A question about Mary from a convert

[fdesales]

Alrighty then.

My name is Taylor by the way and I liked to say that I find this site wonderful so far. I am a convert from a Protestant religion, United Church of Christ, and now I am Catholic.

But as for my question at hand.

As I’ve stated in my title I am a convert and one thing that is extremely difficult for me is the subject of Mary the Mother of God. I am not confused that we are praying to her as I know that we do not but I am struggling with praying with her. Being a convert often my heart yells at me for praying with Mary but my mind understands that there is no reason to be so angry or so disturbed by it.

Taylor,

When this question is asked, I see all the wonderful answers, but I would like to point out something that few of our separated brothers realize - the Scriptures CLEARLY show that God DESIRES men to come to Him through other, holy people. God desires us to pray for the sake of other people. It breeds LOVE, as we are praying for someone else’s benefit, not our own. That is what Love is, to give of self, to desire the positive welfare of others. And if God continues this attitude into the next world, this is what WE will continue to do - to Love others = to pray for others, since those in heaven do not need prayers. They will express their love as God does, through others not in heaven, just as THE doctrine of the Trinity teaches (the essence of Christianity - God reaching out and drawing all of creation to Himself).

OK, Scriptures very clearly shows this idea in the Gospels. Jesus was pleased to cure the servant of the centurion - although the servant himself did not come. The paralytic in Mark 2 was cured based on the faith of the men who brought the paralytic. And clearly, not ONE dead person asked God to be raised from the dead! There are other examples of Jesus’ power going out to a third party as a result of another’s intercessions. Scripture also has Paul on a number of occasions asking congregations to pray for him, pray for the elders, pray for others, pray for the government, etc… Scriptures clearly point to the fact that we, as secondary mediators, can bring the grace of God upon another person through our supplications to God. Indeed, the prayers of the righteous are efficacious, says James.

Naturally, Jesus’ mother was righteous, so there should be no problem in asking her to show you her love by praying to her Son for/with us.

Regards