I don't understand what the big fuss is. In my personal devotion life, praying to Mary or the saints is a very small part of it. IT IS NOT MANDATORY FOR CATHOLICS, IT IS DEVOTIONAL. I like to talk to Mary because it's a lot like talking to my mom, it's comforting and she answers my prayers. All Mary wants is to draw me closer to Jesus and how some people call this Mary worship is just bigotry and ignorance. Who knows Jesus better than His own mother??? As for saints, yes, I have 2 favorites, but its not worship. True worship is partaking of the Eucharist, just like in the Bible and just like the early church which is the same as it is today. Getting back to my favorite saints:
St. Francis of Assisi: come on, how can anybody not love St. Francis? Oh, he's dead some say. Really? Maybe they never read his fascinating story, how he was called directly by God to rebuild the church, his humbleness, his deep walk with God. His life in Christ was exemplary. It's not so much prayers to him, but the prayers he left for us:
Blessing
May the Lord bless you
and keep you;
may the Lord show his face to you
and have compassion on you!
May he turn his face to you
and give you peace!
Amen.
Prayer for Pets
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[TD]Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is a wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of yours.
They have trust in us as we have trust in You; We are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have.
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( Here mention the names of the animals needing prayer )
Your goodness is turned upon every living thing and Your grace flows to all Your creatures. Grant to our special animal companions long and healthy lives. Give them good relationships with and if You see fit to take them from us, help us to understand that they are not gone from us, but only drawing closer to You. Grant our petitions through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi, who honored You through all Your creatures.
Is the sovereignty of God acknowledged?
Prayers to saints that compete with or supplant prayers directly to God is a Protestant myth.
My second favorite saint is St. Dymphna (demp-na). She is the patroness of mental/psychiatric disorders. In a nutshell, her Catholic mother died and her pagan father, a pagan chief, wanted to marry her. Incest was acceptable in 7th century pagan Ireland. She ran away and he found her and cut off her head. Many healings occur at her burial site: epilepsy, depression, demon possession, etc. A more complete story is here:
A Brief Story of St. Dymphna,
Patron of Victims of Nervous Disorders*
Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.
A minority of Christians (<25%) don't accept the doctrine of the Intercession of the Saints. Generally, they leave Catholics alone. An even smaller minority make a big fuss about nothing. Here is one more prayer to a saint...an angel actually:
PrayerTo Saint Michael
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him,we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
There is nothing wrong with this one either.
