Keeping focused on Christ is a BAD thing??

[Eilish_Maura]

Didn’t I answer this before? and I don’t think anybody here does not know. What exactly the purpose of this thread …really?

Then your comment regarding having ‘help’ does not count in such situations?

I do not understand how anyone could say that such prayer practices are lacking because a person does not use some of these other personal devotional practices (items outside of Mass and the sacraments).

Especially not if the Holy Spirit has led the person to this/these practice(s).

 

[Eilish_Maura]

I haven’t seen any thread where people say focusing on Christ is a bad thing. No Christian believes such a thing.

.

Saying the practice is ‘lacking’ is a good thing?

 

[theistgal]

All well and good but not the aim of the thread.

Hey Eilish - I have defended you on some of those threads, including one today, so I hope you’ll take this in the spirit it’s meant.

First of all, you are quite right that you are not required to pray to Mary or any of the saints. If you choose to direct all your prayers straight to God, it’s your right to make that choice and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

However, the problem is that on some of those threads, you’re implying (not saying outright, just implying) that those who do not make the same choice as you are somehow inferior to you.

Now, maybe that isn’t what you’re trying to say - maybe you think THEY are trying to make YOU feel inferior. Well, maybe some of them are. But so what? If you know you’re right, why do you feel it necessary to expend so much time and energy trying to prove it? Why not just smile and say, “More power to you”, and pray the way you want to - and let others do the same?

What exactly is the response you want to get?

 

[water]

Hey Eilish - I have defended you on some of those threads, including one today, so I hope you’ll take this in the spirit it’s meant.

First of all, you are quite right that you are not required to pray to Mary or any of the saints. If you choose to direct all your prayers straight to God, it’s your right to make that choice and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
…
But so what? If you know you’re right, why do you feel it necessary to expend so much time and energy trying to prove it? Why not just smile and say, “More power to you”, and pray the way you want to - and let others do the same?

What exactly is the response you want to get?

You said it all in a good way. Thanks for that. I’d like to stop discussing on this thread.

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Hey Eilish - I have defended you on some of those threads, including one today, so I hope you’ll take this in the spirit it’s meant.

First of all, you are quite right that you are not required to pray to Mary or any of the saints. If you choose to direct all your prayers straight to God, it’s your right to make that choice and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

However, the problem is that on some of those threads, you’re implying (not saying outright, just implying) that those who do not make the same choice as you are somehow inferior to you.

Now, maybe that isn’t what you’re trying to say - maybe you think THEY are trying to make YOU feel inferior. Well, maybe some of them are. But so what? If you know you’re right, why do you feel it necessary to expend so much time and energy trying to prove it? Why not just smile and say, “More power to you”, and pray the way you want to - and let others do the same?

What exactly is the response you want to get?

I have neither implied nor (as you noted) stated that anyone is inferior to me. If that is what someone has taken from my remarks it is their problem - something I have no control over.

I have not spoken about being ‘required’ to pray to any of the saints.

I have been repeatedly told some things that make absolutely no sense at all regarding the faith - like a couple of things in this thread.

 

[theistgal]

I have neither implied nor (as you noted) stated that anyone is inferior to me. If that is what someone has taken from my remarks it is their problem - something I have no control over.

Of course you have control over it - you’re the one opening the threads that are causing all the controversy! If you don’t like the responses you’re getting, stop opening the threads! Just as there’s no law that requires you to pray to Mary, there’s also no law that requires you to post on this or any other Internet forum.

(And please – everyone involved in these discussions – read Romans 14:14-23, and substitute “praying to Mary and the saints” for “eating meat sacrificed to idols”. )

 

[Eilish_Maura]

Of course you have control over it - you’re the one opening the threads that are causing all the controversy!

How someone interprets what is posted is not in my control - like the red herrings some throw out that are NOT based on anything I have ever said in any post.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Christ is the focus of a devote Christian. However, this doesn’t eliminate His Mother, or the communion of Saints, as being advocates in our spiritual growth. After all, we ask our fellow human beings to pray for us, and they ask us to pray for them, so why not also ask the Mother of God the Son, and the Saints who dwell in heaven with Him, to pray for us as well?

Its not an either or situation, but an added benefit, to have those who are in heaven, in the presence of the Holy Trinity, to be advocates for us.

Jim

 

[jmcrae]

I have a friend named Denis who is really a great guy - I like having him around.

Whenever I invite Denis anywhere, Denis brings six-eight friends. You literally cannot have Denis alone - where Denis is, there too are his friends. If you phone his house, you never know who is going to answer the phone - most likely, one of his friends, instead of him. A person might ask, “Why do I have to go through Denis’ friends to get to Denis?” Because in the case of Denis, that’s just how it is.

I think Denis is a lot like Jesus. We can’t have Jesus alone, either. Jesus, also, brings His Mom, his friends, and everybody along with Him. And His Mom is usually the one answering His telephone.

Someone who has never met Denis before might think it odd that we lay eight places for him at the dinner table. They might criticize and say, “Why does Denis need eight places at the dinner table? Why not treat him like everyone else?” The only way to answer is to say, “Wait until you meet him. You’ll see, then.”

I think the idea of “Jesus, alone” is just as absurd as the idea of “Denis, alone.” It just isn’t going to happen.

 

[theistgal]

How someone interprets what is posted is not in my control - like the red herrings some throw out that are NOT based on anything I have ever said in any post.

You control at least 50% of any conversation you’re in.