in Christ) can pray for the souls of the dead, I believe Catholics hope the Virgin Mary will "put in a good word for them".

I don't believe they think that salvation can come from this, the Gospels are clear in this department, I see it as rather harmless and far from demonic. Calling this practice demonic sounds like you're saying Mary is some sort of demon, and I don't think that's what you mean. If I were looking for Catholic theological beliefs to criticize, there would be better ones. But I don't even want to do that, they are my brothers and sisters in Christ, although I may not agree with all of their beliefs.

 

I'm with you Kraken, no where in my Bible does it tell me to pray to dead people, which would include Mother Mary and all the saints. I have also read the apocrypha and I didn't find it in there either. The Bible is quite clear on how to pray and even gives us a model prayer that has Mary's name in it nowhere. The Bible is also quite clear on carved images. I will do a search and provide the verses if any one wants to know. That being said we are all still brothers and love is supposed to overcome all boundrys.

 

Great explanation, willowbilly3!

Also Jesus knew that she would one day become too lofty and reminded her she was just a woman.
John 2 : 4 "Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour has not yet come."
John 19 : 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith to his mother, "Woman, behold thy son!"

 

I'm really sorry about your loss Greg 79 f150.

I can't imagine losing a young (relatively?) family member like that.

Waxy

 

Mod Delete

 

Sorry to hear of your loss, Greg. Follow what helps you heal, that's all that really matters.

 

Thanks, all for the kind words. My bro- in - law- was a model for most men I would say. Husband , Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather. He was 74, had throat cancer at 60, open heart surgery at 65, declined another open heart offer at 72, he said he was tired of the pain and prolonging. He was at peace with God, and knew it. I never talked about his religion with him, in our neck of the woods, one just doesnt speak of a mans religion or huntin' dog with questions of validity. I see from the post's Mother Mary is revered as a "intercessor" I suppose, and thats cool. I am sort of fasinated by all the different interpretations derived from the Bible. It makes for some mind provoking thoughts for sure.

 

Sorry for your loss Greg. You brother-in-law sounds like he was quite a man. You should be proud to have known him.

I was raised Catholic and am currently not associated with any "organized" religion, although I have studied many including some lesser known and some of the eastern beliefs. I could really get started about some of the sentiments in earlier posting regarding Catholic practices but in reverance to Greg's brother-in-law I would prefer to not start a discussion that would take from his memory.

I am sure there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss our spiritual beliefs sometime in this forum, in a respectful and civilized manner, of course.

 

When i attened the induction or whatever they call becoming a Catholic is,They all prayed to things other than god.I don't understand their religion,but I know my bible enough to know that isn't taught in the New Testament.I guess it depends on which bible an individual tends to follow.My understanding is Mary is an idol.IMHO.