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themaccauk
Guest
Im thinking about becoming Catholic but cannot get around the idea of praying to someone else rather than Our Father. Jesus told us to pray to him not anyone else.
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Fidelis
Guest
Exactly where in Scripture do you find this?
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R_C
Guest
Read the replies to your other thread on the intercession of others. I (and surely others) spoke of the role of Our Lady. And we don’t pray to her, but through Her, for she - like all the baptized - is a member of the body of Christ, the most excellent member, being His mother.
To understand the specifics of Our Lady, read “Treatise on the True Devotion” by Louis Grignon de Montfort. It contains the 3 true devotions to Mary, and the 7 erroneous devotions. You can indeed limit yourself to the first and most basic devotion, which honors Our Lady as Mother of Christ and thus theotokos (Mother of God). But denying the intercession of Our Lady or the saints is outright heresy, and you must study why and understand so that you may know what is truthful and orthodox in the Christian doctrine, and be free to worship without fear all the days of your life.
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MidnightSun12
Guest
I know this is a difficult concept, especially if you have spent your whole life praying a certain way. We have to realize, however, that there are different kinds of prayers. There are prayers in which we worship (ie. praying to God), and then there are prayers in which we ask somebody else to pray to God on our behalf.
Praying for our Holy Mother to intercede on our behalf is a very different thing then prayer where we are worshipping God. Asking for Mary to intercede for us is no different then if we were to ask a family member still on this earth to pray for our intentions. If it is wrong to ask for the intercession of our Holy Mother, then it must also therefore be wrong to ask those around us to say prayers on our behalf!
The difference is that our Holy Mother has a relationship with Jesus that no other human being has. She has also been given the highest honor of any Saint in heaven, so much so that her intercession is incredibly powerful and even necessary for our salvation. To quote a great Saint:
"No one can enter into Heaven except through Mary, as entering through a gate."
- St. Bonaventure
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GreatergoodGod
Guest
That was something I had trouble accepting at first. As a protestant I was taught that we can only pray to God alone. When I started attending the Catholic church I got to know the theology of praying to Mary. Months later I started doing it and its an ingrained thing in me now.
It’s no different than getting other people to pray for you on earth.
It’s no different than getting other people to pray for you on earth.
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TopResearcher
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JRKH
Guest
Where is the record of Moses receiving a resurrection?
Yet Jesus was speaking with Moses on the mountain in the Transfiguration. (Mt 17:1-3) How does one speak with a dead man?
Jesus tells us that God is the God of Abraham Issac and Jacob and that God is the God of the Living not of the dead. (Mt 22:32)
In addition to the above, we are promised that if we believe in Him we will never die. (John 11:25-26)
Given all of this, how can one believe that Mary, the Mother of Christ, the one the angel called “full of grace” is NOT alive and in heaven??
Peace
James
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JRKH
Guest
As another has asked above, I am not aware of any place in Scripture where Jesus told us not to pray to anyone else but the Father.
That said - in answer to your specific concern about prayer to the saints - No Catholic is required to do so, just as you are not required to ask one of us to pray for you. Prayer to saints is a private devotion.
Part of the problem might be how many people, understand the word “prayer”…they equate it with worship, when it is not. the English word “pray” is really a word that means ask, or petition. Up until fairly recently is was used in a manner similar to the word “please”…There are letters by Winston Churchill in which he says, “Pray tell me…” (please tell me…), or “send me the figures quickly, I pray you”…(I request urgently)…
So you see, “pray” does not equal worship.
I hope these answers are helpful to you. I do understand that these things can be hard to incorporate, and please do be patient with us and with yourself.
As you can see from our answers, these things have been well thought out by the Church.
Peace
James
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themaccauk
Guest
My understanding is no one is ressurected until the last day. I can accept the in heaven idea. bear with me while i research all this dont get all religious on me
peace
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themaccauk
Guest
Matthew 6:9
Nowhere does it tell us to pray to Mary or go through any other person except Jesus alone
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Porknpie
Guest
The Maccauk-
Scripture says
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with you,
Blessed are you among women
And bless is the fruit of your womb Jesus
And
“All generations will call me blessed”
Using faith and reason, using the Deposit of Faith…both the Written Word of God and Sacred Tradition…Where else would Jesus have his mother?
. Another thought, would God take Elijah in a Chariot to heaven but not his own mother? Also, no one, no where makes any claim to Mary’s remains, unlike all the other disciples. Her body is not on earth.Read about Mary in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The page is here
scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm
This link includes this paragraph on her Assumption
966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."508 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians
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themaccauk
Guest
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Reuben_J
Guest
It is basic Christian teaching that those who are in heaven are indeed alive. Scripture does support this too.
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Porknpie
Guest
The Maccauk -
The Our Father is a Catholic prayer, orally told by Jesus to the disciples, his first priests, then passed down to their successors. This is Tradition at work. It was later put into writing and even later became included in the Catholic bible, the written Word of God.
When you pray to Jesus, do you only say the Our Father? Taken literally, that is the only prayer that you should pray.
NT Scripture also records among other verses the power of intercessory prayer.
1 Timothy 2** First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,** 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
James 5:16) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
Catechism below
III. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
2634 Intercession is a prayer of petition which leads us to pray as Jesus did. He is the one intercessor with the Father on behalf of all men, especially sinners.112 He is "able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."113 The Holy Spirit "himself intercedes for us . . . and intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."114
2635 Since Abraham, intercession - asking on behalf of another has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God’s mercy. In the age of the Church, Christian intercession participates in Christ’s, as an expression of the communion of saints. In intercession, he who prays looks “not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others,” even to the point of praying for those who do him harm.115
2636 The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely.116 Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of preaching the Gospel117 but also intercedes for them.118 The intercession of Christians recognizes no boundaries: “for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions,” for persecutors, for the salvation of those who reject the Gospel.119
I highly recommend listening to the audio catechism referenced in my signature.
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JRKH
Guest
Yes - Jesus taught them to pray to the Father. But this teaching most certainly does not prevent the faithful from asking (petitioning) others to pray with and for them.
Because we believe that those who have died in a state of Grace, most especially Our Lady, are very much alive in heaven, there is nothing preventing us from asking them to pray along with us and/or to pray for us.
You are very welcome my friend. I do understand that this is a lot to try to take in. Also - this is a very busy board and you may find yourself just a bit overwhelmed by the number of responses.
Continue to be patient with yourself and with us.
Peace
James
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Porknpie
Guest
The Maccauk-
I should have started by saying welcome to CAF.
You may also want to learn more about the Marian apparitions that have been approved by the Catholic Church. Jesus is using his mother to bring us closer to him. Mary calls us to follow her Son.
Here’s one link. catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0034.html
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bitznbitez
Guest
Rev 12.
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twopekinguys
Guest
What do you mean by this?
You are on a religious website right?
I’m sorry, but I have to ask. Are you seriously trying to learn, or do you have your mind already made up?
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LilyM
Guest
So please tell me, where is Enoch’s grave, since he is currently, according to you, mouldering away quietly somewhere awaiting resurrection? Or the prophet Elijah’s grave?
Scripture reveals that both were taken body and soul to heaven without in fact dying at all. A special grace reserved by God for two who He loved specially. Why not also His mother who He loved and honoured as the commandments bid Him?
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