Is this Mary Worship?

[JOL]

Hello everyone!

Is this Mary Worship?

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and possession. Amen.

I really want to understand as I am seriously contemplating becoming a revert. I feel the Holy Spirit calling me deep in my conscience, but, I just want to make sure. Thanks for your help!!

JOL

 

[TimOliv]

Hello everyone!

Is this Mary Worship?

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and possession. Amen.

I really want to understand as I am seriously contemplating becoming a revert. I feel the Holy Spirit calling me deep in my conscience, but, I just want to make sure. Thanks for your help!!

JOL

There are some prayers in which people may well seem like they are worshipping Mary. This one, to me, the wording is just a tad too close for my liking. I’ve heard it before, but me personally, I do not care for it.

Give me a Hail Mary any day of the week.

Keep in mind that your intent plays a large part in this. We, as Catholics, should love and adore Mary. She is our mother. We pray to Mary to intercede for us. Basically, we pray that Mary prays for us.

To consecrate yourself to Mary in the manner which this prayer says, well its not unreasonable. However, Mary should not be the sole recipient of your devotion.

Praying to Mary is great. However, let’s not forget to keep our prayers, to keep our worship overall focused on God.

I’ve no doubt in my mind that despite all the doctrine surrounding prayer to Mary and the Saints that there are folks out there who ARE worshipping Mary. But that is not how the church teaches us we should be praying. Just make sure your heart is in the right place and you are focusing your prayers and your worship as you should.

 

[RC1960]

No, it’s not Mary worship. Prayer does not equal worship.

Go to the Radio archives and listen to shows:

CAL 060815 Fr. Vincent Serpa; Maria Assumpta Est (encore)

CAL 060517 Edward Sri; A Biblical Theology of Mary’s Queenship

CAL 060428 Mark Miravalle; St. Louis DeMontfort’s True Devotion to Mary

 

[TimOliv]

No, it’s not Mary worship. Prayer does not equal worship.

Go to the Radio archives and listen to shows:

CAL 060815 Fr. Vincent Serpa; Maria Assumpta Est (encore)

CAL 060517 Edward Sri; A Biblical Theology of Mary’s Queenship

CAL 060428 Mark Miravalle; St. Louis DeMontfort’s True Devotion to Mary

I think his question was more to the exact wording of the prayer seeming worshipful.

 

[JOL]

There are some prayers in which people may well seem like they are worshipping Mary. This one, to me, the wording is just a tad too close for my liking. I’ve heard it before, but me personally, I do not care for it.

Give me a Hail Mary any day of the week.

Keep in mind that your intent plays a large part in this. We, as Catholics, should love and adore Mary. She is our mother. We pray to Mary to intercede for us. Basically, we pray that Mary prays for us.

To consecrate yourself to Mary in the manner which this prayer says, well its not unreasonable. However, Mary should not be the sole recipient of your devotion.

Praying to Mary is great. However, let’s not forget to keep our prayers, to keep our worship overall focused on God.

I’ve no doubt in my mind that despite all the doctrine surrounding prayer to Mary and the Saints that there are folks out there who ARE worshipping Mary. But that is not how the church teaches us we should be praying. Just make sure your heart is in the right place and you are focusing your prayers and your worship as you should.

When I first decided to leave the Catholic church I almost immediately became anti-Catholic, though I told myself before leaving I wouldn’t. It is almost like a reflex I think for ex-Catholics. Now that I am feeling like the Holy Spirit is pulling me back into the Catholic church I am trying to be very cautious to learn what I can so that when/if I do come back into the fold, I will have nothing pulling me back out of it, as this happened in the past.

So, I went to Mass the first time this past Sunday, the first time in 4 years. At the back of the church there was pamplets, so I picked one up. It is a pamphlet on “Basic Catholic Prayers”. I have been praying daily, today when I prayed this prayer a red flag came up because the wording of this particular prayer seems, well, overboard.

You are right though, it all depends on what is in your heart and who the focus is of your devotion. Some people may be able to pray this prayer without crossing the lines to worship, yet, I myself, though I know the Lord God is the sole recipient of my worship, this prayer seems to overboard for me.

Thanks for your response, I think I will just omit this particular prayer from my prayer life.

JOL

 

[JOL]

I think his question was more to the exact wording of the prayer seeming worshipful.

This is true. I didn’t want to sound like I am bashing the Catholic church or her members, nor saying everyone worships Mary. It is just the words in the particular prayer seem overboard. But, as I just stated, it could be for the individual simply okay.

JOL

 

[Sherlock]

It helps to know the context of the prayer in question: for example, in previous times, flowery language was quite common, though it sounds excessive to our current tastes in literature and prose.

I am thinking here of Elizabeth Browning’s poem that you will probably be familiar with: “How do I love thee, let me count the ways…”. It was written to her husband. Am I to conclude that Elizabeth Browning worshipped her husband as God? No, she was speaking the language of love (a very important element to keep in mind when contemplating Marian devotion), and speaking in the style of her time.

The Catholic Church, aware of such changes in taste and perspective, has wisely used unchanging Latin terms to denote the difference in devotion: “Latria” is worship due God alone. “Dulia” is the devotion and veneration given to the saints. “Hyper-dulia” is the term used for devotion for Mary, the most perfect creature God created.

I hope that helps.

 

[TimOliv]

It helps to know the context of the prayer in question: for example, in previous times, flowery language was quite common, though it sounds excessive to our current tastes in literature and prose.

I am thinking here of Elizabeth Browning’s poem that you will probably be familiar with: “How do I love thee, let me count the ways…”. It was written to her husband. Am I to conclude that Elizabeth Browning worshipped her husband as God? No, she was speaking the language of love (a very important element to keep in mind when contemplating Marian devotion), and speaking in the style of her time.

The Catholic Church, aware of such changes in taste and perspective, has wisely used unchanging Latin terms to denote the difference in devotion: “Latria” is worship due God alone. “Dulia” is the devotion and veneration given to the saints. “Hyper-dulia” is the term used for devotion for Mary, the most perfect creature God created.

I hope that helps.

Intent, context these are all major issues to consider.

I heard one claim that Mary was “Limitedly Omnipotent” (which is an oxymoron) and was (in my opinion) was a step in the wrong direction. So just pray to Mary for Intercession not to worship her and everything should work out.

P.S. Sometimes I pray to Mary just to say “Hi”

 

[JOL]

It helps to know the context of the prayer in question: for example, in previous times, flowery language was quite common, though it sounds excessive to our current tastes in literature and prose.

I am thinking here of Elizabeth Browning’s poem that you will probably be familiar with: “How do I love thee, let me count the ways…”. It was written to her husband. Am I to conclude that Elizabeth Browning worshipped her husband as God? No, she was speaking the language of love (a very important element to keep in mind when contemplating Marian devotion), and speaking in the style of her time.

The Catholic Church, aware of such changes in taste and perspective, has wisely used unchanging Latin terms to denote the difference in devotion: “Latria” is worship due God alone. “Dulia” is the devotion and veneration given to the saints. “Hyper-dulia” is the term used for devotion for Mary, the most perfect creature God created.

I hope that helps.

Yes, this does help to. Thanks for clariffying the differnt types of reverence/worship. This is making me feel much better in regards to following the pings deep in my conscience.

Jill

 

[Fidelis]

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and possession. Amen.

It may help to put this type of language in perspective. It is not much different from fealty oaths from the age of chivalry in which a knight might pledge his allegiance to a queen or other sovereign. Though it may not be the type of language we are used to nowadays in America (there being a shortage of kings and queens among us), in context there is nothing wrong with it, if you can think of Mary as a Queen (which logically follows if her son Jesus is our King – which he is). There is nothing worshipful about it, but if you do not find the language to be helpful or “your style,” then don’t say it. If others do find it more amenable to their devotional life, try to avoid being judgmental.

 

[Sherlock]

Yes, this does help to. Thanks for clariffying the differnt types of reverence/worship. This is making me feel much better in regards to following the pings deep in my conscience.

Jill

God bless you, Jill. I’m a revert, so I went through a long period of serious questioning and am happily, restfully, home. May God grant you the graces you need and desire.

 

[JOL]

It may help to put this type of language in perspective. It is not much different from fealty oaths from the age of chivalry in which a knight might pledge his allegiance to a queen or other sovereign. Though it may not be the type of language we are used to nowadays in America (there being a shortage of kings and queens among us), in context there is nothing wrong with it, if you can think of Mary as a Queen (which logically follows if her son Jesus is our King – which he is). There is nothing worshipful about it, but if you do not find the language to be helpful or “your style,” then don’t say it. If others do find it more amenable to their devotional life, try to avoid being judgmental.

Please don’t mistake me, I am certainly not trying to be judgemental, as I said in my first post (i think). I said, I cannot judge anyone’s heart by looking at their outward actions. What one might perceive as worship by looking isn’t necessarily so. God bless you!

 

[JOL]

God bless you, Jill. I’m a revert, so I went through a long period of serious questioning and am happily, restfully, home. May God grant you the graces you need and desire.

Thanks so much. Something neat happened to me yesterday. I was praying and all of a sudden, I had this desire or need or crave if you will to go to confession. It has been 4 years since I have been to confession, I can’t go get there yet though.

 

[LilyM]

This is yet another example of false dichotomy.

You can be utterly devoted and consecrated to Jesus, God the father AND Mary, without any of them detracting from each other. Just as in your family you can be utterly devoted to your spouse, your parents AND your children without taking anything away from any of them.

The secret is that the wills and minds of all of them must be in harmony. Mary, being in heaven and enjoying the Beatific Vision to a greater degree than any other human, no longer has a thought or a desire that is in any way contrary or opposed to the thoughts and desires of God.

As a sidenote, have you ever been to a wedding service where the words ‘with my body I thee worship’ were used in the vows? I have, several times.

While the spouse using them may sincerely be feeling complete and utter devotion to their beloved, it in no way detracts from the ‘worship’ they give to God which is rightfully his.

Hope this helps somewhat, although I do appreciate that you and other folks can be somewhat uncomfortable with such prayers to Mary, and I don’t advocate saying any prayer that you’re not comfortable with. It’s not like it’s required or anything.

 

[LilyM]

Thanks so much. Something neat happened to me yesterday. I was praying and all of a sudden, I had this desire or need or crave if you will to go to confession. It has been 4 years since I have been to confession, I can’t go get there yet though.

Praise God! Make a good Act of Perfect Contrition which you can findhere and start with the worst sins first, that way you won’t chicken out!

 

[Fidelis]

Please don’t mistake me, I am certainly not trying to be judgemental, as I said in my first post (i think). I said, I cannot judge anyone’s heart by looking at their outward actions. What one might perceive as worship by looking isn’t necessarily so. God bless you!

Oh, no, I didn’t say you were, just reminding you not to be if you were so tempted! Sorry for the confusion!

 

[Sherlock]

Thanks so much. Something neat happened to me yesterday. I was praying and all of a sudden, I had this desire or need or crave if you will to go to confession. It has been 4 years since I have been to confession, I can’t go get there yet though.

I LOVE confession!!! When I matured in my faith, I began to see it for the great gift that it was—such a blessing from God. Now, I’m not committing great mortal sins these days (thanks to the grace of God), but I find myself going to confession frequently because I understand it as another tool to become what I am meant to be—and what all of us are meant to be—a saint. We need all the tools the Church provides for us to become more Christ-like. I know I have benefited from confession so much and it has helped me to love Jesus and conform myself more and more to Him. What a tremendous grace confession provides!

 

[jmcrae]

Hello everyone!

Is this Mary Worship?

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you, and to show my devotion to you, I consecrate to you this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my entire self without reserve. As I am your own, my good Mother, guard me and defend me as your property and possession. Amen.

Not unless saying the same or similar words to one’s mother or to one’s beloved spouse or fiancé(e) is also “worship.”

Mary is not God, but she is our Queen (since Jesus is King, his mother is Queen; that’s how it works in the Davidic line) so it is perfectly appropriate to express devotion to her as one might toward a queen, whether it is the queen of your house, or the queen of your nationality, or the Queen of Heaven.

This kind of thing is purely optional, though - as I’m sure you know - and if this kind of thing seems too “sugary” to you, then you are certainly free to skip it.

May the Lord bless your search for understanding.

 

[HailMary]

We, as Catholics, should love and adore Mary.

We do not adore Mary. We adore God alone (ie: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament). Sure words have multiple meanings but this one is generally reserved for God ("they adored the Golden Calf).

 

[Hastrman]

Depends what you mean by worship. In some form of the Marriage Rite (Use of Sarum, maybe?) each spouse says to the other (or maybe the groom says it to the bride, I’m not sure), “With my body I thee worship.”

Which is beautiful, I just noticed.

Anyway, I’ve seen Chesterton and Belloc use the word worship to describe the veneration of saints and Mary, and obviously they didn’t mean of the same kind as God. Belloc would have sneered at you, and Chesterton would have gently corrected you, if you had made that assumption.

And in Japanese, any festivity whatsoever, even the beetle-catching on Boys’ Day, is called a worship (matsuri, the gerund form of the verb matsuru, to worship). But Japanese Christians, who are rather more awake to the dangers of syncretism than most Westerners, don’t have a problem with Boys’ Day or even the Fire Festival.

But anyway, no, that prayer doesn’t seem like worship to me. It looks like a vow of devotion. John Paul II’s devotion to the Virgin was centered on the phrase Totus Tuus, which means “Entirely Yours”. That’s much the same feeling.