I'm Scared of Idolatory in the Church, After Seeing This?

[AnaTurin]

Idolatry is adoration of anything besides God (treating anything like God except for God).

Unless this woman actually thought that this statue was God or could do things that only God can do, she wasn’t committing idolatry.

touching a statue or hugging it or talking to it might seem odd, but it is no more idolatry than a little girl playing with a Barbie doll is idolatry.

I’ve “talked to” and touched or kissed photographs of people that I have missed or people that have died. I obviously knew that the photograph wasn’t the actual person. I imagine the woman was doing something similar. In fact, “missing” Mary, or other Saints as if they were a deceased family member (I know, they aren’t dead, but in heaven) is actually a sign of great faith because it shows how much faith they have in God’s promises, and in the reality of heaven and in the hope of seeing them again (or for the first time). It also shows that this woman has great devotion and love for Mary. You can’t “miss” someone you don’t know or love.

 

[TheDoctor]

There are many strong opinions on this forum that are implying that what was witnessed was nothing more than a poor soul’s beseeching to Mary. My question then is this–are there any concrete examples where such devotion led to a relationship with Jesus? (if it is said that Mary leads the faithful to Jesus).

Not really sure what you are driving at. This would be a personal path that different people take so you will not find too many examples without asking individual Catholics to share. I know of one right off the top of my head; Fr. John Corapi (a good and faithful priest before he went off the deep end and we pray that he comes back into the fold) credits the prayers of his mother and grandmother to Mary and her intercession for his turning his life around and coming bcak to God.

I am looking for an outward sign outside of communion where Catholics pray to Jesus the way they do to Mary.

Every hour of every day tens of millions of Catholics pray to Jesus and not to Mary during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and consume His body, blood, soul and divinity. That’s a pretty strong outward sign of commuion, would you not agree?

 

[TheDoctor]

Something I heard in a homily yesterday.

Comments?

I think the “Mary” comment, if I recall correctly, comes from an excorcist who said that demons would rather be expelled by invoking Jesus than Mary because of being humilitated by the power God had given a mortal woman. Taken in that context, it makes sense.

 

[LilyM]

I have. Not in person, but on message boards, I’ve read several posts in the past, especially on the old AOL forums, from Catholics, almost always woman and older ones, who just talk to Mary. They find her more personal and less intimidating. Some people don’t seem to be able to develop this kind of personal rapport with Jesus, His majesty is too intimidating.

It’s like the only time they pray to Jesus is when they pray the Rosary and say “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.”

And I suppose when these ladies attend Mass they don’t pray right along with the priest during all the prayers - with not a one addressed to Mary but all to God the Father through Jesus? I suppose they refuse communion because the idea of actually and directly partaking of the body and blood of Our Lord is too intimidating and un-Marian for them?

 

[TrueLight]

I think the “Mary” comment, if I recall correctly, comes from an excorcist who said that demons would rather be expelled by invoking Jesus than Mary because of being humilitated by the power God had given a mortal woman. Taken in that context, it makes sense.

Hmm…

 

[SeekNFind]

I saw a woman do the same thing to a statue of the divine infant Jesus and it brought tears to my eyes. This woman prayed fervently, stroked his cheeks and hands and looked lovingly at “him.” It moved me to see her devotion. Of course I didn’t think that she thought it was really Him but it is clear the statue invoked powerful devotion from her.

 

[Sacredheart1208]

Idolatry is when someone believes that the statue they have or see is actually God, so they believe that the little piece of wood carved is actually God. The women you speak of is not committing idolatry but she might have went over the top. In my parish we have a statue of Mary and I have never seen something like that. In my opinion what she did was rather much but not idolatry.

 

[LilyM]

Catholics, in their regard for Mary as intercessor for Jesus, can sometimes become exubertant in their prayers and petitions, as you saw in this case. I don’t believe this woman believed the statue of Mary was the real deal but her posture of hugging and holding the statue certainly points to a fervent belief that Mary has the power to answer prayers.

And therein lies the problem. While Mary is much loved and respected within the Catholic church, many Catholics devotees to Mary fail to look upon Jesus the same way. While they may receive Him within the Holy Eucharist, they cannot seem to recognize Him outside of this sacrament. Mary, on the other hand, is readily available for these souls, for why not since the church allows her statues and devotions (Fatima, Lourdes, etc.) to be perpetuated? I cannot fault Catholics for their allegiance to Mary, however in the bible, Jesus repeatedly said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So, no matter how strong a person’s devotion to Mary, they have to eventually go to Jesus (not through Mary) in order to find salvation.

Man is spirit as well as body and soul and it is within your spirit that you felt the chills run down your back. Because you were confused when you witnessed this fervent display of prayer, your spirit was revealing the truth of the matter. Most people can be deceived as there are many out there wanting to lead the sheep astray, but when you begin listen to the inner voice of the spirit, (I mean the Holy Spirit guiding your spirit) you will be led to the truth.

God Bless

In my experience most at least of the people who behave in these ways towards Mary and images of her also behave the same way towards Our Lord and images of Him such as crucifixes or statues of Him. I’ve seen numerous people piously kiss the crucifix attached to their Rosary before or after praying it, but oddly enough never the medal of Mary attached to those same Rosaries. Go figure.

 

[Eufrosnia]

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday at church, a while before the evening mass started, I saw an older woman walking up to the Statue of Mary, which was at the side of the altar> She began hugging the statue while also holding one of its extended hands, and began talking to it.

I guess she was praying. But why hug and hold the hands of a statue? And furthermore talk to the statue? I know of the the rosary, prayers, and intercessions that saints can do for us. But a statue is just a statue, not the actual thing.

A chill went down my back after seeing this, it’s like all those Idolatory claims that protestants use against the catholic church just showed up in my face, (At least it appeared to be that way to me).

Is this something normal or am I just overeacting? (I could be paranoid sometimes, but I do not think what I saw was right). Correct me if im wrong.

Please advise,
Thanks.

There is nothing wrong with this. This is a very common devotion in many countries of the East (and even in the West in the past according to writings of Saints like St. Montfort). No one ever does this as far as I know with the assumption that the statue IS MARY. They do to the statue what they do as a way of doing it to Mary, the real person. In fact, I am not an old person (in my 20’s) and I DO IT TOO I always kiss the feet of the statue of Mary at our parish church and I can assure you, I don’t think the statue is Mary

Do you also consider taking a statue of Mary in procession to be idolatry? They take the statue of Mary in procession as a way of expressing their devotion to Mary and what they would do if Mary was physically present right there.

 

[poche]

That sounds like an overreaction to me.

 

[Sarcelle]

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday at church, a while before the evening mass started, I saw an older woman walking up to the Statue of Mary, which was at the side of the altar> She began hugging the statue while also holding one of its extended hands, and began talking to it.

I guess she was praying. But why hug and hold the hands of a statue? And furthermore talk to the statue? I know of the the rosary, prayers, and intercessions that saints can do for us. But a statue is just a statue, not the actual thing.

A chill went down my back after seeing this, it’s like all those Idolatory claims that protestants use against the catholic church just showed up in my face, (At least it appeared to be that way to me).

Is this something normal or am I just overeacting? (I could be paranoid sometimes, but I do not think what I saw was right). Correct me if im wrong.

Please advise,
Thanks.

I’ve seen people kiss photos of loved ones. Does not mean that they mistake said photo for the loved one.

Worship can take place in different dimensions, through sight, sound, smell and yes touch. One example of this is the mass.

 

[Thomas_Casey]

Older thread. If you wish to have a discussion about such customs, by all means open a new thread.

Thanks