Former Catholics - Mary worship

[marywarfield]

Then how does one worship a statue, worship Buddah or whatever without it just being reverence?

When you look at a pic of your mother to you think
of the glass and frame or the person the pic represents?
Catholics don’t worship, adore, venerate, or love statues.

 

[dronald]

I don’t understand your question. If I kneel and pray before a statue or picture of the Lord, or His mother, I am not worshipping or giving any power to the statue/picture.

I understand that; so when you kneel before a statue of Mary and pray “hail holy queen”

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.”

What difference would it make if the words were changed to Jesus’s name, and some of the attributes changed? In what way would it be worship to God and in what way is this only reverence to Mary?

 

[dronald]

Besides, even if one accepts that the Christian image should be venerated/adored (as in the Eastern theology of Icons) because of who is presented; this does not apply to Buddha, since Buddha’s religion is false and he is no god nor saint.

That’s fine, but what is the difference between Bhuddists kneeling before a Buddha statue and claiming to worship him even though they admit he’s not a god compared with adoration of Mary?

 

[dronald]

When you look at a pic of your mother to you think
of the glass and frame or the person the pic represents?
Catholics don’t worship, adore, venerate, or love statues.

I know this is a common response, and it’s fine but doesn’t really address what I was saying.

 

[SyroMalankara]

That’s fine, but what is the difference between Bhuddists kneeling before a Buddha statue and claiming to worship him even though they admit he’s not a god compared with adoration of Mary?

Mary is not “adored” by Catholics. Adoration is due to God alone. What’s the difference between a protestant reading the Bible and a Muslim reading the Koran, or a Hindu reading the Gitas. Well, all are Sacred texts to the audience reading - the difference is, the Bible is True, the rest false.

 

[Dorothy]

I understand that; so when you kneel before a statue of Mary and pray “hail holy queen”

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.”

What difference would it make if the words were changed to Jesus’s name, and some of the attributes changed? In what way would it be worship to God and in what way is this only reverence to Mary?

Our Lord Jesus Christ loves His Mother and gave her to us at the foot of the cross. He allowed her to have the privilege of being sinless, and she was a great woman of faith to go through all she did that was
God’s will. Jesus is not offended when we venerate His Mother and ask for her intercession. She is His masterpiece “our tainted nature’s solitary boast” and He is honored when we show confidence in her intercession.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I understand that; so when you kneel before a statue of Mary and pray “hail holy queen”

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.”

What difference would it make if the words were changed to Jesus’s name, and some of the attributes changed? In what way would it be worship to God and in what way is this only reverence to Mary?

Your question pre-supposes many suppositions. The words intentions obviously convey much in what is adoration, due to God alone, or veneration due to Saints/Mary. You somehow skipped an important last sentence before Amen: “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God; that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!” The entire prayer is directed to the Promises OF CHRIST.

 

[marywarfield]

I understand that; so when you kneel before a statue of Mary and pray “hail holy queen”

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve:
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.”

What difference would it make if the words were changed to Jesus’s name, and some of the attributes changed? In what way would it be worship to God and in what way is this only reverence to Mary?

I don’t understand why this is a difficult thought.
When my mother was living I gave her gifts on Mothers
Day and so on, cards telling her how much I loved her
asked her help with babysitting and homework.
No one ever told me not to cause all that was for
God alone. Lol.
Now my mother has passed on but her soul is alive
and well as far as I know and I still talk to her AND Mary
everyday and no one told me that was reserved for God alone.

I don’t understand your issue with this.

 

[SyroMalankara]

I don’t understand why this is a difficult thought.
When my mother was living I gave her gifts on Mothers
Day and so on, cards telling her how much I loved her
asked her help with babysitting and homework.
No one ever told me not to cause all that was for
God alone. Lol.
Now my mother has passed on but her soul is alive
and well as far as I know and I still talk to her AND Mary
everyday and no one told me that was reserved for God alone.

I don’t understand your issue with this.

Not only is it not either/or, by honoring your biological mother and your Spiritual Mother you give greater Glory to God (Honor your Father and Mother - didn’t say, until passing or til you can’t see them in this life)!

 

[dronald]

Mary is not “adored” by Catholics. Adoration is due to God alone. What’s the difference between a protestant reading the Bible and a Muslim reading the Koran, or a Hindu reading the Gitas. Well, all are Sacred texts to the audience reading - the difference is, the Bible is True, the rest false.

Must be a language thing… You don’t adore all that your mother has done for you? I wish it were easier to discuss the Catholic Religion in plain English but I’m pretty sure Catholics adore their mother for all she’s done.

 

[dronald]

Our Lord Jesus Christ loves His Mother and gave her to us at the foot of the cross. He allowed her to have the privilege of being sinless, and she was a great woman of faith to go through all she did that was
God’s will. Jesus is not offended when we venerate His Mother and ask for her intercession. She is His masterpiece “our tainted nature’s solitary boast” and He is honored when we show confidence in her intercession.

Would He be offended if we gave the same praise to another Saint?

 

[dronald]

Your question pre-supposes many suppositions. The words intentions obviously convey much in what is adoration, due to God alone, or veneration due to Saints/Mary. You somehow skipped an important last sentence before Amen: “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God; that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!” The entire prayer is directed to the Promises OF CHRIST.

I don’t mind the idea that others can ask to be prayed for, it’s the glorification and praise to one who is not God that does concern me.

 

[dronald]

I don’t understand why this is a difficult thought.
When my mother was living I gave her gifts on Mothers
Day and so on, cards telling her how much I loved her
asked her help with babysitting and homework.
No one ever told me not to cause all that was for
God alone. Lol.
Now my mother has passed on but her soul is alive
and well as far as I know and I still talk to her AND Mary
everyday and no one told me that was reserved for God alone.

I don’t understand your issue with this.

I only am asking how it’s different from when you give praises to God. Or if it’s the same in the way Bhuddists practice their Religion?

 

[marywarfield]

I don’t mind the idea that others can ask to be prayed for, it’s the glorification and praise to one who is not God that does concern me.

Oh for heavens sakes. All these semantics and definitions
and side stepping around. Nonsense.

I have a Father Mother Brother and Sisters.
I love them all the same. But my Father is the Head
of the Household and He has the last word.

I have never spent my time trying to decide if I worship
my father, but love my brother and only venerate my mother.

I love them all equally. And guess what? My Dad is
fine with it.

 

[dronald]

Oh for heavens sakes. All these semantics and definitions
and side stepping around. Nonsense.

I have a Father Mother Brother and Sisters.
I love them all the same. But my Father is the Head
of the Household and He has the last word.

I have never spent my time trying to decide if I worship
my father, but love my brother and only venerate my mother.

I love them all equally. And guess what? My Dad is
fine with it.

Did you say you love Mary equally to God? I’m sorry if I read that wrong, but that’s what I got.

 

[KathleenGee]

People who left didn’t know what was happening at Mass, where we worship Christ.

Yes, a person can pray to Mary, just as you talk to your mother.

But when it comes to worship Christ at Mass, any Catholic who has faith knows the difference.

 

[marywarfield]

Did you say you love Mary equally to God? I’m sorry if I read that wrong, but that’s what I got.

Are you asking if I love my mother more than my
father or my brother more than my mother?
Really?

 

[dronald]

Are you asking if I love my mother more than my
father or my brother more than my mother?
Really?

No, what I asked is if your analogy means that you love Mary equally to your love for God?

 

[marywarfield]

No, what I asked is if your analogy means that you love Mary equally to your love for God?

I don’t know how to put it to you more clearly.
I owe obedience only to God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
Therefore I try to do as God said to do because He is God-love
everyone. He never told me to love this one more or this
one less. He said love Him with all my heart and my
neighbor as myself.
I think He made Himself very clear and I don’t understand
why this is so difficult for people.

I also don’t understand what you mean by analogy.
It is not analogy- it is reality. God is my Father, Jesus
my brother and Mary my Mother. Where is the “analogy”?
You keep asking which I love more? Love the same?
Love the less? Love differently?
Makes no sense.

 

[Millie123]

Did you say you love Mary equally to God? I’m sorry if I read that wrong, but that’s what I got.

I don’t quite understand the concept of discussing love as being something that can be measured. Love isn’t like a currency. In which you only have a set amount of love dollars to give. For my older brother I love him with 10 love dollars but for my younger brother I love him more with 20 love dollars. Therefore I love my younger brother twice as much as my older brother. However I also have 10 love dollars for my cousin therfore I love my older brother and my cousin equally. Doesn’t this sound ludicrous? To me it sounds ludicrous to ask someone if they love Mary more than or equally to God.

Love is an immeasurable emotion. It’s silly to discuss it as something that can be measured using terms such as I love someone more than, less than or equal too.

I have an immeasurable love for my son. I express my love for him as a mother loves her child.
I have an immeasurable love for my husband. I express that love for him as a wife loves her husband.
Do you see where I’m going here? We don’t love anybody more, less, or equal to. My love is immeasurable and is not finite. It is just expressed differently according to the relationship. It would be in appropriate for me to express my love for my husband as if he were my son.

Likewise my love for Our blessed mother and our God is immeasurable. So try not to discuss our Catholic love for our mother as being greater than or equal to God. The concept is confusing to me.

I have an immeasurable amount of love for our blessed mother. I love her as my own mother. That is the nature of my relationship with her.
I have an immeasurable amount of love for God. I love him as my God. I love him as my father, creator, savior. My love for God is not the same as it is for my blessed mother or any other relationship that I have or expressed the same way as in my other relationships. …I adore and worship him.