Do Catholics faver Mary over Jesus?

[SusanL]

Well, up here in upstate New York, I doubt that many Protestants know about it. It may be true where you are but not here. Here, the people leave the Church for other reasons and most are not theological. (I believe that most leave because either they **don’t **know their faith or they don’t want to live up to it.)

 

[freddyboy424]

I don’t think that one can develop a healthy devotion to Our Blessed Mother and neglect Jesus in the process.

The reason we devote ourselves to the Virgin Mary is to more perfecty unite us to our Lord, Jesus Christ. By praying to Mary, asking her to intercede for us, we gain the aid of the most perfect disciple that ever lived, Mary the Mother of God.

St. Louis De Monfort writes the following:

Readings and Prayers for St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s
Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary
Day 26 of 33
From True Devotion To the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nos. 12-38

“If you wish to understand the Mother,” says a saint, “then understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God.” Hic taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be silent. My heart has dictated with special joy all that I have written to show that Mary has been unknown up till now, and that that is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ is not known as he should be. If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only be as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and reign of Mary. She who first gave him to the world will establish his kingdom in the world.

With the whole Church I acknowledge that Mary, being a mere creature fashioned by the hands of God is, compared to his infinite majesty, less than an atom, or rather is simply nothing, since he alone can say, “I am he who is”. Consequently, this great Lord, who is ever independent and self-sufficient, never had and does not now have any absolute need of the Blessed Virgin for the accomplishment of his will and the manifestation of his glory. To do all things he has only to will them. However, I declare that, considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish his greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since he created her, we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or his way of acting.

Mary is the Queen of heaven and earth by grace as Jesus is king by nature and by conquest. But as the kingdom of Jesus Christ exists primarily in the heart or interior of man, according to the words of the Gospel, “The kingdom of God is within you”, so the kingdom of the Blessed Virgin is principally in the interior of man, that is, in his soul. It is principally in souls that she is glorified with her Son more than in any visible creature. So we may call her, as the saints do, Queen of our hearts.

In a true, healthy devotion to the Virgin Mary, you cannot avoid a deeper bond with Jesus Christ, because Mary brings Christ with her EVERYWHERE. The Virgin Mary is the most humble of servants, and she would never want any of God’s glory. She always points to Jesus.

To Jesus through Mary,
Fred

P.S. - Sorry about the long post

 

[MonicaC]

Ricardo Gomez:

I heard people asking me, “What the heck are you talking about”. I also have read some others’ confusion on the subject, but the question remains, do some Catholics favor Mary over Jesus?

Of course, some of them/us do. For example, Della wrote: “true worship means offering up a sacrifice of some sort.” In direct connection to her quotation and as stated quite a few times, Dec/12 is the day Latin America celebrates the day of our Virgin Mother. The celebration consists of sacrifices, which range from simple abstinence (from drinking & smoking) to physical pain. As a consequence of this pain, the practicioners suffer from mutilations in most of the cases. But what is so special about Dec/12?

December is the twelfth month of the year, which is why we/them celebrate on 12/12 the day of our Virgin Mother. It is not a coincidence that the chapter 12 of the book of Revelation talks about her.

In conclusion, the answer to the question is yes there are some cultures/communities who do favor Mary over Jesus in their ways of worship, and the protestant are well aware of it because in many cases that is the reason they left our church in the first place. That we need to inform the practicioners of the position the Vatican has taken on the subject is a fact, but that there a lot of Catholic people who simply denies the existence of the pratice, it’s a fat and sad true.

I think you failed to mention that on Dec. 12 OUr Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego and an Image appeared on his telma, which brought in a mass conversion of natives to the faith. Than is why I celebrate Our Lady on Dec 12.

 

[NonDenom]

exoflare:

LOL Yeah and I know for a fact Protestants worship their beds. For more on this shocking exposé on Protestant “bedolatry” I present to you the following pictures.

These children think they are praying to “God,” but they are clearly bowing before the bed, making supplications unto it and worshipping it! I’ve seen many Protestants do this, even though I keep telling them please stop or they will not be “saved”.

And what of this young girl, with the blasphemous bunny idol she has set up as another god set before our Lord?! Her parents have brainwashed her into worshipping the bunny idol instead of our Lord Jesus Christ. The poor girl doesn’t know any better. But she will not be saved anyway! Woe unto ye, I say… WOE unto ye, bedolaterers… repent, for the time is at hand!!

Hi Cats
I know that you are having loads of fun but you are totaly missing the boat here. When that child is kneeling down beside the bed or that Prot is kneeling down at the pew they are not praying to that object. That child is not saying their prayer to the bunny, the prot is not directing their prayer to the pew. When a Catholic kneels down in front of a statue of Mary and then prays to Mary it looks like you are praying to that statue. I’m not saying that you are I’m just telling you how some others see this.
Thanks

 

[But_for_Grace]

which is exactly the point, if you do not hear the words the girl is saying then it may seem like she is praying to the bunny. Humor is more effective than criticism in this instance.

also beware of those people who pray looking up into the sky … evil skyolators

and those who pray heads bowed to the ground … those eartholators

but worst of all are those who fold their hands and pray to their empty hands … handolatry is rampant these days :bigyikes:

…

NonDenom appearances are deceiving

 

[adnauseum]

NonDenom:

Hi Cats
I know that you are having loads of fun but you are totaly missing the boat here. When that child is kneeling down beside the bed or that Prot is kneeling down at the pew they are not praying to that object. That child is not saying their prayer to the bunny, the prot is not directing their prayer to the pew. When a Catholic kneels down in front of a statue of Mary and then prays to Mary it looks like you are praying to that statue. I’m not saying that you are I’m just telling you how some others see this.
Thanks

Okay now I think I’m almost understanding. Is there a certain way we tilt our heads that gives you the cue? Perhaps a sort of squinting with the eyes at certain moments?

It would help me personally if you could stipulate the exact angle at which my head could be bowed without degenerating into illegal worship.

You started this, so you owe it to us to help save us.

 

[santaro75]

NonDenom:

Hi Cats
I know that you are having loads of fun but you are totaly missing the boat here. When that child is kneeling down beside the bed or that Prot is kneeling down at the pew they are not praying to that object. That child is not saying their prayer to the bunny, the prot is not directing their prayer to the pew. When a Catholic kneels down in front of a statue of Mary and then prays to Mary it looks like you are praying to that statue. I’m not saying that you are I’m just telling you how some others see this.
Thanks

thanks for clearing that up because i thought maybe there was a secret bunny cult growing in the protestant churches

 

[SusanL]

NonDenom:

Hi Cats
I know that you are having loads of fun but you are totaly missing the boat here. When that child is kneeling down beside the bed or that Prot is kneeling down at the pew they are not praying to that object. That child is not saying their prayer to the bunny, the prot is not directing their prayer to the pew. When a Catholic kneels down in front of a statue of Mary and then prays to Mary it looks like you are praying to that statue. I’m not saying that you are I’m just telling you how some others see this.
Thanks

Why are you still calling us “Cats?” It’s disrespectfull.

Also, what do you believe? Do you believe that we are worshipping Mary or do you believe us when we say we’re not?

 

[exoflare]

NonDenom:

Hi Cats
I know that you are having loads of fun but you are totaly missing the boat here. When that child is kneeling down beside the bed or that Prot is kneeling down at the pew they are not praying to that object. That child is not saying their prayer to the bunny, the prot is not directing their prayer to the pew. When a Catholic kneels down in front of a statue of Mary and then prays to Mary it looks like you are praying to that statue. I’m not saying that you are I’m just telling you how some others see this.
Thanks

double standard

 

[Penitent]

exoflare:

double standard

I really just think it suits some prots to say we “pray to statues” so they don’t have to give a long, hard look into their faith, born 1500 years after the Catholic Church, and created by man–it’s just easier for the prots to declare “you worship statues” than to look at why they are living outside the Catholic Church–it’s much easier to condemn what you do not know about than to have to defend what you do. Several times it’s been posted here we do not pray to statues, just as the child isn’t praying to the bunny or to the bed–why do people choose not to listen? Because it’s just plain easier and you don’t have to admit to being wrong.

Penitent

 

[SusanL]

Could it be because a statue has a face so it seems like a person?

It’s still hard to believe that people would actually think that we would worship a piece of metal or other artwork.

I just don’t get it.

Maybe it’s a projection of us praying to the saints for intercession.

 

[Ricardo_Gomez]

Monica C,

The reason why I did not mention Juan Diego or the aparicion is because there are many strong commentaries, which put in doubt the event. That is why I rather related to the book of Revelation.

 

[Fidelis]

Ricardo Gomez:

Monica C,

The reason why I did not mention Juan Diego or the aparicion is because there are many strong commentaries, which put in doubt the event.

All of these speculations were put to rest during the intensive process of Juan Diego’s beatification process. Rest assured, he DID exist and the apparitions did happen. Anti-Catholic propaganda sometimes dies a slow death.

 

[seashell]

NonDenom wrote:

Ah, but merely bowing/kneeling is not worshipping. This is particularly hard for Americans to understand because we don’t have royalty. Bowing is a sign of respect, not worship. True worship means offering up a sacrifice of some sort. The simple act of bowing or kneeling in prayer is not worship. American Protestants have adopted bowing/kneeling as worship, in place of sacrifice, so naturally they equate bowing/kneeling to worship. It is a difference of perception and intention between us.

There is no reason why we Catholics ought to give up our perfectly legitimate practices solely because Protestants misunderstand what we are doing. Protestants ought to take the time to find out what Catholics are truly doing, and what we mean by what we are doing before accusing us of idolatry, don’t you think?

In addition to this Protestants kneel during their alter calls. Are they worshipping the alters? (I’m not trying to be sartastic) You are only worshipping a statue if you are worshiping it as a God. Leaving food for it or making a sacrifice for it. Catholics do not believe the statues themselves are Gods. Mary isn’t even a God, all she can do is intercede for us.

 

[Mickey]

Ricardo Gomez:

do some Catholics favor Mary over Jesus?
Of course, some of them/us do.

Just some words of caution. Mr Gomez has gone on record in the past as worshipping Our Blessed Mother in a manner reserved for Jesus alone. This is an uninformed and minority representation regarding Catholic veneration of the Mother of God. Unfortunately, it is this type of skewed understanding that invites extreme criticism from different Christian affiliations. **His views are not the norm! **

 

[E.E.N.S]

seashell:

In addition to this Protestants kneel during their alter calls. Are they worshipping the alters? (I’m not trying to be sartastic) You are only worshipping a statue if you are worshiping it as a God. Leaving food for it or making a sacrifice for it. Catholics do not believe the statues themselves are Gods. Mary isn’t even a God, all she can do is intercede for us.

Wait, why do protestants have altars anyway?

 

[deb1]

E.E.N.S.:

Wait, why do protestants have altars anyway?

When I was a protestant I viewed the altar more as a podium for the minister to stand behind then anything specifically holy or special.

 

[MonicaC]

Ricardo Gomez:

Monica C,

The reason why I did not mention Juan Diego or the aparicion is because there are many strong commentaries, which put in doubt the event. That is why I rather related to the book of Revelation.

Hello Ricardo,

I know all about the questions and the doubt by those who don’t believe but this doesn’t change anything! It happened and we have the proof with the telma.

 

[Ricardo_Gomez]

Mickey:

Just some words of caution. Mr Gomez has gone on record in the past as worshipping Our Blessed Mother in a manner reserved for Jesus alone. This is an uninformed and minority representation regarding Catholic veneration of the Mother of God. Unfortunately, it is this type of skewed understanding that invites extreme criticism from different Christian affiliations. **His views are not the norm! **

Mickey,

Is it ok for me to know that the practice is not worship? But then, a mutilation caused by physical pain is called what?

Please let’s be realistic here because it is in the best interest of our doctrine to do so.

 

[Ricardo_Gomez]

MonicaC:

Hello Ricardo,

I know all about the questions and the doubt by those who don’t believe but this doesn’t change anything! It happened and we have the proof with the telma.

If you could direct me to this accurate information I would be glad to here it, thanks.