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Hi. We only praise Jesus and God. We only ask Mary to pray for us.
The name thing is confusing, but what it is is that every time she appears to a lot of people, they name the apparition after that place where she appeared (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, etc..). It is like a new title is bestowed upon her every time she appears but it is always her only, no one else.
Thank you for asking.
The name thing is confusing, but what it is is that every time she appears to a lot of people, they name the apparition after that place where she appeared (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, etc..). It is like a new title is bestowed upon her every time she appears but it is always her only, no one else.
Thank you for asking.
T
I don't know any Catholic who thinks that each of these are different persons. Every Catholic I've ever met recognizes that "Our Lady of _____" refers to Mary. Referring to her as "our lady" or "Madonna" is simply a title of respect. We bestow great honor on the woman who said "yes" to God, because of what she did, and because of who she was.
Now, if you believe that those who have died are not resurrected currently (e.g., that everyone who dies is just dead, and the resurrection won't happen until the future, at the Apocalypse, for everyone), then you wouldn't want to ask Mary, or any of the saints, to pray for you, because they're dead. Catholics, however, believe that these people are not asleep, but in heaven with God.
When we say, "Hail Mary...pray for us" we are not praying TO Mary, but we are asking her to pray for us, the same way you would ask a friend to pray for you if you needed prayers.
Mary is just a little closer to Jesus, because (a) she's already in heaven with him, and (b) as his mother, he's more likely to listen to her. Catholics do NOT believe that we have to pray to the Saints and Mary instead of God. Catholics are completely capable of praying to God directly. But hey, when you're in trouble, don't you want as many people praying for you as possible?
Hope that helps.
Now, if you believe that those who have died are not resurrected currently (e.g., that everyone who dies is just dead, and the resurrection won't happen until the future, at the Apocalypse, for everyone), then you wouldn't want to ask Mary, or any of the saints, to pray for you, because they're dead. Catholics, however, believe that these people are not asleep, but in heaven with God.
When we say, "Hail Mary...pray for us" we are not praying TO Mary, but we are asking her to pray for us, the same way you would ask a friend to pray for you if you needed prayers.
Mary is just a little closer to Jesus, because (a) she's already in heaven with him, and (b) as his mother, he's more likely to listen to her. Catholics do NOT believe that we have to pray to the Saints and Mary instead of God. Catholics are completely capable of praying to God directly. But hey, when you're in trouble, don't you want as many people praying for you as possible?
Hope that helps.
T
You are welcome to give your opinion, as long as it's okay for others to give their opinions, too.
You seem to be implying that Catholics do not follow the Word of God. This is not true. In fact, in the average Catholic worship service, more Scripture is read than at the average evangelical worship service.
You seem to be implying that Catholics do not follow the Word of God. This is not true. In fact, in the average Catholic worship service, more Scripture is read than at the average evangelical worship service.
T
Do you want my opinion, or do you want The Church's Teaching?
The Catholic Church teaches that Scripture is the Word of God. I happen to agree. What is your opinion on it?
Yes.
Trust them to what? I took a course in comparative religions from a secular teacher (at a secular college), and the teacher was very knowledgeable about the topic. Yes, I trusted what he said about other religions, and how they compared to Christianity, even though he didn't believe. Why wouldn't I?
When it comes to God, I don't trust anyone else but God. I don't care if they have Scripture or not. I don't need anyone else to tell me what my heart already knows. I will listen to others, and weigh what they say against what I know is true. "Trust" them?
Again, I have to ask, trust them to what?
The Catholic Church teaches that Scripture is the Word of God. I happen to agree. What is your opinion on it?
Yes.
Trust them to what? I took a course in comparative religions from a secular teacher (at a secular college), and the teacher was very knowledgeable about the topic. Yes, I trusted what he said about other religions, and how they compared to Christianity, even though he didn't believe. Why wouldn't I?
When it comes to God, I don't trust anyone else but God. I don't care if they have Scripture or not. I don't need anyone else to tell me what my heart already knows. I will listen to others, and weigh what they say against what I know is true. "Trust" them?
Again, I have to ask, trust them to what?
The Virgin Mary == the Virgin of Fatima == the Virgin of Guadalupe.
All three are appearances from God of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. And seeing as Jesus == the King of Kings, it is proper to recognize her as having been granted the title by virtue of her Son's position of queen mother. And as her Son (Jesus) is the King of Heaven, she is naturally the Queen of Heaven. Not because she is divine, in fact, not through anything she did, but through the grace and love of her Son.
All three are appearances from God of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. And seeing as Jesus == the King of Kings, it is proper to recognize her as having been granted the title by virtue of her Son's position of queen mother. And as her Son (Jesus) is the King of Heaven, she is naturally the Queen of Heaven. Not because she is divine, in fact, not through anything she did, but through the grace and love of her Son.
The issue most non-Catholics have is the fact that there was a Babylonian goddess who was accorded the same title in ancient past. However the fact that a fake deity claimed a real title doesn't invalidate the title itself. The Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus who is God. Jesus is the King of Kings, the King of Heaven. As His mother, she is granted by virtue of His position, a title of Queen. A queen mother to be specific. She didn't receive it because she is divine, but rather because of who her Son is. Everything good and wonderful about the Virgin Mary is always due to her Son and her relationship with Him.
Catholic seminarians are required to study the bible a minimum of three hours a day. Our faith is based on the bible. I am not 100% sure about this, but I think the reason we honor Mary so much is because she appeared to us first. Her first apparition was to James, the apostle in 40 AD. James was in Zaragosa, Spain trying to convert the country to christianity and was not having any success and he became very discouraged. According to the story, Mary appreared to him and told him he would succeed in converting the people there. She also asked him to build a church at that site where she appeared by the river and he did and that church is still there (although it is now a large cathedral instead of the small chapel that it started out as). It is called the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.
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I think its wonderful that some can be that dedicated to Jesus, as long as it is something hidden that only the wearer knows about, and is not displayed for people to be impressed with and admire. One of the purposes of he rosary is penance for others and I believe that is the purpose of cilices. Well, both penance for others and an expression of deep devotion too.
R
Sorry ive taken so long I've been busy with school.
Ok I don't want to attack any one but I want to guide people. We can work together by seen everyone's points of view.
But what I have notice is that catholics have a lot of images like crosses with Jesus and lots of saints and some pray to those images but I read in the Bible.
"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8)
Again no insults no rudeness just sharing our doctrine with the word of God.
Ok I don't want to attack any one but I want to guide people. We can work together by seen everyone's points of view.
But what I have notice is that catholics have a lot of images like crosses with Jesus and lots of saints and some pray to those images but I read in the Bible.
"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8)
Again no insults no rudeness just sharing our doctrine with the word of God.