Mary and her role? (Multi-Merged)

[brb3]

Ok I get it now. Thank you for finally answering in plain talk . I needed to understand the difference between Catholics and Christians because Christians don’t pray to Mary and the saints.

To be a Catholic you have to offer prayers to Mary and the saints. One person on my questions even said they go to a Catholic church without Mary and saints in them and that seemed strange.

My grandfathers church has statues of Mary and the saints and so did his house and even his barn.

Some Protestants do … because they clearly see it taught in scripture !! If its in scripture, its the truth, for even a non catholic. Now, I agree, few are taught those scriptures on the saints in heaven, …so most don’t pray to Mary or a favorite patron saint.

Now, regarding Catholics, like yourself, you would of been shown, taught that the saints are in heaven (Church Triumphant), and actively engaged with the Church on Earth ( Church Militant)…

 

[AmosTown]

Some Protestants do … because they clearly see it taught in scripture !! If its in scripture, its the truth, for even a non catholic. Now, I agree, few are taught those scriptures on the saints in heaven, …so most don’t pray to Mary or a favorite patron saint.

Why can’t I get a direct answer? Do Catholics to be Catholic have to pray to Mary and the saints?

Its a simple question. I want a simple answer. No one will answer on a Catholic Answers forum.

That makes me very suspicious about people that can’t talk in plain english. What is so hard about my question that no one will answer me?

 

[brb3]

Why can’t I get a direct answer? Do Catholics to be Catholic have to pray to Mary and the saints?

Its a simple question. I want a simple answer. No one will answer on a Catholic Answers forum.

That makes me very suspicious about people that can’t talk in plain english. What is so hard about my question that no one will answer me?

Well, normally we would DESIRE to pray to any and ALL saints, ONCE WE COME TO APPRECIATE THEY ARE LIVING AND ABLE TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS. IF, you have yet to realize the REALITY of the Church TRIUMPHANT IN HEAVEN, …then don’t pray to them. God AND HIS CHURCH never forces us to do anything that we don’t understand, or thinks is wrong !!! But, if the Church teaches it …then, we are expected to examine the evidence in scripture & tradition…to see if the teaching is valid.

Shoot me questions anytime …I’ll give u a straight answer … cause I don’t believe any Catholic teachings unless I find hard proof for them in scripture, history, or valid tradition.

 

[AmosTown]

I’ve been asking for two days on this “Catholic Answers” forum do Catholics have to pray to Mary and the saints to be a Catholic.

I got almost no direct answer from anybody. I figure I’ll try one more time. I think God’s word should be always the same and not anything that people can come along and change. My grandmother use to say “same today as yesterday” about Jesus. When my grandfather left me all his holy things like rosaries, saints and books, Because of grandpa I started reading his books and prayers and such to Mary and the saints.

I’ve been warned that Catholics are a cult with hidden teachings and after two on this Catholic Answers page I am starting to become distant because I can’t get an answer in plain talk.

I will ask this one more time. Or maybe the folks here just want to see me go away and not be looking to be a Catholic? That is also a sign of a cult. When folks ask too many hard questions they ignore those people that question things and hope the go away.

So here goes. I hope a get a straight forward answer in plain english.

Do Catholics have to pray to Mary to be Catholic?

 

[ahs]

Why can’t I get a direct answer? Do Catholics to be Catholic have to pray to Mary and the saints?

Its a simple question. I want a simple answer. No one will answer on a Catholic Answers forum.

That makes me very suspicious about people that can’t talk in plain english. What is so hard about my question that no one will answer me?

Direct answer in plain English…no, Catholics, in order to be Catholic, do not have to pray to Mary and the Saints.

You have brought up some prayers from a missal…these are not required to be part of the Mass in order for it to be a Catholic Mass. During certain Masses there will be references to intercessions for us by Mary or other Saints in Heaven. These Masses are not more or less Catholic based on these…they simply apply the Biblical teaching of all God’s children praying for one another in different ways. Now, in the Mass that mentions these intercessions…one must realize that we are called to participate in the Mass. However, not participating in those portions of the Liturgy does not make one any less a Catholic than he was when he arrived at Mass.

 

[AmosTown]

Well, normally we would DESIRE to pray to any and ALL saints, ONCE WE COME TO APPRECIATE THEY ARE LIVING AND ABLE TO HEAR OUR PRAYERS. IF, you have yet to realize the REALITY of the Church TRIUMPHANT IN HEAVEN, …then don’t pray to them. God AND HIS CHURCH never forces us to do anything that we don’t understand, or thinks is wrong !!! But, if the Church teaches it …then, we are expected to examine the evidence in scripture & tradition…to see if the teaching is valid.

I just wanted a straight answer. Your answer doesn’t make it easier to understand. That’s because you said you must go to mass to be a Catholic and in mass you must pray the mass in order to take part in it. In these masses there are prayers to Mary and the saints so you have to pray those prayers.

If you don’t pray those prayers then you are living a lie and picking and choosing what parts of mass you will pray together with other Catholics.

Since you have to go to mass, and pray the mass, then you have to pray to the saints or your not being true to yourself or true to what prayers are being said by the priest or the people together.

I don’t think you are trying to say go to mass and pray only the parts you believe in after becoming a Catholic. Don’t you become a Catholic because you agree to the Catholic mass and all the people praying it together as a community?

 

[Jeanne_S]

Why can’t I get a direct answer? Do Catholics to be Catholic have to pray to Mary and the saints?

Its a simple question. I want a simple answer. No one will answer on a Catholic Answers forum.

That makes me very suspicious about people that can’t talk in plain english. What is so hard about my question that no one will answer me?

The answer is NO! However your spiritual life will enriched by inviting thevChurch Triumphant to join you in your prayers.

 

[AmosTown]

Direct answer in plain English…no, Catholics, in order to be Catholic, do not have to pray to Mary and the Saints.

You have brought up some prayers from a missal…these are not required to be part of the Mass in order for it to be a Catholic Mass. During certain Masses there will be references to intercessions for us by Mary or other Saints in Heaven. These Masses are not more or less Catholic based on these…they simply apply the Biblical teaching of all God’s children praying for one another in different ways. Now, in the Mass that mentions these intercessions…one must realize that we are called to participate in the Mass. However, not participating in those portions of the Liturgy does not make one any less a Catholic than he was when he arrived at Mass.

Then I can become Catholic if I believe in private that I don’t have to pray the prayers to Mary and the saints in the Mass?

Are there any Catholic masses that take those parts out since they are not required?

 

[AmosTown]

The answer is NO! However your spiritual life will enriched by inviting thevChurch Triumphant to join you in your prayers.

Then I can become Catholic if I believe in private that I don’t have to pray the prayers to Mary and the saints in the Mass?

Are there any Catholic masses that take those parts out since they are not required?

If I go to a church where they pray prayers to Mary and the saints in church, can I secretly reject those parts that I don’t believe in and still be a Catholic?

 

[Jeanne_S]

Then I can become Catholic if I believe in private that I don’t have to pray the prayers to Mary and the saints in the Mass?

Are there any Catholic masses that take those parts out since they are not required?

Just because you aren’t inclined to join with the saints in prayer,doesn’t mean that this practice of invoking the intercession of Our Mother Mary and the saints should be removed from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[davidv]

I’ve been asking for two days on this “Catholic Answers” forum do Catholics have to pray to Mary and the saints to be a Catholic.

I got almost no direct answer from anybody. I figure I’ll try one more time. I think God’s word should be always the same and not anything that people can come along and change. My grandmother use to say “same today as yesterday” about Jesus. When my grandfather left me all his holy things like rosaries, saints and books, Because of grandpa I started reading his books and prayers and such to Mary and the saints.

I’ve been warned that Catholics are a cult with hidden teachings and after two on this Catholic Answers page I am starting to become distant because I can’t get an answer in plain talk.

I will ask this one more time. Or maybe the folks here just want to see me go away and not be looking to be a Catholic? That is also a sign of a cult. When folks ask too many hard questions they ignore those people that question things and hope the go away.

So here goes. I hope a get a straight forward answer in plain english.

Do Catholics have to pray to Mary to be Catholic?

Catholics, like any other humans, do not “have” to do anything. A Catholic is a Catholic because they have been properly baptised. They will always be Catholic, even if they never practice it.

Everything else we do, not do, say, or not say determines whether we are in good standing with God. Our essential purpose of being human is to become holy. Communal prayer and private prayer are some of the means to achieve holiness.

Mary and the Saints are those who should be role models for us in achieving holiness. They have, each in their own unique ways, grew in holiness in this life. As they are members of the Communion of saints, we believe we can ask them to pray for us as if they were still alive on this earth.

 

[AmosTown]

The answer is NO! However your spiritual life will enriched by inviting thevChurch Triumphant to join you in your prayers.

I didn’t know that Catholics were allowed to pick which parts they agree with and still be Catholic. That’s something like my bible study. We have some differences among us but we kind of agree to disagree.

I was thinking that the Catholics were strict in their beliefs because my grandfather was pretty strict about religion. All this is new to me.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Then I can become Catholic if I believe in private that I don’t have to pray the prayers to Mary and the saints in the Mass?

Are there any Catholic masses that take those parts out since they are not required?

If I go to a church where they pray prayers to Mary and the saints in church, can I secretly reject those parts that I don’t believe in and still be a Catholic?

If you have been baptized into the Catholic faith,you are and will bevCatholic,regardless of what practices within the faith you choose to reject.

 

[Jeanne_S]

I didn’t know that Catholics were allowed to pick which parts they agree with and still be Catholic. That’s something like my bible study. We have some differences among us but we kind of agree to disagree.

I was thinking that the Catholics were strict in their beliefs because my grandfather was pretty strict about religion. All this is new to me.

Do you accept Marybas your spiritual mother?Do you accept that those in heaven are saints?Believing these facts,yet not taking advantage of the graces and blessings they behold,is not mandatory.

 

[Della]

The direct answer is no. No one is compelled to pray to Mary or the saints nor does the ordinary lay Catholic need to do anything except fulfill his baptismal vows.

So now that you’ve received your direct answer, may one ask why you want to know this?

 

[AmosTown]

The answer is NO! However your spiritual life will enriched by inviting thevChurch Triumphant to join you in your prayers.

But your answers are really confusing me. They are directly opposite what others on this Catholic Answers have said.

I asked:
Then that to be a Catholic you must pray to Mary and the saints because you must pray with the priest the prayers of the mass.

And I got this response.

Yes, at least weekly, on the Lord’s Day …just as first century Christians did !!

Only those with health problems are excused from attendance !! Its a mortal sin to miss w/o valid need to.

And you are saying, that is not true. You are saying that I don’t have to pray in the parts of the mass anythings that don’t appeal to me.

So the mass prayer is not prayer in common of the gathering because they are not all participating in one belief system and praying together the same prayers of the priest.

 

[AmosTown]

Catholics, like any other humans, do not “have” to do anything. A Catholic is a Catholic because they have been properly baptised. They will always be Catholic, even if they never practice it.

Everything else we do, not do, say, or not say determines whether we are in good standing with God. Our essential purpose of being human is to become holy. Communal prayer and private prayer are some of the means to achieve holiness.

Mary and the Saints are those who should be role models for us in achieving holiness. They have, each in their own unique ways, grew in holiness in this life. As they are members of the Communion of saints, we believe we can ask them to pray for us as if they were still alive on this earth.

So Catholics don’t have to pray the mass prayers in common with the priest and every other Catholic in the church.

But I asked to others on this forum that to be a Catholic you must pray to Mary and the saints because you must pray with the priest the prayers of the mass. And I got this answer.

Yes, at least weekly, on the Lord’s Day …just as first century Christians did !!

Only those with health problems are excused from attendance !! Its a mortal sin to miss w/o valid need to.

 

[KP3243]

Now I’m even more confused. Do I have books with old teachings that are no longer valid?

Catholics changed wordings about prayers to saints and Mary in the mass missal? Sorry I haven’t been to Catholic church accept for my grandfathers mass and I wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on in the service itself.

This is making my head spin. Do Catholics have to pray to Mary and the saints to be Catholic or not? One says yes, another says no, another says yes another says no.

Is there some kind of hidden cult teachings or something because its starting to look like that is what is going on here. I’ve been told Catholics have hidden teachings they don’t tell everyone and because I’m getting the run around here I am starting to believe it

Are you asking if you have to use intercessory prayer to become Catholic? If you are then the answer is no. Form A. of the Penitential Act we ask Mary and all of the angels and saints to pray for us to the Lord our God. Other than this you could never once ask Mary or Saint or Angel to pray for you. Remember Catholics are completely different Protestants. Catholics offer God a sacrifice of the mass, we would never EVER do that for Mary, Protestants offer no sacrifice and worship is something completely different.

Here is the current outline of the mass

usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/

The Catholic Church doesn’t hide anything our theology is right out there for the whole world to read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We don’t hide anything, that is an extraordinarily uncharitable comment to make.

 

[ProdigalSun]

So here goes. I hope a get a straight forward answer in plain english.:

Well the most straight forward and uncomplicated answer is No! You don’t have to pray to Mary or any other Saint or to any person for that matter in order to be Catholic in good standing.

I do suggest you stay and open your heart and mind to the truth of the Catholic Church. Maybe your next question can be -" What is the Catholic understanding of pray with relation to Mary and the whole communion of Saints."

I hope this helps…!

 

[Jeanne_S]

But your answers are really confusing me. They are directly opposite what others on this Catholic Answers have said.

I asked:
Then that to be a Catholic you must pray to Mary and the saints because you must pray with the priest the prayers of the mass.

And I got this response.

And you are saying, that is not true. You are saying that I don’t have to pray in the parts of the mass anythings that don’t appeal to me.

So the mass prayer is not prayer in common of the gathering because they are not all participating in one belief system and praying together the same prayers of the priest.

Hmmm,I defer to those on this forum who are more knowledgable than I.I guess what I am trying to say,is Mary is a gift to us from Our Lord.I personally have a very deep and abiding love for Our Blessed Mother.I seek her intercession and that of the saints daily.I cannot imagine doing otherwise. So,having said that I would encourage you to pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to understand Mary’s important role in our faith.I really don’t see how you can resist her!