Can't put my finger on it, but it doesn't feel right

[rr1213]

And that’s why you ask other people to pray for you and that’s why you pray for them? Because Christ is the only mediator and each of us can just walk in any time and get ourselves heard perfectly well?

Guess what you’re doing when you pray for someone - you are MEDIATING for them, bud. Guess what they are doing when they pray for you - they also are MEDIATING!!! And any mediator will tell you there is strength in numbers and there are ways to approach that are more advantageous than others.

This is not a labor union/ management negotiation.

God himself has told us knock and the door will be opened to you, ask and you shall find, seek and the answer will be given to you. Jesus himself stands at the door ready to open it to you. There is no necessity to ask for intervention. Having said that, the prayers of a righteous man avails much and there is nothing wrong with asking someone to pray for you as long as you are not distracted from what really matters–which is Christ.

 

[rr1213]

Curiously enough, it IS always on Jesus.

You just (habitually and relfexively) assume it isn’t.

It isn’t convincing to you out of your prejudice.

I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise, because the only way you’d change your mind is to actually want to understand the position of the Church on Marion doctrine.

You won’t.

Wanting to have as many people, especially important people, praying for you as possible is emminently “convincing”.

The reason you don’t actually answer the questions I asked in my post, specifically whether you pray for your loved ones, and why that isn’t a waste of time, is because it points out this basic silliness of anti-Marions.

Is it, or is it not, good to have as many people praying for you, and your loved ones, and whomever, as possible?

Mary is another person who can pray for us while we’re doing elsewhat.

Is it not better to have help?

When you pray to Mary what do you ask of her?

 

[Church_Militant]

Our church Deacon went on a trip with a group from the parish to Fatima. He came back with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was supposedly blessed by a bishop over there. The statue is now being given to families to bring home for a week to pray the rosary around it.

I can’t seem to put my finger on it, but something about this doesn’t feel right.

Comments? Discussion?

Nothing wrong with it at all… It’s just a special devotion.

 

[Mannyfit75]

When you pray to Mary what do you ask of her?

Most Catholics would say, “pray for us.”

 

[water]

When you pray to Mary what do you ask of her?

Most Catholics would say, “pray for us.”

We use the Hail Mary prayer:

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

 

[rr1213]

Most Catholics would say, “pray for us.”

I have no problem with “pray for us” or “pray for me”. What else do Catholics ask of Mary?

 

[SAHM02]

I believe that this is the EWTN LIVE Show that Bwavenit was talking about.

EWTN LIVE 1/10/2007

I happened to see this show that is why I was able to find the show. (I was channel surfing)

Now in this show the “shrine” was of Mary with the Christ Child.

OP, I was wondering is this statue that you talked about in the op a statue of just Mary or is she with the Christ Child?

 

[Church_Militant]

I have no problem with “pray for us” or “pray for me”. What else do Catholics ask of Mary?

That’s about it…

 

[Sir_Knight]

I see that this thread has taken on a life of it’s own and gone off in a direction that I had not intended. So be it.

Ah,… the PARTICULAR statue…

Isn’t EVERY statue a PARTICULAR STATUE…?!

You’ve described a distinction without a difference.

If you have a problem with that particular statue, you MUST have a problem with ALL statues.

Is that the case, and if not, why not?

No, I do not have a problem with all statues or any particular statue but I feel uncomfortable doing something different BECAUSE of a statue.

Nah, this is the same Christ who is the only mediator, who told us to come to him because his burden is light, who said in Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus has an open door policy…no appointment necessary, just walk in.

In James 5:16 and Proverbs 15:8 & 29 we see that the prayers of the righteous (the saints) have powerful effects. This is why we ask for their prayers. How much more powerful are the saints’ prayers in heaven, in whom righteousness has been perfected.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I have no problem with “pray for us” or “pray for me”. What else do Catholics ask of Mary?

What else should we ask for?

 

[Mannyfit75]

I have no problem with “pray for us” or “pray for me”. What else do Catholics ask of Mary?

After I say the Hail Holy Queen, I ask Mary this, “Oh, Mary, Mother of the the Incarnate Word, your son. If God will, could you petition my request to your son, in my behalf. If my request should not be granted, it is God’s will what is best for me. May the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.”

I use my own words stated above.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I see that this thread has taken on a life of it’s own and gone off in a direction that I had not intended. So be it.

No, I do not have a problem with all statues or any particular statue but I feel uncomfortable doing something different BECAUSE of a statue.

I can only repeat my original comments – regard the statue as a sacramental, an object consecrated to worship and dedication. Seen that way, it is no different than, say a rosary or crucifix.

In James 5:16 and Proverbs 15:8 & 29 we see that the prayers of the righteous (the saints) have powerful effects. This is why we ask for their prayers. How much more powerful are the saints’ prayers in heaven, in whom righteousness has been perfected.

And who more perfected than Mary?

 

[Sir_Knight]

And who more perfected than Mary?

Exactly

 

[Katholikos]

I have no problem with “pray for us” or “pray for me”. What else do Catholics ask of Mary?

Mary is a human being like us – the only power she has is the power of prayer. Therefore, whatever we may ask of Mary, we know she will add her prayers to ours for that intention. That’s the bottom line of every prayer to Mary.

An example of this is the Sub Tuum Presidium (Under Your Protection), the earliest extant full written prayer to the Blessed Virgin. It was found on an Egyptian papyrus dated c. A.D. 250.

We turn to you for protection,
O holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers
and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Catholics – then as now – knew that the Blessed Virgin Mary could not “save us from every danger.” But she could ask her Divine Son to save us, praying on our behalf, and that is what we expect in all of our communications with her. No matter how flowery the language that we use in our prayers, we know that she can only pray for us. But her prayers are powerful. She merely called the attention of her Divine Son to the problem at Cana, and He turned water into wine. We have confidence in her prayers with good reason. Catholics have been praying to Mary since the beginning of Christianity because she is a powerful intercessor – miracles happen as a result of her prayers…

Prayers to the BVM are as old as Christianity – petitions are carved into the catacombs. Even the tomb of St. Peter contains an invocation to Mary.

I once was blind, but now I see.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Mary’s image can come to my home anytime! In honoring her, I honor her Son, the Redeemer of the world.

Jay
Ex-Southern Baptist

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Our church Deacon went on a trip with a group from the parish to Fatima. He came back with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was supposedly blessed by a bishop over there. The statue is now being given to families to bring home for a week to pray the rosary around it.

I can’t seem to put my finger on it, but something about this doesn’t feel right.

Comments? Discussion?

That is a wonderful devotion for the parish.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I’ll chime in with my :twocents:

Long ago, my cousin had the chance to go to Rome and she brought me back a rosary which was blessed by the Pope. (Paul VI as it happens).

Now I have quite a few rosaries from one reason or another, most of them gifts. But having a rosary blessed by the POPE–well, that was really special. For me, knowing this rosary had been in the Holy Father’s hands as well as mine made me focus more on my prayers when I used it.

I have a deep devotion to Our Lady and I have a Fatima statue but not a blessed one from that country. I would love though to have one! or a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes blessed at the grotto, or one of Our Lady of Knock blessed in Ireland. . .you get the picture.

Having that statue blessed right there in Fatima by a priest there–it makes the Fatima message seem a little bit closer, a little bit more personal. It’s almost as good as going there yourself to be able to be the presence of a statue which WAS there and blessed by a holy man from there.

My opinion, anyway.

 

[Keikiolu]

When you pray to Mary what do you ask of her?

To pray for me, my loved ones, the world, etc…

I enlist her assistance in prayer, just as you would ask a friend to pray for something you desired.

I don’t ask her for anything but that.

 

[rwoehmke]

How is this circulating statue any different than the things the K of C’s circulate from Council to Council with special devotions being held and the item then passed along to the next? I would suppose that in any group there might be indiividuals who see some sort of “magic” in the provenance of the statue, but than that would pertain to relics as well. Circulating the Eucharist from home to home is not possible, although in some dioceses there still are Masses said in a series of homes from time to time. They are open to anyone, but as a practical matter they are attended by invitation.

 

[Keikiolu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keikiolu
Ah,… the PARTICULAR statue…

Isn’t EVERY statue a PARTICULAR STATUE…?!

You’ve described a distinction without a difference.

If you have a problem with that particular statue, you MUST have a problem with ALL statues.

Is that the case, and if not, why not?

No, I do not have a problem with all statues or any particular statue but I feel uncomfortable doing something different BECAUSE of a statue.

What do you mean “doing something different”?

How does that particular (or any particular, if you like) statue MAKE you do ANYTHING,… much less MAKE you do “something different”?

 

[LilyM]

That’s about it…

Cm is right, you know - we don’t generally going around thinking that Mary is some sort of superhero doing favors left right and centre from her own super powers :nope: