How do Catholics justify veneration of Mary and the saints?

[DustinS]

Hi,

I’m currently a Protestant Christian, although I’ve pretty much decided to convert to Catholicism. One thing is bugging me, though. How do you justify the veneration of Mary and the saints, praying to them, and claiming that Mary is a perpetual virgin even though the Bible says she had other children besides Jesus?

Thank you.

–Dustin

 

[Devon_Caffran]

These links should give you the answers that you need. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by this, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.
**Recommended Reading:
**

• The Intercession of the Saints (Fathers*)
• Praying to the Saints
• Saint Worship?
• Do Catholics Worship Statues?
• Relics
• Immaculate Conception and Assumption
• Mary: Ever Virgin (Fathers*)
• Mary: Full of Grace (Fathers*)
• Mary: Mother of God (Fathers*)

The following links should assist you in better understanding Mary’s perpetual virginity.
**Recommended Reading:
**

• Doesn’t Scripture imply that Mary had children other than Jesus?
• ** Did Jesus have brothers?**
• ** Perpetual Virginity: Why is this important?**
• ** Mary: Ever Virgin**
• ** Why should any doctrine not explicitly referred to in the Bible, be listened to?**
• ** How do you respond to “Everything you need to know is in the Bible”?**
• ** How can we know a doctrine is true if it’s not in the Bible?**
• ** How do we know that the Protoevangelium of James is credible?**
• ** Does Church Tradtion exist only to interpret Scripture?**
• ** Non-Canonical Writings…**
• ** Oral Traditions not found in the Bible**