Medal behind picture of person

[BornAgain11]

I’ve been noticing lately that my mother in law has been putting a medal of mary behind my picture in her home. Also, now there is one behind my husbands (her son). I am a born again Christian as well as my husband now (he left the Catholic church). I was wondering if this is a common practice to put a medal behind a picture of someone? What is the purpose?
My MIL grew up in a strict latin catholic church–however since left and going to a “regular” Parish.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

I’ve been noticing lately that my mother in law has been putting a medal of mary behind my picture in her home. Also, now there is one behind my husbands (her son). I am a born again Christian as well as my husband now (he left the Catholic church). I was wondering if this is a common practice to put a medal behind a picture of someone? What is the purpose?
My MIL grew up in a strict latin catholic church–however since left and going to a “regular” Parish.

Hi BornAgain11,

I’ve never heard of the practice, but I imagine that it’s just a pious custom. Your mother in law is probably asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray to God for you and your husband. That’s probably all.

Oh, and btw, you do know that Catholics are born again Christians too, right?

Love is Patient

 

[BornAgain11]

Hi BornAgain11,

I’ve never heard of the practice, but I imagine that it’s just a pious custom. Your mother in law is probably asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray to God for you and your husband. That’s probably all.

Oh, and btw, you do know that Catholics are born again Christians too, right?

Love is Patient

Thanks for answering! I figured it had to do something with that. But I was just curious of other practicing Catholics also did this.
Yes I know that Catholics think they are born again through baptism that was one questions that was just answered by the admisitrator of the CA website.

 

[msugeotech]

She might be praying for her son to return to the Church, and for your conversion. But I don’t know any specifics of the practice either.

 

[BornAgain11]

She might be praying for her son to return to the Church, and for your conversion. But I don’t know any specifics of the practice either.

Thanks!! I figured as much.
My hubby just told me a story that she (his mother) put a medal behind his grandfathers picture before he died now she thinks because she did that he was saved and went to heaven even though he cursed God.
Odd. Very, very odd.

 

[Love_is_Patient]

Thanks!! I figured as much.
My hubby just told me a story that she (his mother) put a medal behind his grandfathers picture before he died now she thinks because she did that he was saved and went to heaven even though he cursed God.
Odd. Very, very odd.

Well, unless the man did so with his dying breath, we can still hope for his salvation.

Love is Patient

 

[Love_is_Patient]

Thanks for answering! I figured it had to do something with that. But I was just curious of other practicing Catholics also did this.
Yes I know that Catholics think they are born again through baptism that was one questions that was just answered by the admisitrator of the CA website.

Oh dear. So you don’t think Catholics are Christians then?

 

[Peacefulwishes]

Thanks for answering! I figured it had to do something with that. But I was just curious of other practicing Catholics also did this.
Yes I know that Catholics think they are born again through baptism that was one questions that was just answered by the admisitrator of the CA website.

Think? You know that Catholics “think” they are born again? Whatever does that mean?

As far as I KNOW, we are

 

[jwashu]

Hey as a Protestant Convert who was almost a Minister I can tell you we ARE Saved!

We have BEEN saved, are in the process of BEING saved, and hope to one day obtain Salvation with our Lord.

Nope, our “works” don’t get us there either (don’t believe that falsehood) we get there by submitting ourselves to will of God by depending on his Grace. That grace allows the Spirit to work though us. When we fall off we go to confession to make sure we have a true act of contrition (ie we REALLY mean it when we ask for forgiveness).

It’s kind of like when some people are “saved” in an Evangelical Church they continue to show fruits of the spirit through their life. But some… seem to “fall away” Although some may think they were “never saved to begin with” they have just turned away from God (He will never turn away from us though). Sometime these people will go down front at a revival and pour out their soul asking for forgiveness and rededicate their life… which is pretty much what we do at confession same thing different name. I know many Evangelicals who have experienced this. After their “rededication” they truly felt “changed” and “cleansed” again…

About the Grandfather, we can’t judge who is in Heaven or not, and who truly asked for forgiveness with their dying breath… that’s between them and God.

Finally, we believe Jesus meant what he said to the Good Theif “tonight (not next week or 2000+ years) you will be with Me in Paradise” We believe the Book of Revelation when we see the Saints at the Altar of the Lamb offering up Prayers. We believe Bible when it tells us that those in Christ shall never die… So your MIL is asking Christ’s Earthly Mother, the Blessed Virgin, to pray for you guys. I think even if you believe Sola Scripture it’s easy to prove she is in Heaven and praying for us with the others who have gone before us.

Be thankful that she loves you that much!

Sincerely,
Joe

 

[IrishAm]

Hey as a Protestant Convert who was almost a Minister I can tell you we ARE Saved!

We have BEEN saved, are in the process of BEING saved, and hope to one day obtain Salvation with our Lord.

Nope, our “works” don’t get us there either (don’t believe that falsehood) we get there by submitting ourselves to will of God by depending on his Grace. That grace allows the Spirit to work though us. When we fall off we go to confession to make sure we have a true act of contrition (ie we REALLY mean it when we ask for forgiveness)

It’s kind of like when some people are “saved” in an Evangelical Church they continue to show fruits of the spirit through their life. But some… seem to “fall away” Although some may think they were “never saved to begin with” they have just turned away from God (He will never turn away from us though). Sometime these people will go down front at a revival and pour out their soul asking for forgiveness and rededicate their life… which is pretty much what we do at confession same thing different name

About the Grandfather, we can’t judge who is in Heaven or not, and who truly asked for forgiveness with their dying breath… that’s between them and God.

Finally, we believe Jesus meant what he said to the Good Theif “tonight (not next week or 2000+ years) you will be with Me in Paradise” We believe the Book of Revelation when we see the Saints at the Altar of the Lamb offering up Prayers. We believe Bible when it tells us that those in Christ shall never die… So your MIL is asking Christ’s Earthly Mother, the Blessed Virgin, to pray for you guys. I think even if you believe Sola Scripture it’s easy to prove she is in Heaven and praying for us with the others who have gone before us.

Be thankful that she loves you that much!

Sincerely,
Joe

Well said, Joe, well said. :clapping::clapping::clapping::clapping:

 

[VivienneJ]

Hi BornAgain11,

Oh, and btw, you do know that Catholics are born again Christians too, right?

Love is Patient

Yes I know that Catholics think they are born again through baptism that was one questions that was just answered by the admisitrator of the CA website.

Think? You know that Catholics “think” they are born again? Whatever does that mean?

As far as I KNOW, we are

BornAgain11, please read this carefully forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=334062. I think this is the answer you refer to in your quote above and note what is actually said. Catholics don’t think they are born again, we know we are born again and we know that this happens through baptism.

 

[Ruthie]

Because Mary is the mother of our Lord, she is as close to Him as a perfect mother is to her child. Your MIL probably hopes (and prays) that by placing Mary’s medal next to your picture, she is symbolically bringing you closer to the Lord.

And, yes, I’m pretty sure that she is also hoping to bring you closer to Mother Church.

After all, what better advice is there than what Mary told the servants at Cana? “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn 2:5)

God bless you abundantly,

Ruthie

 

[siamusnomore]

BornAgain11, please read this carefully forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=334062. I think this is the answer you refer to in your quote above and note what is actually said. Catholics don’t think they are born again, we know we are born again and we know that this happens through baptism.

It doesn’t happen through baptism of any kind. We are saved by grace through faith. Being born again as I’m sure you know is a spiritual birth. We are born of water and have to be born of spirit. Because flesh is from flesh and spirit is from spirit. I had Catholics try to argue at me saying that one prayer cannot save you. Um…yeah it can. Does it mean that when you do say the sinner’s prayer/prayer for salvation that you don’t have to do anything else? Well, your faith should be being shown in how you go about things in your everyday life. Faith without works is dead…that doesn’t mean just get up and start working yourself half to death. The works should be naturally coming out of you. The opposite of this is what I think is meant by dead works. Somebody already mentioned the good thief. He didn’t get water baptized…nor did any works while on the cross…but he still got to join Jesus in paradise. Very nice!

 

[Irish_Becca]

I do things like that sometimes - it’s asking for prayer from the Blessed Mother. It’s not that the medal itself has any power or anything, but it’s there as a reminder for the Blessed Mother and Saints to pray for that person.